Accuracy of various matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based rapid identification methods-As a tool to augment diagnostic stewardship in blood culture laboratory, South India.

Background: Blood stream infection is a medical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Prompt identification of bloodstream infection-causing microorganisms directly from positive blood culture will significantly enhance patient care by reducing the turnaround time of pathogen recognition.

Methods: A total of 256 freshly flagged positive blood culture bottles were subjected to Gram staining.

Implementation of surgical site infection care bundle in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries.

Purpose: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the frequent healthcare associated infections linked with significant morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and death. SSI can be reduced by implementation of customized care bundle components as per standard guidelines. Hence this study was undertaken with the objective to implement care bundle in patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgeries and assess their impact on SSI rate.

Impact of care bundle audit on compliance to device care bundles and device associated infections in the Critical Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital, Southern India - A before-after interventional study.

Background: A care bundle comprises a set of evidence-based practices in patient care that are grouped together with the assumption that these practices when performed together will result in better clinical outcomes than when these practices are performed separately. Care bundles for devices when implemented effectively can bring about a reduction in device associated infection rates.

Methods: The study was conducted in three phases, 1 month pre-interventional and interventional phases and 11 months of post-interventional phase in a critical care unit.

Feasibility of Using Ceftazidime-Avibactam as a Therapeutic Option for Bloodstream Infections Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Based on Its Susceptibility Profile.

Background In the era of increased antimicrobial resistance, there are limited therapeutic options available for the treatment of bacteremia caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This study aims to find out the feasibility of using ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) as a therapeutic option for bloodstream infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales and based on its susceptibility profile. Materials and methods The isolates were routinely subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by an automated AST system (VITEK-2).

Comparison of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in Intensive care units and wards of COVID-19: A large scale multicentric study in India.

Background: Hand hygiene is a significant component involved in preventing transmission of health care associated infections including COVID-19. Compliance to hand hygiene among the health care workers (HCWs) requires evaluation and timely feedback. "You can't improve what you can't measure" is a famous saying and this multicentric study was designed to measure hand hygiene compliance and have birds eye view on hand hygiene compliance in COVID Intensive care units (ICUs) and wards across India.

Impact of conducting hand hygiene audit in COVID-19 care locations of India-A large scale national multicentric study - HHAC study.

Purpose: Hand hygiene (HH), the core element in infection prevention in healthcare, especially for multidrug resistant organism's transmission. The role of HH audits and HH adherence rates in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in resource limited settings, are yet to be established.

Methods: A nationwide multicenter study was conducted in India, involving public, private, teaching and non-teaching COVID healthcare facilities (COVID-HCFs) using the IBhar mobile application based on WHO's hand hygiene audit tool.

An outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis food poisoning following consumption of chicken shawarma: A brief epidemiological investigation.

Background: Shawarma, a popular meat-based fast food could be a source of foodborne outbreak due to non-typhoidal (NTS). A clustering of acute gastrointestinal (GI) illness following intake of chicken shawarma occurred primarily among the staff and students of a tertiary care hospital in southern India.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 348 undergraduate medical students (33 cases, 315 controls).

Bacteriological Profile of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producers in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction Diabetic foot infection is the most dreaded complication of diabetes mellitus and the commonest cause of hospitalization and limb amputation. Identification of the causative agent responsible for diabetic foot infection and the earliest initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy are vital for the control and prevention of the complication of diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the bacteriological profile of diabetic foot ulcers and to detect methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers in our institute.

Evaluation of the Performance of Direct Susceptibility Test by VITEK-2 from Positively Flagged Blood Culture Broth for Gram-Negative Bacilli.

Timely initiation of antimicrobial therapy in patients with blood stream infection is absolutely necessary to reduce mortality and morbidity. Most clinical microbiology laboratories use conventional methods for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) that involve biochemical methods for identification followed by AST by disk diffusion. The aim of the current study is to assess the various errors associated with direct susceptibility testing done from blood culture broth using automated AST system-Vitek-2 compact compared with the reference method of AST done from bacterial colonies.

Effect of combined colistin and meropenem against meropenem resistant and by checkerboard method: A cross sectional analytical study.

Background: Meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the two most common nosocomial pathogens causing ventilator-associated pneumonia. To combat this resistance, different combinations of antibiotics have been evaluated for their efficacy in laboratories as well as in clinical situations.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of combined colistin and meropenem against meropenem-resistant isolates of A.

In-vitro synergistic activity of colistin and meropenem against clinical isolates of carbapenem resistant E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae by checkerboard method.

Context: The emergence of drug resistant pathogens pose major threat to hospitalized patients as well as to the community associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The treatment of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae, one of the top WHO priority pathogen remains a global issue. Combination therapy with different classes of antibiotics have been tried with the aim to reduce toxicity, to increase the efficacy of the drugs and to reduce resistance.