Prevalence and Detection of Heteroresistant Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) Among Clinical Isolates: A Comparative Evaluation of Screening Methods.

Background:   is a major human pathogen, with methicillin-resistant (MRSA) posing a significant challenge due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. Vancomycin remains the drug of choice for MRSA infections; however, resistance mechanisms such as vancomycin-intermediate (VISA) and heteroresistant VISA (hVISA) have emerged, leading to treatment failures. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hVISA among clinical isolates and compare the efficacy of different screening methods.

Bilateral scrofuloderma: An incessant entity.

Scrofuloderma is most common presentation of cutaneous tuberculosis in India. A 15-years-old immunocompetent male presented with bilateral cervical necrotising lesions and was treated with ATTx9 months, without improvement. Patient was diagnosed with scrofuloderma and ZN staining revealed 2+acid-fast bacilli.

A cautionary tale of pseudo- infection in neonates.

We report a tale of two cases of neonates, where India Ink preparation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) received in glass vials was suggestive of ; however, the absence of correlation and report of cases sequentially from the same unit raised alarm bells. Repeat smears using routine in-house and newly prepared stains were prepared and repeat sampling was collected in a strictly sterile specimen container, which resulted in negative microscopy for repeat samples (uncentrifuged and centrifuged). The source of contamination was found to be non-sterile glass vials used for CSF collection.

Diagnostic Stewardship in Clinical Microbiology: An Indispensable Component of Patient Care.

Emerging infectious diseases and increasing resistance to available antimicrobials are mapping the evolution of clinical microbiology and escalating the nature of undertakings required. Rapid diagnosis has become the need of the hour, which can affect diagnostic algorithms and therapeutic decisions simultaneously. Subsequently, the concept of 'diagnostic stewardship' was introduced into clinical practice for coherent implementation of available diagnostic modalities to ensure that these new rapid diagnostic technologies are conserved, rather than consumed as part of health care resources, with a view to improve the patient care and reduce Turnaround Time (TAT) and treatment expense.

Insights into changing patterns of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in North India.

Purpose: Tuberculosis is one of the dreadful infections and India contributes to substantial burden of TB cases globally. Though majority of cases are pulmonary, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) share significant burden, more in HIV-positive persons. Despite the striking burden, very few studies have been conducted in India and present study was undertaken to determine trends of EPTB at our tertiary care centre.

Clinical spectrum, phenotypic and molecular characterization, and antifungal susceptibility of an emerging human pathogen, Acrophialophora, from India.

Acrophialophora is implicated in superficial and invasive infections, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. The present study was undertaken to provide clinical, microbiological, phylogenetic, and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) profile of Acrophialophora isolated from India. All the isolates identified as Acrophialophora species at the National Culture Collection for Pathogenic Fungi, Chandigarh, India were revived.

Performance of Cepheid CT/NG Xpert rapid PCR test for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at a tertiary care centre in North India.

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are prevalent causes of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally, leading to substantial morbidity and transmission risks.

Methods: This study evaluates the diagnostic efficacy of Xpert CT/NG compared to conventional PCR and culture methods in 121 patients at a tertiary care centre in North India.

Results: Xpert CT/NG demonstrated high sensitivity (85.

Cladosporium halotolerans: Exploring an Unheeded Human Pathogen.

Background: Cladosporium halotolerans is a saprobic fungus, rarely implicated in human infections. The identification is challenging due to non-specific phenotypic features.

Objective: To decipher clinical spectrum, microbiological and susceptibility profile of clinical and environmental isolates of Cladosporium halotolerans.

Risk factor and resistance profile of colistin resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiellapneumoniae.

Purpose: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major global health concerns, which is relentless despite multipronged measures. Carbapenems and colistin, drug of choice for multi drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter species, have also been rendered of less use. This underlines the need to decipher prevalence of colistin resistance comprehensively for formulation of hospital and country-wise antibiogram.

Utility of CDC DENV1-4 real time PCR assay and trioplex assay for the diagnosis of dengue in patients with acute febrile illness.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have revolutionized reliable detection of dengue virus (DENV) during acute phase of infection. The study evaluated performance of CDC DENV-1-4 real-time assay, trioplex RT-PCR and heminested conventional RT-PCR assay in the diagnosis of DENV. The three NAATs were performed on 107 consecutive samples collected from patients suspected of DENV infection during acute phase of illness.

Emergence of COVID-19 Variants: An Update.

Severe acute respiratory disease virus-2 (SARS CoV-2) is one of the deadliest global threats faced by mankind to date. Despite the colossal efforts, the viral pandemic swept across all boundaries. Besides the virulence and susceptible population, the low proofreading capacity and error-prone mechanism of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) have contributed to new variants and reinfections.

Stable isotope labeling as a promising tool for rapid drug susceptibility testing in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The world is heading towards an era of intractable and impending untreatable N. gonorrhoeae, thereby underlining the significance of rapid and accurate prediction of drug resistance as an indispensable need of the hour. In the present study, we optimized and evaluated a stable isotope labeling-based approach using the MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry) for rapid and reliable detection of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin resistance in N.

Mucoid Staphylococcus haemolyticus: an unheeded multidrug-resistant pathogen.

Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are among the most abundant members of human skin microbiome. CoNS have lately been recognized as substantial agents in plethora of infections, especially nosocomial infections in preterm infants and immunocompromised patients. Staphylococcus haemolyticus is the second most common species isolated from blood, and identification is further hindered when there is a deviation in morphology from the classical one.

Disseminated Cryptococcosis and Pulmonary Mucormycosis: Dealing with Dual Mycoses in a Renal Transplant Patient.

We describe a 36-year-old post-renal transplant patient diagnosed with a rare dual infection by Cryptococcus neoformans and Lichtheimia ramosa. The case highlights the significance of invasive samples and accurate interpretation of fungal biomarkers in the diagnosis of fungal infections in immunosuppressed patients. The mortality in such cases is high owing to delay in diagnosis, inability to perform surgical management or antifungal resistance.

Trend of pediatric cryptococcosis in a tertiary care centre and review of literature.

Purpose: Cryptococcosis is one of the most significant systemic fungal infections worldwide. Epidemiological data for pediatric cryptococcosis is very limited. Therefore, we planned this study to determine the burden of cryptococcosis in the pediatric population at our tertiary care center and performed review of literature.

Initial Case Report of Cladorrhinum samala Mycotic Keratitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the first case of keratitis caused by Cladorrhinum samala and review of the literature.

Methods: This was a case report and literature review.

Results: A 35-year-old immunocompetent man presented with pain, redness, and watering in the right eye 7 days after trauma with some foreign body.

Quantification of diurnal variation in "glove hygiene" compliance in COVID ICUs: An exploratory study.

Background: Hand hygiene compliance (HHC) monitoring is almost always done in daytime. Documentation of HHC in health care workers (HCWs) is limited during odd hours and nighttime. The objective of the study was to determine diurnal variation in HHC in different categories of health care workers in tertiary care hospital in North India.

Haemophilus influenzae bacteremia: A 5-year (2016-2020) retrospective study analysing the clinical and laboratory features.

Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) causes invasive disease like bacteremia which is rarely diagnosed. We conducted this retrospective study of H.

First case of endophthalmitis by Corynespora cassiicola.

Corynespora cassiicola is an environmental phytopathogen implicated in various human infections and has been isolated from one case of keratitis. We report here the first case of endophthalmitis caused by Corynespora cassiicola in a 54-year-old diabetic patient, who developed diminished vision, redness, and watering in the right eye, six weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema. Direct microscopy of the vitreous tap revealed septate hyphae, and culture grew white mycelium that turned olive-grey to black within two days and was confirmed as C.

Bacterial diversity of hospital water tanks and the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide based cleaning: Experience in a tertiary care center in India.

Background: Hospital water is often an overlooked yet preventable source of hospital-acquired infections. CDC recommends annual cleaning of water reservoirs in health care settings. In our tertiary care hospital, periodic disinfection and microbiological surveillance of all the water tanks in hospital premises is carried out.

Pediatric case of conidiobolomycosis: A rare entity.

Conidiobolomycosis caused by Conidiobolus species is an uncommon infection restricted to tropical and subtropical regions, usually affecting immunocompetent individuals. More than half of pediatric cases of conidiobolomycosis across the globe are from India. We report a case of subcutaneous conidiobolomycosis in an adolescent with development delay who responded to combined therapy with itraconazole and saturated solution of potassium iodide.