Tuberculous meningitis in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, during 2016 to 2022.

Background: The burden of tuberculous meningitis varies substantially by location, and is influenced by the overall burden of tuberculosis in that geographical area, and the age structure of the population. Conventional methods for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis include acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture. AFB smear has low sensitivity and culture techniques are time consuming.

Impact of cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) introduction on the detection of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Background: Compared to conventional microscopy, the cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT, Xpert MTB/RIF, Cepheid, USA) has the dual advantage of higher sensitivity to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), and the ability to detect rifampicin resistance.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the CBNAAT on the detection of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis from private and public healthcare facilities in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Pleural tuberculosis in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, during 2016 to 2022.

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the burden of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in patients with pleural effusion in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, during February 2016, to December 2022, using cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT, Xpert MTB/RIF). Of the 1370 pleural fluid samples tested at the National Reference Laboratory for tuberculosis, 3.8% (52/1370) were positive for M.

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates from infected eyes and healthy conjunctivae in India.

This study aimed to determine the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), SCCmec elements and genetic relatedness among Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolated from patients with a variety of eye infections (n=11) and from healthy conjunctiva (n=7). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for 14 antimicrobials according to BSAC guidelines. PCR was used to identify the presence of mecA, mecC, SCCmec type and ARGs.

A 3½-Year Study of Bacterial Keratitis From Odisha, India.

Purpose: To report the clinical and microbiological characteristics and treatment outcome of bacterial keratitis at a tertiary eye care center in eastern India.

Design: Retrospective analysis of medical and microbiology records.

Methods: All patients had undergone complete clinical and microbiological evaluation for microbial keratitis.

Endophthalmitis patients seen in a tertiary eye care centre in Odisha: a clinico-microbiological analysis.

Background & Objectives: Geographical variations are known to influence different aspects of endophthalmitis. We report the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological profile of patients with infectious endophthalmitis presented to a tertiary eye care centre in Odisha, India, and compare the results with published reports from other parts of India.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 107 patients, seen between December 2006 and January 2009 was done.

Comparison of Type of Species and Antibacterial Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococci Isolated From Normal Healthy Conjunctiva and Ocular Infections.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence of various staphylococcal species in ocular infections [OIs (n = 105)] and in normal healthy conjunctiva [NC (n = 51)]. Antibacterial susceptibility profile of the isolates and prevalence of mecA gene among the isolates were also compared.

Design: A prospective, comparative, experimental study.

Changing profile of organisms causing scleral buckle infections: a clinico-microbiological case series.

Purpose: To study the microbiological spectrum and in vitro susceptibility of bacterial isolates from explanted scleral buckles and to correlate clinical presentation to the causative agent.

Method: Medical records of patients who underwent buckle explantation from July 2007 to May 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical features and microbiological profile were noted and correlated.

Diagnosis, clinical features and treatment outcome of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis.

Aim: To report the clinical and microbiological profile of patients with microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in a tertiary eye care centre in India.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of all cases of microbiologically confirmed microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis, who presented between March 2007 and October 2010, was done. In a single-centre, institutional setting, 278 eyes of 277 apparently healthy patients were analysed.

Staphylococcus aureus eye infections in two Indian hospitals: emergence of ST772 as a major clone.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing a variety of eye infections from two major eye care hospitals in India.

Methods: Twenty-four isolates from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India, and nine isolates from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, India, representing severe to nonsevere eye infections like microbial keratitis to lacrimal sac abscess, were characterized. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, multilocus sequence typing, accessory gene regulator typing, staphylococcal protein A typing, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis were used, along with determination of the presence of Panton-Valentine leucocidin toxin and endotoxin gene cluster among each sequence type.

Diagnosis and treatment outcome of mycotic keratitis at a tertiary eye care center in eastern India.

Background: Mycotic keratitis is an important cause of corneal blindness world over including India. Geographical location and climate are known to influence the profile of fungal diseases. While there are several reports on mycotic keratitis from southern India, comprehensive clinico-microbiological reports from eastern India are few.

Association between culture results of corneal scrapings and culture and histopathology results of corneal tissues in therapeutic keratoplasty.

Purpose: To correlate the culture results of corneal scrapings with culture and histopathology results of corneal tissues in therapeutic keratoplasty.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the culture results of corneal scrapings and corneal tissues of eyes that received therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty at a tertiary eye care center between December 2006 and November 2008 was conducted. As per the preferred practice, those cases that did not respond to appropriate antimicrobial therapy and/or presented with a large infiltrate/perforation received therapeutic keratoplasty.

DNA chip-assisted diagnosis of a previously unknown etiology of intermediate uveitis- Toxoplasma gondii.

We report the use of DNA chip technology in the identification of Toxoplasma gondii as the etiological agent in two patients with recurrent intermediate uveitis (IU). Both patients had recurrent episodes of vitritis (with no focal retinochoroidal lesion) over varying time intervals and were diagnosed to have IU. The tuberculin test was negative in both.

Is inclusion of Sabouraud dextrose agar essential for the laboratory diagnosis of fungal keratitis?

Purpose: To determine whether the inclusion of Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) is essential in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis.

Materials And Methods: Corneal scrapings of 141 patients with microbial keratitis were smeared and cultured. Sheep blood agar (BA), chocolate agar (CA), SDA, non-nutrient agar (NNA) with Escherichia coli overlay, and brain heart infusion broth (BHI) were evaluated for time taken for growth and cost.

Clinical trial of 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide versus placebo in the treatment of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) in the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis caused by microsporidia.

Design: Prospective, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Fungal periorbital necrotizing fasciitis in an immunocompetent adult.

A 55-year-old man presented with profound swelling of the upper face and fever with a history of preceding insect bite. He was nonalcoholic and immunocompetent. Orbital CT showed a predominantly preseptal soft-tissue swelling.