Clinicopathological study on rickettsial spotted fever from south India.

In a prospective study conducted between November 2006 and April 2008 of 35 patients (male:female ratio 2:1) with proven rickettsial spotted fever, a generalised rash with involvement of palms and soles were seen in 80% of patients. Vasculitis on histopathology of rash was seen in 54%.

The relevance of ESBL producing isolates in patients surgically treated for acute appendicitis.

Background: In India, there is a high prevalence of ESBL producing organisms among intraabdominal isolates and in stool flora of 'normal' individuals. Hence, it may be presumed that unless antimicrobial therapy effective for ESBL flora is used perioperatively for abdominal surgery, the outcome will be adverse. We selected patients surgically treated for appendicitis as a model to explore the relevance of ESBL producing isolates in this retrospective observational study.