Comparative evaluation of sealing ability and adaptation of gel form of MTA to dentinal walls: an in-vitro study.

Context: Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is a calcium silicate-based cement that potentially exhibits improved washout resistance when carboxymethyl chitosan or gelatin is incorporated. Gel-form MTA is a novel mineral trioxide aggregate formulated using construction industry-based technology. The present study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the sealing ability and adaptation to dentinal walls of gel-form MTA.

Evaluation of role of Tigecycline among clinically significant multidrug resistant pathogens from a tertiary care hospital.

Background: Tigecycline, a glycylcycline antibiotic is a promising option for the treatment of single or multidrug resistant pathogens. The aim of the study was to evaluate the in-vitro Tigecycline susceptibility of various pathogens from clinical samples received at the tertiary care hospitals in South India.

Methods: The analysis of specimens from patients admitted were carried out in this prospective cross sectional study.

India-discovered levonadifloxacin & alalevonadifloxacin: A review on susceptibility testing methods, CLSI quality control and breakpoints along with a brief account of their emerging therapeutic profile as a novel standard-of-care.

Background: Levonadifloxacin (intravenous) and alalevonadifloxacin (oral prodrug) are novel antibiotics based on benzoquinolizine subclass of fluoroquinolone, licensed for clinical use in India in 2019. The active moiety, levonadifloxacin, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with a high potency against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus. aureus, multi-drug resistant pneumococci and anaerobes.

Research Note: Characterization of antibiotic resistant phenotypes and linked genes of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from healthy broiler chickens, Karnataka, India.

The study was carried out to estimate the burden and pattern of antibiotic resistance and to identify antibiotic resistance genes with focus on ESBL producers, plasmid mediated quinolone resistance, and tetracycline efflux genes, in faecal bacterial isolates collected from poultry farms of coastal Southern Karnataka, India. High resistance to fluoroquinolones was observed with 94% Escherichia coli and 80% Klebsiella pneumoniae being resistant to both ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. All the Escherichia coli strains were resistant to tetracycline (100%).

Digitized smart surveillance and micromanagement using information technology for malaria elimination in Mangaluru, India: an analysis of five-year post-digitization data.

Background: Malaria control system (MCS), an Information technology (IT)-driven surveillance and monitoring intervention is being adopted for elimination of malaria in Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India since October 2015. This has facilitated 'smart surveillance' followed by required field response within a timeline. The system facilitated data collection of individual case, data driven mapping and strategies for malaria elimination programme.

Validity of a CB-NAAT assay in diagnosing tuberculosis in comparison to culture: A study from an urban area of South India.

•CB-NAAT performance compared in 831 suspected pulmonary and extrapulmonary suspected cases.•The conventional stained smear and CB-NAAT results were compared to the MGIT culture.•Sensitivity and specificity of CB-NAAT was 84.

Assessment of antibacterial activity of levonadifloxacin against contemporary gram-positive clinical isolates collected from various Indian hospitals using disk-diffusion assay.

Objectives: Levonadifloxacin is a novel benzoquinolizine subclass of quinolone with broad-spectrum activities against problematic pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, quinolone-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin intermediate S. aureus, and vancomycin-resistant S.

Role of fluorescence in situ hybridization in detecting mycobacterium avium complex presenting as fever in treatment failure HIV.

A 49-year-old male HIV positive patient on treatment failure presented with complaints of fever and dysphagia of three weeks duration and later on developed cervical lymphadenopathy along with severe vomiting and abdominal pain. Liver function tests were found to be worsening with severe drop in CD4 counts. An extensive workup for pyrexia was done.

Candidal carriage in saliva and subgingival plaque among smokers and non-smokers with chronic periodontitis-a cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: Studies of gum or periodontal disease have focused mainly on bacterial pathogens. However, information related to fungal species in the saliva and subgingival mileu is particularly lacking in smokers with periodontitis. This cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of various species in saliva and subgingival plaque samples of smokers and non-smokers with periodontal disease.

In vitro activity of a novel antibacterial agent, levonadifloxacin, against clinical isolates collected in a prospective, multicentre surveillance study in India during 2016-18.

Background: Levonadifloxacin is a novel antibiotic belonging to the benzoquinolizine subclass of fluoroquinolones with potent activity against MRSA and quinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. IV levonadifloxacin and its oral prodrug alalevonadifloxacin have recently been approved in India for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) including diabetic foot infections.

Objectives: To investigate the in vitro activity of levonadifloxacin against contemporary clinical isolates collected from multiple tertiary care hospitals across India in the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiling of Indian Resistotypes (ASPIRE) surveillance study.

Performance of Cepheid Xpert HIV-1 viral load plasma assay to accurately detect treatment failure.

Background: Coverage of viral load testing remains low with only half of the patients in need having adequate access. Alternative technologies to high throughput centralized machines can be used to support viral load scale-up; however, clinical performance data are lacking. We conducted a meta-analysis comparing the Cepheid Xpert HIV-1 viral load plasma assay to traditional laboratory-based technologies.

Rapid method for detecting and differentiating Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in sputum by fluorescence in situ hybridization with DNA probes.

Objective: In resource-limited tuberculosis-endemic countries, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum is mainly detected by acid-fast bacillus (AFB) staining and the identification of sputum-derived cultures. PCR techniques are practical only in well-resourced laboratories. This study investigated the application of a rapid, simple, and inexpensive fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay to identify and differentiate M.

Performance of the Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load Assay: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Viral load (VL) is the preferred treatment-monitoring approach for HIV-positive patients. However, more rapid, near-patient, and low-complexity assays are needed to scale up VL testing. The Xpert HIV-1 VL assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) is a new, automated molecular test, and it can leverage the GeneXpert systems that are being used widely for tuberculosis diagnosis.

Dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complexes and related pathogens in cultures.

Two rapid dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were evaluated for detecting M. tuberculosis and related pathogens in cultures. The MN Genus-MTBC FISH assay uses an orange fluorescent probe specific for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and a green fluorescent probe specific for the Mycobacterium and Nocardia genera (MN Genus) to detect and distinguish MTBC from other Mycobacteria and Nocardia.

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.

Microbiology of Non-Tunnelled Catheter-Related Infections.

Introduction: Aerobic bacterial infections often complicate vascular access in patients receiving haemodialysis, leading to Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infections (CRBSI). Various studies report Gram - positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in particular, as the most common aetiologic agent.

Healthcare-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance profile with emphasis on macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance.

Objectives: Healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common pathogen worldwide and its multidrug resistance is a major concern. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility profile of healthcare-associated MRSA with emphasis on resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) phenotypes and vancomycin.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between February 2014 and February 2015 across four tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore, South India.

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.

Molecular characterization and clinical significance of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamases-1 producing Escherichia coli recovered from a South Indian tertiary care hospital.

Context: The increased rate of infection by New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamases-1 (NDM1) producing Escherichia coli is a major concern since they show a high rate of drug resistance and are responsible for mortality and morbidity.

Aims: To characterize the NDM1 producing E. coli isolates and their impact on patients' clinical outcome.

An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objectives: To identify the source of infection, to study the clinical profile and outcomes of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.

Methods: The authors describe a 3 mo outbreak of nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia involving 12 neonates. During the outbreak, ventilator humidifier water, intravenous solutions and other possible sources were taken from the concerned neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); cultured and isolates identified by standard microbiological techniques and VITEK system.

Comparative evaluation of antifungal action of tea tree oil, chlorhexidine gluconate and fluconazole on heat polymerized acrylic denture base resin - an in vitro study.

Objective: Candida albicans-associated denture stomatitis is the most common type of denture stomatitis seen in denture wearers. This study evaluates and compares the antifungal action of fluconazole, chlorhexidine gluconate and tea tree oil on heat-polymerised denture base resin, which has been previously contaminated with C. albicans grown in BHI broth.

Evaluation of Culture, Antigen Detection and Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Vaginal Colonization of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Pregnant Women.

Background And Objective: Group B Streptococcal infection is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of perinatal vagino-rectal (VR) carriage of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is important in the management of newborn infections. The objective of the study was to evaluate Culture, antigen detection and Polymerase chain reaction for detection of GBS in Pregnant women.