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Biomedical subjects

K Vidyalakshmi

Publications and source records attributed to K Vidyalakshmi.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Primary meningoencephalitis by Naegleria fowleri: first reported case from Mangalore, South India.

A fatal case of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a 5-month-old infant is described. The disease may have been contracted during bathing. The source of water was from an artificial well. The clinical presentation, the isolation of the ameba from the cerebrospinal fluid, the poor response to amphotericin B, and the ultimate fatal outcome are all consistent with the diagnosis of PAM. On the basis of its ability to grow at temperatures above 30 degrees C, the morphology of the trophozoite, and the presence of flagellate forms, the ameba was identified as Naegleria fowleri. Pathogenic N. fowleri amebae were recovered from samples of water from the well. To our knowledge this case represents the second case of PAM in an infant in the absence of the history of swimming.

Amebiasis↗

Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy and release pattern of tetracycline and metronidazole using a local delivery system.

The present study compared the effectiveness of two antimicrobials, tetracycline and metronidazole, in reducing subgingival microorganisms in periodontal pockets using an ethyl cellulose strip as the delivery medium. The study involved 30 patients, with a minimum of 3 periodontal pockets with probing depths > 6 mm throughout the oral cavity. Patients were given supragingival scaling and then divided into 5 groups, depending on the length of time the medication was in place. Sites were marked for tetracycline, metronidazole, and placebo. Sites were wiped and isolated, and baseline microbiology samples were taken for Gram staining and culture methods. After treatment, subgingival microbiological samples were taken again. The ethyl cellulose strips were removed and analyzed for any remaining drug. Results showed that tetracycline and metronidazole can both be applied locally to periodontal sites using ethyl cellulose strips and markedly suppress the subgingival bacteria over a period of several days. The tetracycline showed a faster release; however, the metronidazole required a lesser concentration to achieve complete reduction of the subgingival flora.

Adult↗