Biofilm as a virulence marker in Candida species in Nosocomial blood stream infection and its correlation with antifungal resistance

Nosocomial blood stream infections (BSI) due to fungi especially Candida is increasing steadily. A two year prospective study was conducted in the S.C.B. Medical College with an aim to evaluate the species distribution, antifungal susceptibility and biofilm formation of Candida spp. isolated from nosocomial BSIs. 34 Candida spp. were isolated from 359 blood cultures. Antifungal susceptibility was performed by microbroth dilution technique and both visual and spectrophotometric method were used for biofilm detection. C. tropicalis was the common spp. isolated followed by C. parapsilosis and others. Most (92%) of the isolates were susceptible to Amphoterecin-B and highest resistance was observed against Flucytosine (37%) and Fluconazole(35%). Biofilm production and antifungal resistance was observed more in nonalbicans Candida spp.

Role of azithromycin against clinical isolates of family enterobacteriaceae: A comparison of its minimum inhibitory concentration by three different methods

PURPOSE

To determine the effect of azithromycin, a new azalide antibiotic, on clinical isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae and to determine and compare its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by disk diffusion, agar dilution and E-test methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred fifty-nine bacterial strains belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from different clinical samples, were tested for their susceptibility to azithromycin by disk diffusion, agar dilution and E-test methods. The MIC values were analysed and the percentages of agreement between the different methods were mentioned.

RESULTS

Of the 159 isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae, 60.37% were E. coli followed by Klebsiella species 28.3%, Salmonella and Shigella species 3.77% and Enterobacter and Citrobacter species 1.88% each. Maximum isolates were obtained from urine 117/159 (73.58%). Azithromycin was found to be more active against Salmonella and Shigella species, showing 100% sensitivity the by E-test and 83.33% by the disk diffusion methods. In the agar dilution method, 83.33% of Salmonella and 66.66% of Shigella species were sensitive to azithromycin. The overall agreement between disk diffusion and agar dilution method was 96.8%, between agar dilution and E-test was 88% and between disk diffusion and E-test was 91.2%.

CONCLUSION

Azithromycin may become an important addition to our antimicrobial strategies, especially for the treatment of bacterial diarrhoea and infections caused by Salmonella typhi.

Seroprevalence of anti HCV antibody in and around Cuttack, Orissa

One hundred ninety (190) serum samples and 52 control samples consisting of high risk individuals were screened for anti HCV antibody by 3rd generation ELISA test. The prevalence rate was found to be 1.57% in total but it was 2.12% in healthy voluntary blood donors. All were males between the age group of 21 to 40 years. All the control samples were found to be seronegative for anti HCV ab.