Audit for antifungal treatment usage in adults with invasive fungal infection: A prospective observational study.

Objective: The antifungal audit aimed to evaluate antifungal usage in a tertiary care center. It focused on patient profiles, the appropriateness of antifungal use, associated adverse drug reactions, reasons for suboptimal usage, and the economic burden caused by prolonged non-optimal antifungal use.

Methodology: Conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India from January 2019 to December 2020, the study evaluated systemic antifungal use in 100 hospitalized adults with invasive fungal infections.

Early organism identification by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) decreases the time to appropriate antibiotic modifications for common bacterial infections.

Objective: MALDI-TOF-MS facilitates the identification of microorganisms from positive cultures in a timely and accurate manner. It eliminates the necessity for the application of biochemicals and operates on the principle of proteomics. It decreases the time required to report culture results.

WITHDRAWN: Th17 Overexpression in Severe COVID-19: A Prospective Observational Study.

Unlabelled: Since the authors are not responding to the editor’s requests to fulfil the editorial requirement, therefore, the article has been withdrawn from the journal "Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets" Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained.

Anesthesia concerns for a patient with monkeypox requiring emergency surgery: A review.

Monkeypox is a contagious disease that manifests as a smallpox-like skin rash. The disease has shown a sudden surge worldwide across several countries. These patients may present for emergency surgery.

Hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 among healthcare workers: Initial experience from India.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) had generated considerable interest for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prophylaxis. We conducted a prospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital in India, with dedicated COVID-19 care facilities.

Objectives: Primary objective was incidence of adverse effects, secondary objective being efficacy in preventing COVID-19.

Post COVID-19 sequelae: A prospective observational study from Northern India.

Post COVID-19 sequelae are a constellation of symptoms often reported after recovering from COVID-19. There is a need to better understand the clinical spectrum and long-term course of this clinical entity. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features and risk factors of post COVID-19 sequelae in the North Indian population.

Gargle lavage & saliva: Feasible & cheaper alternatives to nasal & throat swabs for diagnosis of COVID-19.

Background & Objectives: In the present scenario, the most common sample for diagnosis of COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is nasal and throat swab (NTS). Other sampling options such as gargle lavage have found limited application in clinical use mostly because of unavailability of an appropriate gargling liquid. This study was conducted to assess the stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in normal saline at 4°C that can serve as a gargling liquid as well as a transport medium.

Evaluation of COVID-19 Antigen Fluorescence Immunoassay Test for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: Tests detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific antigen have recently been developed, and many of them are now commercially available. However, the real-world performance of these assays is uncertain; therefore, their validation is important. In this study, we have evaluated the performance of STANDARD F COVID-19 antigen fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) kit.

A case of splenomegaly with RK-39 positivity: A diagnostic pitfall.

Long-standing moderate to marked splenomegaly suggests several differential diagnoses, both haematological and infectious, particularly leishmaniasis and malaria in endemic areas. Non-infectious causes may be missed in these regions, especially if pitfalls of serological testing are not considered. Careful patient evaluation is necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Gargle lavage as a viable alternative to swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Background & Objectives: Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab (NPS and OPS) collection is widely accepted as the preferred method for obtaining respiratory samples. However, it has certain disadvantages which may be overcome by gargling. The primary objective of this study was to assess agreement between gargle lavage and swab as an appropriate respiratory sample for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Comparison of Oral Triclofos and Oral Midazolam as Premedication in Children undergoing Elective Surgery.

Background: Children who have experienced previous hospital admission, operation, procedures, and needle pricks are more reactive to subsequent anesthetic procedures. Many sedative agents have been used for the purpose of premedication, but few of them can be given orally, thus avoiding the pricks. Midazolam, being one such choices, can be given orally, intranasally, and parenterally but has unpredictable response.

Comparison of Nebulized Ketamine and Ketamine with Clonidine in Postoperative Sore Throat.

Background: Various nonpharmacological and pharmacological trials have been used for attenuating postoperative sore throat (POST) with no proven single modality. Ketamine has been used as a gargle or nebulization in the attenuation of POST by its action on peripheral N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Topical administration of clonidine elicits antinociception through α2-adrenoceptors without producing undesirable side effect.

Robust motion artefact resistant circuit for calculation of Mean Arterial Pressure from pulse transit time.

Cuff-less and non-invasive methods of Blood Pressure (BP) monitoring have faced a lot of challenges like stability, noise, motion artefact and requirement for calibration. These factors are the major reasons why such devices do not get approval from the medical community easily. One such method is calculating Blood Pressure indirectly from pulse transit time (PTT) obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) and Photoplethysmogram (PPG).