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R Chaudhry

Publications and source records attributed to R Chaudhry.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype paratyphi A in India.

The incidence of enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi A has been increasing in India since 1996. In 1998, the incidence of enteric fever caused by drug- resistant S. Paratyphi A abruptly increased in the New Delhi region. In the first 6 months of 1999, 32% of isolates were resistant to both chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole and another 13% were resistant to more than two antibiotics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mycoplasma pneumoniae and community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia is an important cause of mortality and hospitalization in all age groups. In temperate climates, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen causing pneumonia. Information on human Mycoplasma infection in India is scarce. METHODS: We aimed to determine the frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among patients with community-acquired pneumonia in a prospective cross-sectional study. The assessment included clinical and radiological evaluation followed by microbiological evaluation for the specific pathogen. Microbiological investigations included aerobic and anaerobic blood culture, anti-Mycoplasma IgM antibody detection by gelatin particle agglutination test and ELISA, culture of respiratory tract secretions for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other organisms, and detection of specific Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (42 men and 20 women; mean age 41.7 years) with community-acquired pneumonia were investigated prospectively. They included 42 immunocompetent and 20 immunocompromised patients. Six patients had definitive evidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and an additional 16 patients had a probable diagnosis. In all, 22 (35.5%) patients with pneumonia had Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Of these, 12 patients belonged to the immunocompromised group and 10 to the immunocompetent group. Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection also had secondary bacterial infection as evidenced by organisms isolated from blood in 50% and from respiratory tract secretions in 68%. CONCLUSION: Community-acquired pneumonia has a polymicrobial aetiology, of which the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is 35%. The study has two implications: (i) Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is frequently associated with secondary bacterial infection; and (ii) initial empirical antibiotic therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in India must include antibiotics with activity against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of molecular typing in an outbreak of Salmonella paratyphi A.

During the post monsoon season of 1996 an outbreak of human Salmonellosis caused by Salmonella serovar-paratyphi A occurred in New Delhi and had continued for over 2 months. A total of 36 clinically diagnosed enteric-fever cases were reported during this outbreak. The isolates were compared following their characterisation by biotyping, antibiogram-analysis, plasmid-profiling and IS200 probing, to study the relatedness in order to delineate a common source. The study included representative strains from both outbreak (15) and sporadic (7) cases for comparative analysis. Biotyping, antibiogram, whole cell protein-analysis and plasmid-profiling could not discriminate sporadic cases from outbreak strains, suggesting that a single clone/type (PT-1) may be prevalent in our region. In contrast, molecular-typing using IS200-probing revealed 2 clonally related strains circulating during the outbreak, as compared to the unrelated sporadic strains which exhibited considerable genetic diversity. Molecular analysis by IS200-probing, helped to assign an index case which provided a history of later outbreaks, since paratyphi A was repeatedly cultured in later outbreaks also. The study also suggests that genetic rearrangements can occur during the emergence of outbreaks. It reaffirmed the usefulness of IS200-probing in epidemiological investigations of Salmonella enterica serovars.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bioterrorism: a threat for which we are ill prepared.

Of the weapons of mass destruction, the biological ones are the most feared and bioterrorism has become one of the most vicious threats to civilized society in recent times. Biological weapons have been sporadically used for centuries. Despite international regulations, there has been a global re-emergence of the threat of biological warfare. As many as 17 countries are suspected of either including or developing biological agents in their weapons programmes. In the past decade, a number of terrorist organizations with access to bioweapons technology have emerged. Current surveillance systems may be inadequate to detect biological attacks. The onset of illness is often delayed, thus the timing and location of such an event may be extremely difficult to identify. We are unfamiliar with most of the agents of biological warfare and are ill-equipped to handle the consequences of such an attack. In addition, there is no apparent coherent policy to handle a biological terrorist incident. Given the enormity of what is possible in the event of a biological attack, we must be prepared to detect, diagnose, epidemiologically characterize and respond appropriately to biological weapons. Of the potential biological weapons, smallpox and anthrax pose the greatest threats.

Biological Warfare↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Spontaneous cholecysto-cutaneous fistula mimicking postoperative scar sinus.

Although biliary fistulae are common, spontaneous biliary fistulae are very rare. Even more rare are spontaneous cholecysto-cutaneous fistulae. A case of spontaneous cholecysto-cutaneous fistula presenting through an abdominal scar mimicking a postoperative scar sinus is presented, the literature is reviewed and the reasons for occurrence of such a fistula are discussed.

Adult↗