Publications by authors named "Smita Sarma"

Background: Rigorous antibiotic stewardship is advised by international societies to combat rising antibiotic resistance. A major component of these programs is the metric used for antibiotic consumption measurement. A method for standardized antimicrobial administration ratio (SAAR) is suggested by the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

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Article Synopsis
  • Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates in Latin American ICUs are significantly higher than in high-income countries, prompting a need for intervention.
  • The INICC multidimensional approach, which includes an 11-component bundle, was implemented across 122 ICUs in nine Asian countries, resulting in a substantial decrease in CLABSI rates from 16.64 to 2.18 over 29 months.
  • The intervention not only reduced CLABSI rates by 87% but also significantly lowered the all-cause in-ICU mortality rate from 13.23% to 10.96%.
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Background: Identify urinary catheter (UC)-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) incidence and risk factors (RF) in 235 ICUs in 8 Asian countries: India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Methods: From January 1, 2014, to February 12, 2022, we conducted a prospective cohort study. To estimate CAUTI incidence, the number of UC days was the denominator, and CAUTI was the numerator.

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Purpose: To evaluate T and B cell subsets and IgG antibodies in response to SARS-CoV-2 post COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: A total of 50 healthy adults (18-60 years) receiving anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (COVISHIELD) were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected from participants at 3 time points; just before vaccination (Visit 0, V), just before booster dose (Visit 1, V) and 6th month after 1st dose (Visit 2, V).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to analyze the rates and risk factors of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) across 281 ICUs in 9 Asian countries from 2004 to 2022.
  • Out of 150,142 patients, a total of 1514 CLABSIs were recorded, with an overall infection rate of 5.08 per 1000 central line days, highest in femoral and temporary hemodialysis catheters.
  • Key risk factors for CLABSI included longer hospital stays before infection, tracheostomy use, hospitalization type, and facility ownership, particularly in publicly-owned and lower-middle-income country facilities.
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Background Seroprevalence studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can provide information on the target populations for vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) at our tertiary care institution and to identify parameters that may affect it. Method We assessed seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 by the chemiluminescence immunoassay test among 3258 HCW in our hospital and evaluated as per gender, age, their previous Covid-19 diagnosis, role in hospital and type/risk of exposure.

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Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in Asia are several times above those of US. The objective of this study is to identify VAP risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study, between March 27, 2004 and November 2, 2022, in 279 ICUs of 95 hospitals in 44 cities in 9 Asian countries (China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam).

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Background & Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant global morbidity and mortality. As the vaccination was rolled out with prioritization on healthcare workers (HCWs), it was desirable to generate evidence on effectiveness of vaccine in prevailing real-life situation for policy planning. The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccination among HCWs in a tertiary care hospital.

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Objective: To identify risk factors for mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) in Asia.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: The study included 317 ICUs of 96 hospitals in 44 cities in 9 countries of Asia: China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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Background: This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care-associated infection (HAI) incidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Patients from 7 LMICs were followed up during hospital intensive care unit (ICU) stays from January 2019 to May 2020. HAI rates were calculated using the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Surveillance Online System applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) criteria.

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(Z)-2-(4-methoxybenzylideneamino)-3-phenylpropanoic acid (L) synthesized by condensation of p-anisaldehyde and L-phenylalanine acts as selective fluorescent as well as voltammetric sensor for Cu in 2:1 (v/v) CHOH:HO. The fluorescence intensity of L (λ 425 nm) is quenched ca. 65% by Cu.

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Objectives: The emergence of fluconazole resistance in Candida parapsilosis healthcare-associated infections has recently been increasingly reported. Antifungal susceptibility profiles and mechanisms of fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis (n = 199) from nine hospitals in India collected over a period of 3 years were studied.

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Background: Mucormycosis is a potentially fatal complication of diabetes. The rhino-orbito-cerebral form is the most common presentation, however, rarely other types can also be seen.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 4½ -year-old boy not previously known to be a diabetic who presented to the plastic surgery department for gangrene of the left middle finger with surrounding erythema and induration.

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infections are increasing worldwide and exhibit greater rates of antifungal resistance than those with other species. DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene deletions, such as , in resulting in a mutator phenotype have recently been reported to facilitate rapid acquisition of antifungal resistance. This study determined the antifungal susceptibility profiles of 210 isolates in 10 hospitals in India and investigated the impact of novel polymorphisms on mutation potential.

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Background: Candida auris has emerged globally as an MDR nosocomial pathogen in ICU patients.

Objectives: We studied the antifungal susceptibility of C. auris isolates (n = 350) from 10 hospitals in India collected over a period of 8 years.

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is an emerging fungus that presents a serious threat to global health. The organism is difficult to identify using conventional biochemical methods. has also attracted attention because of its reduced susceptibility to azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, with a few strains even resistant to all three classes of antifungals.

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The condensation product of phenylalanine and salicylaldehyde (L) was synthesised and characterised which was found to be selective fluorescent "off-on" sensor for Zn(2+) ion with the detection limit 10(-5) M. The sensor is free of interferences from metal ions - Na(+), K(+), Al(3+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+) and Hg(2+). The Fluorescence and the UV/visible spectral data reveals a 1:1 interaction between the sensor and Zn(2+) ion with binding constant 10(8).

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Salmonella typhi is a true pathogen, which is capable of causing both intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Unusual presentations of Salmonella should always be kept in mind as this organism can cause disease in almost any organ of the body. S.

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The condensation product of L-alanine and salicylaldehyde was synthesised and characterised which was found to be selective fluorescent "on" sensor for Al(3+) ion with the detection limit 10(-6) M. The sensor is free of interferences from metal ions - Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+) and Fe(3+). The Fluorescence and the UV/visible spectral data reveals a 1:1 interaction between the sensor and Al(3+) ion with binding constant 10(4.

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We report a case of 27-year-old female diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) following a recent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A known case of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis on corticosteroids for last 6 months presented to the critical care unit with fever, maculopapular rash and difficulty in breathing. A rapid and correct diagnosis with the precise treatment led to complete recovery of this patient.

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We report a patient with a mass in the right atrium which led to pulmonary embolism. Postoperatively the mass was identified as a tuberculoma and it was culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Patient responded to modified antitubercular treatment and discharged from hospital in satisfactory condition.

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The fluorescence intensity of salicylaldehyde phenylhydrazone (L), in 1:1 (v/v) CH3OH:H2O was enhanced by ca. 100 times with a blue shift in emission maximum, on interaction with Pb(2+) ion. No enhancement in fluorescent intensity of L was observed on interaction with metal ions - Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Hg(2+).

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Background: Several nucleic acid amplification techniques are available for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples, but insufficient data are available on the diagnostic utility of these techniques in tubercular meningitis where bacilli load is less. The success of final amplification and detection of nucleic acid depends on successful extraction of DNA from the organism.

Aims: We performed this study to compare four methods of extraction of MTB DNA from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples so as to select one method of DNA extraction for amplification of nucleic acid from clinical samples.

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