Monkey Pox arrives in India.

India has confirmed 9 monkey pox (MPXV) cases by the time this editorial is being written. The size of the outbreak clusters is growing each day, as is the geographical spread across international borders. More interestingly it is being recognized as a potent sexually transmitted infection (STI) as it is attributed to close contact with lesions, with no intention of stigmatizing it.

A cross-sectional study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among asymptomatic healthcare workers in a tertiary healthcare centre: Assessing the impact of PPE guidelines.

Purpose: The present study estimates the seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 among asymptomatic HCWs and assess the impact of various categories of PPE.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of asymptomatic HCW using different levels of PPE as per their risk profile was undertaken between 18th and 24th September 2020. Participant demographics and other relevant details including the levels of PPE used were recorded using a customized questionnaire.

A prospective study of prevalence of respiratory viruses causing acute respiratory infection in pediatric in-patients during pre- COVID times.

Purpose: To find out the prevalence of respiratory viruses causing Acute Respiratory Infection in pediatric in-patients during Pre-COVID times.

Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from children in the age group of 1 month-16 years who were admitted at our hospital with Acute Respiratory Infection. Samples were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and Real time polymerase chain reaction to detect 16 RNA viruses and 2 DNA viruses.

Performance of three commercial assays for colistin susceptibility in clinical isolates and Mcr-1 carrying reference strain.

Objective: Commercially available antibiotic susceptibility tests (cAST) for colistin are reported to shows variable performance. The current controversy on the colistin susceptibility testing and scarce data from India has left the clinical laboratories in a dilemma on the appropriate and practical approach to tackle the colistin antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) issue. This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of commonly used cAST for colistin against broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference method in the clinical isolates.

Experience of Indian association of medical microbiology external quality assurance scheme centre, New Delhi: Challenges and quality assessment of clinical microbiology laboratories.

Introduction: EQAS program at New Delhi under IAMM was started in January 2014 across North and North east regions of India with 217 participants, which grew up to 540 by 2018.

Materials And Methods: In 2014, 4 analytes per year were sent for 3 exercises, i.e.

Nucleic acid amplification test: Bridging the gap in blood safety & re-evaluation of blood screening for cryptic transfusion-transmitted infection among Indian donors.

Background & Objectives: : Nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) in blood donor screening not only detects window period (WP) donors but also those with chronic occult infections which are negative by routine serological screening. This study was conducted to determine the time trend of NAT positivity and seroprevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) through a period of six years and evaluate the strength of NAT as a supplementary test in identifying the cryptic carriers in blood donor population.

Methods: : A total of 1,01,411 blood donations were screened between January 2011 and December 2016 by the ELISA and individual donor (ID) NAT Procleix Ultrio Plus Assay.

Convergence of Minds: For Better Patient Outcome in Intensive Care Unit Infections.

Background: There is emergence of resistance to the last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), leaving little effective therapeutic options. Since there are no more newer antibiotics in the armamentarium in the near future, it has become imperative that we harness the interdisciplinary knowledge for the best clinical outcome of the patient.

Aims: The aim of the conference was to utilize the synergies between the clinical microbiologists and critical care specialists for better patient care and clinical outcome.

Plasma Epstein Barr virus (EBV) DNA as a biomarker for EBV associated Hodgkin lymphoma.

Objective: To assess plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA as a biomarker of tumour burden at diagnosis and during therapy in children with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Design: Case-control study, with prospective follow-up of the Hodgkin lymphoma cohort (2007-2012).

Setting: Pediatric Hematology Oncology unit of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi.

A ten year analysis of multi-drug resistant blood stream infections caused by Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tertiary care hospital.

Background & Objectives: Extensive use of antibiotics has added to the escalation of antibiotic resistance. This study was undertaken to evaluate the association, if any between antibiotic use and resistance in a hospital setting, and also detect the predominant mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae over a period of 10 years.

Methods: In a retrospective study of 10 years, a total of 77,618 blood culture samples from 2000 to 2009 from indoor patients were screened and those yielding E.

Trend analysis of antimicrobial consumption and development of resistance in non-fermenters in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India.

Objectives: Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are becoming increasingly important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. To study the evolution of non-fermenters in a tertiary care hospital, we undertook a retrospective 10 year (1999-2008) trend analysis of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in non-fermenters causing bacteraemia.

Methods: Antibiotic consumption and resistance were analysed by linear regression.