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Biomedical subjects

M Deb

Publications and source records attributed to M Deb.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular characterization of ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and Paratyphi A causing enteric fever in India.

OBJECTIVES: To define the genetic characteristics and resistance mechanisms of clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A (S. Paratyphi A) exhibiting high-level fluoroquinolones resistance. METHODS: Three S. Typhi and two S. Paratyphi A ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates (MICs > 4 mg/L) were compared with isolates with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.125-1 mg/L) by PFGE, plasmid analysis, presence of integrons and nucleotide changes in topoisomerase genes. RESULTS: In S. Typhi and Paratyphi A, a single gyrA mutation (Ser-83-->Phe or Ser-83-->Tyr) was associated with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.125-1 mg/L); an additional mutation in parC (Ser-80-->Ile, Ser-80-->Arg, Asp-69-->Glu or Gly-78-->Asp) was accompanied by an increase in ciprofloxacin MIC (> or = 0.5 mg/L). Three mutations conferred ciprofloxacin resistance: two in gyrA (Ser-83-->Phe and Asp-87-->Asn or Asp-87-->Gly) and one in parC. This is the first report of parC mutations in S. Typhi. Ciprofloxacin-resistant S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A differed in their MICs and mutations in gyrA and parC. Moreover S. Typhi harboured a 50 kb transferable plasmid carrying a class 1 integron (dfrA15/aadA1) that confers resistance to co-trimoxazole and tetracycline but not to ciprofloxacin. PFGE revealed undistinguishable XbaI fragment patterns in ciprofloxacin-resistant S. Typhi as well as in S. Paratyphi A isolates and showed that ciprofloxacin-resistant S. Typhi have emerged from a clonally related isolate with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin after sequential acquisition of a second mutation in gyrA. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first report of molecular characterization of S. Typhi with full resistance to ciprofloxacin. Notably, the presence of a plasmid-borne integron in ciprofloxacin-resistant S. Typhi may lead to a situation of untreatable enteric fever.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Laboratory diagnosis in ulcerative keratitis.

AIMS: To identify the common bacterial and fungal isolates from corneal ulcers and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates to commonly used antibiotics at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), eastern Nepal. Culture and direct microscopic correlation and reliability were also compared. METHODS: All patients with suspected corneal ulceration presenting to the Ophthalmology Department of BPKIHS from 1st August 1998 to 31st July 2001 were evaluated. Corneal scraping was performed and processed for direct microscopy and culture for bacterial and fungal isolates. Bacterial isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: Of 447 specimens examined direct microscopy was positive in 216 (48%) specimens. Culture positivity could be correlated with direct microscopy in 179 (83%) of specimens. Growth of etiologic agents was found in 303 (67.8%) samples. Of these 145 (47.8%) had pure fungal growth, 103 (34%) had pure bacterial growth and 55 (18.2%) had mixed fungal and bacterial infection. The commonest fungal pathogen was Aspergillus spp.in 78 (38.4%) followed by Fusarium spp. in 45 (22%). Aureobasidium sp. was isolated in 25 (12.3%) samples. Staphylococcus aureus (93, 56.7%) dominated the scene as the commonest bacterial agent. Streptococcus pneumoniae (33, 20%) was second in the list. Most of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to commonly used antibiotics. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance and need of the continued surveillance of the agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility for the prevention and management of corneal ulcers and their complications.

Adolescent↗

Sexual habits and clinico-etiological profile of sexually transmitted diseases in Nepal.

A total of 100 patients giving histories suggestive of sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and attending the dermatology OPD at BPKIHS (B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences) in Nepal over a period of one year from 1st July 1999 to 30th June 2000 were included in this study. Out of 10,400 new dermatology cases, a total of 100 cases (0.96%) of STDs were seen. Of these 73 were males, and the majority (53%) were in the age group of 21-30 years. Most of the patients were from Sunsari district (54%). The most common profession (21%) was businessman followed by housewife (19%). The most common age for first sexual contact was 16 to 19 years (45%). Eleven percent had their first sexual contact at the age of 15 or below 15 years. Premarital sexual exposure was recorded in 17% of the unmarried males. There were only 3 homosexuals and 1 bisexual patient. Multiple contacts were recorded in 55% of the patients. The most common source of contact was a commercial sex worker in 34.15%. Condoms were always used by only 7%. The various types of sexually trasmitted diseases (STDs) were syphilis (31%) followed by condylomata acuminata (16%), herpes genitalis (15%), gonorrhoea (9%), and mixed infections (12%). Despite their varied sexual behavior, none of the patients were HIV positive; however, it is always advisable to screen all STD patients for HIV antibody.

Adolescent↗

Abdominal cocoon: report of a case.

The abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction most often found in adolescent girls from tropical and subtropical countries. It is characterized by a thick fibrotic sac covering the small bowel partially or completely, the etiology of which is unknown. A correct diagnosis is not often made preoperatively; however, following simple surgical release of the entrapped bowel, these patients usually do well. We report herein our experience of a case of abdominal cocoon with a brief review of the medical literature on this unusual disease entity.

Abdominal Pain↗

An outbreak of post-surgical wound infections due to Mycobacterium abscessus.

An outbreak of post-operative wound infections due to Mycobacterium abscessus is described. During a 5-month period 45 post-surgical patients developed wound infection, manifested by wound breakdown, cellulitis, and discharge and progressing slowly to suppuration and sinus formation. The majority (43/45) had undergone out-patient operations, and 40 had had surgery in the inguinal region. The source of infection was identified as contaminated tap water. A study revealed serious deficiencies in the disinfection and sterilisation techniques employed in the operating theatre (OT), including major defects in the autoclaving machine. The outbreak was controlled after several specific measures were instituted. The patients responded well to treatment with conventional first-line anti-tuberculous drugs administered for 3-8 months. The report highlights the necessity of strict monitoring of disinfection and sterilisation techniques in surgical units and OTs.

Antitubercular Agents↗

Efficacy of oral hyposmolar glucose-based and rice-based oral rehydration salt solutions in the treatment of cholera in adults.

BACKGROUND: Recent animal experiments and clinical trials have shown that both osmolarity and rice as the organic components are important factors for net intestinal absorption of an oral rehydration salt solution. METHODS: In a controlled clinical trial 123 male adult patients with severe cholera, after initial rehydration with intravenous Ringer's lactate solution, were randomly assigned to receive one of the four oral rehydration salt solutions: WHO ORS, ORS containing 70 mmol/l Na+ and 16.2 g/l glucose, rice ORS containing 50 g/l rice and 90 mmol/l Na+, and rice ORS containing 50 g/l rice and 70 mmol/l Na+. All patients received 300 mg of doxycycline as a single dose. RESULTS: Patients who received rice-low-sodium ORS subsequently had lower (P < 0.05) stool output, ORS consumption, and diarrhoea duration than the other three ORS groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that rice-based low-sodium ORS is superior for treating adult cholera.

Adult↗

Screening for chlamydial infections in women with pelvic inflammatory diseases.

One hundred female patients clinically diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) were studied for the presence of chlamydial infection by cytology and antigen detection. Cervical smears stained by Giemsa revealed inclusion bodies, only in 3 percent of cases. While using Immunocomb Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) test, antigen was detected in 13% of cases, thereby showing that antigen detection is a better method than cell cytology. A significant correlation with the low socioeconomic status and younger age group was seen in patients showing presence of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen.

Adolescent↗

Double-blind, randomized clinical trial for safety and efficacy of norfloxacin for shigellosis in children.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, the efficacy and safety of norfloxacin were compared with nalidixic acid in the treatment of shigellosis in children. Out of 59 cases, Shigella spp. were isolated from 8 cases in the nalidixic acid group and 14 cases in the norfloxacin group. The norfloxacin group had significantly less duration of diarrhoea and presence of blood in stool as compared to the nalidixic acid group. No joint problem was encountered in this study at up to 4 months follow-up. Norfloxacin is safe and effective and showed no cartilage toxicity on short-term follow-up.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Efficacy of norfloxacin and doxycycline for treatment of vibrio cholerae 0139 infection.

An open randomised controlled clinical trial with 160 adults with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration compared the efficacy of varying regimens of norfloxacin and doxycycline for the treatment of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae 0139 Bengal. Data were analysed for the 111 patients who were faeces culture positive for V. cholerae 0139. In addition to rehydration therapy, 28 patients received 300 mg of doxycycline as a single dose on admission, 26 patients received norfloxacin 400 mg bd for three days, 28 patients received a single dose of 800 mg of norfloxacin and 29 patients received no antibiotic (control group). Patients in the three treatment groups and control group had comparable characteristics on admission. All three treatment groups had reduced stool output, duration of diarrhoea and fluid intake compared with the control group. Multidose norfloxacin treatment significantly reduced stool output, duration of diarrhoea and fluid requirement compared with the other regimens.

Adult↗

Aetiology of pneumonia in hospitalized children.

One-hundred-and-thirty-two children with clinical and radiological evidence of bronchopneumonia/pneumonia were studied over a 1-year period for isolation/detection of bacterial and viral aetiological pathogens. Throat swab, nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA), and lung aspirate were studied for bacterial and viral cultures. NPA was also subjected to latex agglutination test (LA) for H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae; and immunofluorescent technique (IFAT) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Blood culture for bacterial pathogens, and LA of blood and urine was also undertaken. Haemophilus influenzae was the commonest organism (15 per cent) isolated as the sole pathogen followed by RSV (14 per cent), Klebsiella (13 per cent) and S. pneumoniae (12 per cent). E. coli was the commonest organism (50 per cent) in infants <3 months and was closely followed by RSV (44 per cent), Klebsiella (25 per cent), and S. pneumoniae (18 per cent). Isolation rate of E. coli gradually declined with age. RSV (47 per cent) and H. influenzae (31 per cent) were the commonest organisms between 7 and 24 months. S. pneumoniae and Staph. aureus were common bacterial pathogens identified in all age groups with maximum isolation of 20 and 40 per cent, respectively, in children more than 5 years. Isolation of E. coli, Klebsiella and Staph. aureus was highest from NPA culture, while as S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were most often detected by LA. Out of 12 cases from whom a lung aspirate was collected, bacterial pathogen could be isolated in six cases (50 per cent). Detection of RSV by EIA was higher than by culture or IFAT. Most of the organisms were resistant to chloramphenicol except for H. influenza. All the isolates of S. pneumoniae were sensitive to all the antibiotics. Bacterial pathogens were isolated/detected in 74 per cent of cases and RSV was the aetiological agent in 49 per cent of cases investigated for viral aetiology. Higher detection rate of RSV is attributed to selection of cases in winter months during a period of suspected epidemic of RSV.

Bacterial Infections↗

Rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever by detection of Barber protein and Vi antigen of Salmonella serotype typhi.

Co-agglutination (coagg) and latex agglutination (LA) tests were used for the detection of Salmonella serotype Typhi Vi and Barber protein (BP) antigens in sera from five groups of individuals (A-E). Group A consisted of 30 blood culture-positive cases of typhoid fever and group B consisted of 30 suspected cases of typhoid fever who had sterile blood cultures but positive Widal tests. Thirty cases of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) were placed in group C, while group D consisted of 15 cases of septicaemia caused by organisms other than Salmonella serotype Typhi. Group E comprised 50 normal healthy individuals with no history of typhoid fever or TAB vaccination in the previous 5 years. The Vi-LA test performed best with 96.7% of group A sera and 90% of group B sera giving positive results. No false positive results and only 2.58% false negative results were obtained with this test. Considering patients with positive blood culture results or positive Widal tests as true positives, the sensitivities of the Vi-LA, BP-LA, Vi-coagg and BP-coagg tests were 93.3, 91.7, 83.3 and 86.7%, respectively. The specificities of these tests were 100, 98.5, 98.5 and 98.5%, respectively. It is suggested that the Vi-LA test can be used for the rapid and early diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Agglutination Tests↗

Vibrio cholerae O139 in Calcutta.

Vibrio cholerae O139 was recovered from 28 of 79 children with acute watery diarrhoea. Clinically, they presented with watery diarrhoea (100%), vomiting (79%), abdominal cramps (61%), anorexia (61%), dehydration (100%), and absence of fever. Both clinical and blood biochemical parameters of these cases were similar to the illness caused by the new strain in adults. Hypoglycaemia was seen in 40% of those screened.

Acute Disease↗