Journal of Microbiology and Related Research

 Acase of meningococcal septicemia in a male child was reported in Nov. 2014 at Government Medical College, Latur. The main features were fever with rash, respiratory distress since 4 days and altered sensorium since 2 days. The rash was purpuric and present all over the body including palms and soles. Gram stain from purpuric sites showed Gram negative diplococci suggestive of Neisseria meningitidis. In  case of meningococcal disease, some patients develop acute meningococcemia whilst others develop meningitis. The mechanism is unknown, but the case fatality of acute meningococcemia is tenfold than that of meningococcal meningitis. It is possible that the delay in diagnosis of meningococcal disease with a maculo-papular rash alone might contribute to mortality as these children are thought to have viral illnesses and are not started on antibiotic treatment. Thus it is important to recognize this life-threatening condition in the initial stable phase to provide the emergency management so as to reduce mortality.  

 Introduction: The introduction of newer immunosuppressive agents has led to a shift in the spectrum of infections occurring after kidney transplantation. This may be due to blunted inflammatory response in such patients and a timely diagnosis and institution of therapy is essential in such cases. Among fungal agents, Candida is the most commonly isolated species. A new teleomorphic species of Candida, Stephanoascus ciferrii has been associated with systemic mycosis in immunocompromised hosts. This species is particulary resistant to fluconazole. Here we report a case of fluconazole sensitive Stephanoascus ciferrii isolated from BAL Fluid in a kidney transplant patient. Materials and Methods: BAL Fluid was inoculated on Blood and MacConkey agar plates and for fungus isolation on Saboraud’s Agar. After 24 hrs of incubation at 370C, Blood and MacConkey agar plates showed growth. Growth was also observed on Saboraud’s Agar. Gram’s staining of growth from MacConkey Agar showed growth of gram negative bacilli and from Saboraud’s Agar showed growth of budding yeast forms suggestive of Candida species . For identification and susceptibility of these organisms Gram negative panel and YST panel was selected and performed on Vitek II (Biomerieux ). Results: The bacteria were identified as Klebsiella Pneumoniae and yeast was identified as Stephanoascus Ciferrii. Conclusion: Candida ciferrii or Stephanoascus ciferrii as it is known is a new strain of Candida, which has rarely been associated with human infection. However it can cause opportunistic infection in immuno compromised patients and a high index of suspicion is required for a correct diagnosis to be made.  

 Introduction: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged with increasing resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents used for treatment of infections. The incidence of hospital acquired MRSA varies from 25% in western part of India, to 50% in South India. There is need of new antimicrobial agents, as increase in resistance and spread of multi drug resistance among many pathogenic species. Tigecycline is a newer glycylcycline antimicrobial agent very active against bacteria resistant to other classes of antibiotics, including the quinolones & betalactams. Aims & Objective: To evaluate in vitro activity of Tigecycline against Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Material and methods: A total of 50 MRSA were isolated from various clinical samples of patients attending to tertiary care hospital. The organisms were identified by conventional method and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines. Tigecycline MIC was determined by using E strips according to manufacturer’s instruction. Result: In our study all MRSA isolates were sensitive linezolid and teicoplanin. All MRSA isolates were inhibited by concentration of 0.5μg/ml of tigecycline. Most of strains in our study had MIC value less than 0.125μg/ml which was much below the US FDA cut offs for the susceptibility. Conclusion: Tigecycline is a potent anti microbial agent against MRSA. In the view of its excellent activity against MDR pathogens, it is prudent to reserve tigecycline for life threatening infections when other options fail.  

 Background: India is a developing country with large population of child bearing age group, majority from low socioeconomic status. Unaware of the possibilities of asymptomatic bacteriuria and its complications and often neglecting minor symptoms due to ignorance, lack of medical facilities; ultimately face antenatal, perinatal and postnatal complications. Aim/Objectives: This study aimed at uropathogens associated with asymptomatic urinary tract infection in antenatal patients. The objectives of the study were: To determine rate of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ASB) in antenatal patients. To identify the uropathogens causing Asymptomatic Bacteriuria and to find out their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Methods: Clean catch midstream urine specimens were collected from 300 women of any gestational age who attended the Department of Microbiology from April 2014- April 2015. Uncentrifuged urine samples were taken for wet mount preparation. Cultures were done using CLED agar at 37o C. Antimicrobial susceptibility test were assessed using CLSI guidelines on Mueller Hinton agar. Results: Out of 300 antenatal patients Asymptomatic bacteriuria was positive in 10% of Women. E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogen isolated which were found to be sensitive to Ceftriaxone and Ciprofloxacin (100%, 100%) respectively. Conclusion: The major pathogen isolated among 30 positive cases of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria were E. coli and Coagulase negative staphylococcus. All isolates of E.coli and Coagulase negative staphylococcus were found to be highly sensitive with antimicrobial particularly Ceftriaxone and Ciprofloxacin. Hence, this study recommends for screening cases of Asymptomatic bacteriuria and timely management is necessary to prevent the complications associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria.  

 Introduction: Colonisation of vagina and cervical epithelium by a variety of micro organisms can cause pelvic infection in pregnant women. The pH and enzymes present in the vaginal secretions determines the type of micro organisms which may cause infection. The knowledge of the commensal bacterial flora of vagina and cervical epithelium is important in pregnancy as many complications may arise due to infection like premature rupture of membranes, puerperal fever, intra or post partum neonatal infections via upper respiratory tract or the umbilical cord Bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs in about 20 % of the pregnant women and has been associated with adverse pregnancy out comes. The present retrospective study was undertaken with the primary aim of analyzing the common micro organisms causing vaginal infections in pregnant women coming to our microbiology department for vaginal swab cultures. Materials and Methods: High vaginal swabs were collected from 267 pregnant women coming to our Microbiology Department with vaginal symptoms from June 2014 to May 2015. Samples were collected with sterile swabs and immediately inoculated on blood and MacConkey agar plates. After 24 hours, Gram’s stain of pure colonies was done to indentify the organism and accordingly panel was selected for identification and sensitivity on Vitec II (Biomerieux). Results: A total of 159 / 267 (59.5 %) cultures were sterile. 108 / 267 (40.5 %) cultures showed growth of micro organisms out of which E.coli was isolated in 22 (20.3 %), Candida (33.3 %), Staph. aureus (20.3 %), group B Streptococci (11.1 %) and Klebsiella (2.7 %). Candida species was the commonest organism isolated, followed by Staph aureus and E.coli, group B Streptococci and rarely Klebsiella . onclusion: Lactobacilli constitute the major vaginal flora in women during child bearing age and is helpful in maintaining the acidic pH of vagina so that organisms do not invade and cause disease. The natural history of abnormal vaginal flora in pregnancy is still poorly understood but that it can cause perinatal morbidity and mortality is a well known fact. So, for a healthy perinatal outcome of pregnancy, a vaginal swab culture is required in all pregnant women.  

 Bluetongue (BT) is a disease of domestic and wild ruminant caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) of genus Orbivirus and family Reoviridae. BTV is non-enveloped icosahedral virus having 10 segmented dsRNA genome. The VP5 protein encoded by segment 6 along with VP2 protein gives serotype specificity to the virus. The BTV serotype 2 (isolate M11) was isolated from an outbreak in sheep from Andhra Pradesh state. The virus sample was grown in BHK21 cell culture. The RNA-PAGE and NS1 gene based RT-PCR confirmed the sample as BTV. The viral cDNA was allowed for segment 6 (vp5 gene) specific RT- CR using primers for all the serotypes. The BTV2 specific vp5 gene PCR amplicon was cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that Indian BTV2 serotype showed more than 99/97% nucleotide/amino acid sequence identity with western origin viruses from India, USA and South Africa. The study further indicated that western BTV2 in India may be originated from vaccine strains of BTV2 from South Africa.  

 Not Provided.