Trends of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis in a reference laboratory in Central India: Forging ahead towards TB elimination.

Purpose: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) of the Government of India has strived to control tuberculosis (TB) in the country through various interventions. Understanding the trends of resistance patterns may provide insights into the effectiveness of TB control activities in the country.

Methods: A total of 31,144 clinical samples were received from 2013 to 2022 from presumptive drug-resistant TB patients.

NDM-beta-lactamase-1: Where do we stand?

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) have been playing havoc in the field of nosocomial as well as community-acquired infections. Of particular concern are the carbapenem-resistant GNBs, belonging to Enterobacteriaceae and encoding for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) gene. These strains spread rapidly and horizontally in the population, thus exhibiting MDR traits as these can harbour several resistance encoding genes to almost all antimicrobial groups.

Impact of baseline fluorescent antinuclear antibody positivity on the clinical outcome of patients with primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Introduction: Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is an autoimmune disorder that can present in primary or secondary forms. The literature looking at impact of baseline fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity on outcomes of AIHA patients is infrequent.

Objective: To study the impact of baseline FANA positivity in patients with primary AIHA.

Sociodemographic profile of patients attending the integrated counseling and testing center at a government super-specialty hospital in Central India.

Context: The HIV epidemic continues to be a matter of concern worldwide. Integrated counseling and testing center (ICTC) is an opening wedge for HIV diagnosis and support services, especially to the high-risk groups. Counseling and testing is a cost-effective and simple way of reducing HIV transmission.

Sero-Occurrence of HBV/HCV Co-infection and Levels of Liver Enzymes among Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India: a Pilot Study.

Introduction: Hepatitis B and C viral infections share common modes of transmission and account for a large proportion of liver disease burden across the globe. Patients with Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection may have more severe liver disease and are potentially at higher risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess the sero-occurrence of HBV/HCV co-infection by examining the medical records of tertiary care hospital patients in Central India and determine the extent of liver damage based on liver function tests (LFTs).

Host-targeted therapy for tuberculosis: Time to revisit the concept.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Every year millions of people die due to TB. Drug resistance has been a major factor that has obstructed successful control and treatment of TB.

Approach to Carbapenemase Detection in in Routine Diagnostic Laboratories.

Introduction: Resistance to Carbapenems in may be due to Carbapenem hydrolysing enzymes. Accurate detection of carbapenemase must be done for patient treatment and epidemiological purposes.

Aim: To detect carbapenemase production by performing Modified Hodge Test (MHT), Combined Disk Test (CDT) for Metallo-β-Lactamases (MBL) and PCR for bla gene, to evaluate the performance of MHT using MacConkey Agar (MCA) and to access the value of MHT for carbapenemase detection.

Is There a Preventive Role for Vernix Caseosa?: An Invitro Study.

Background: Vernix caseosa is a naturally occurring substance covering the skin of the newborn babies. Chemical composition of Vernix caseosa has been studied. But the antibacterial properties have not been explored phenotypically.

A Case of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection with Canine-associated Pasteurella canis in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

This is the report of lower respiratory tract infection with Pasteurella canis in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient with history of casual exposure to cats. Pasteurella species are part of the oral and gastrointestinal flora in the canine animals. These organisms are usually implicated in wound infection following animal bites, but can also be associated with a variety of infections including respiratory tract infections.