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Biomedical subjects

P R Mehta

Publications and source records attributed to P R Mehta.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Enterococcal infections with special reference to phenotypic characterization & drug resistance.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Enterococci, classified as group D streptococci, are the second leading cause of nosocomial infections. The incidence of enterococcal infections and species prevalent in India is not thoroughly investigated. The present study was undertaken to isolate and characterize enterococci from clinical specimens and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of these isolates. METHODS: Clinical specimens (blood, urine and swabs) were cultured on bile esculin azide agar (BEAA) for isolation of enterococci. The phenotype based scheme included Gram staining of growth on BEAA and subculturing of cocci on sheep blood agar plates for vancomycin disk diffusion and hydrolysis of L-pyrrolidonyl-beta-napthylamide (PYR) testing. The phenotypic method was used to surveillance cultures that yielded growth on BEAA. Enterococcal strains were further identified to the species level by conventional biochemical tests. PYR positive isolates were further characterized into vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) and nonVRE depending upon vancomycin inhibition zone size. The isolates were characterized into vanA, vanB and vanC depending upon minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Conventional method was used to study the antibiogram of isolates. RESULTS: A total of 52 isolates of enterococci (10 Enterococcus faecalis, 42 E. faecium) were isolated from 534 clinical specimens. Of the 52 isolates, 12 isolates were resistant to vancomycin with an MIC > 4 microg/ml but sensitive to teicoplanin (vanB isolates). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our study reveals the problem of multiple drug resistant enterococci and emergence of VRE. Better susceptibility tests need to be used to measure the vancomycin resistance accurately.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
PubMed1999

Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori among gastrointestinal endoscopists, radiologists and paramedical personnel.

BACKGROUND: The route of transmission of Helicobacter pylori is unknown. Since the organism has been isolated from saliva, gastric juice and stool, medical personnel could be at high risk for acquiring the infection during procedures like gastrointestinal endoscopy. AIMS: To study whether endoscopy is a professional hazard for acquisition of H. pylori. METHODS: We studied the prevalence of IgG antibodies to H. pylori in endoscopists (n = 17), radiologists (n = 17) and personnel from paraclinical branches (n = 35); microbiology (n = 21), pathology (n = 7) and forensic medicine (n = 7); among the paraclinical personnel five were at high risk because they worked with cultures of H. pylori. Subjects answered a questionnaire regarding upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and precautions taken at the work place against infection. The serum was tested for IgG antibodies to H. pylori using a microwell ELISA and a rapid card test. RESULTS: H. pylori antibodies were present in five (29.4%) endoscopists, three (17.6%) radiologists and seven (20%) paraclinical personnel; only one of the 5 high risk para medical personnel was positive. There was no correlation between the duration of performing endoscopies and the H. pylori IgG status. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy is not a risk factor for acquiring H. pylori infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori: the Indian scenario.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the age-related prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in populations from developing and developed nations to determine the possible mode of transmission. METHODS: Endoscopic gastric biopsies (for biopsy urease test and histology) were obtained in 526 patients with dyspepsia and in 82 control subjects to determine H pylori prevalence. RESULTS: H pylori prevalence in patients with dyspepsia and in control subjects was 65% and 46% respectively. Age-related prevalence in these two groups in the age groups 10-19 years, 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years and > or = 50 years was 52%, 70%, 69%, 60% and 59%, and 44%, 55% 58%, 36% and 33% respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to H pylori occurs early in India and is widespread, even in control subjects. The high prevalence of the organism in young Indian control subjects and the comparable prevalence of antibodies to H pylori and hepatitis A virus infection in different age groups both in developed and developing nations may suggest a feco-oral mode of transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Dental plaque: a permanent reservoir of Helicobacter pylori?

The aim of the study was to observe the relationship between the two reservoirs of Helicobacter pylori--that is, dental plaque and the stomach. With the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test, H. pylori was detected in dental plaque and in gastric antral and body mucosa in 98%, 67% and 70%, respectively, of 43 consecutive patients with dyspepsia. The rapidity of the CLO test indicates that the density of H. pylori is heaviest in dental plaque, less in the antrum, and least in the body mucosa of the stomach. Triple drug therapy (bismuth, tinidazole, and amoxycillin or doxycycline) was administered for 15 days to 24 patients. By the CLO test, H. pylori was eliminated from the gastric mucosa in all 24 patients but persisted in dental plaque in all of them. Our observations indicate that dental plaque is unaffected by triple drug therapy and is perhaps a permanent reservoir of H. pylori if local therapy also fails to eradicate the organism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Mono and dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis.

Sixty patients with Helicobacter Pylori positive non ulcer dyspepsia were randomly allocated to one of the following treatment groups: Group I--norfloxacin 400 mg bid for 10 days, Group II--amoxycillin 500 mg bid plus tinidazole 500 mg bid for 15 days, Group III--colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) 240 mg bid for 4 weeks. H pylori elimination was achieved in 14%, 81%, and 62% in Groups I, II and III respectively. Eradication of H pylori was not observed in Groups I and II, but was achieved in 25% of patients in Group III. Antral gastritis improved in 69% in Group II and 50% in Group III. We conclude that norfloxacin is not effective in H pylori infection. A combination of amoxycillin and tinidazole is highly effective in H pylori elimination with improvement in associated gastritis, but H pylori eradication is not observed with this therapy. CBS is also effective in H pylori elimination though H pylori eradication is achieved in only 25%.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dental plaque: an unlikely reservoir of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dental plaque has been suggested as a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori, though data in this regard are conflicting. We evaluated the prevalence of H. pylori DNA in dental plaque using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: Antral H. pylori status of 156 patients with acid-peptic disease (APD) was studied by rapid urease test (RUT), histology and culture. Dental plaque obtained from these 156 patients and 92 healthy volunteers was evaluated for the presence of H. pylori using RUT, culture and PCR. RESULTS: H. pylori was present in 133 antral biopsy samples by RUT and/or histology. The dental plaque of 37 patients with APD and 21 healthy volunteers tested positive by RUT. H. pylori was not isolated by culture from any of the dental plaques. PCR gave a significant amplification product in 11 of 248 (4.4%) dental plaque samples, 7 from patients with APD and 4 from normal healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: The frequency of H. pylori in the dental plaque is low, and this is unlikely to be a prominent site of infection with H. pylori.

Adult↗