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Biomedical subjects

B Dhawan

Publications and source records attributed to B Dhawan.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Clinical spectrum of bacteroidaceae in a tertiary care hospital.

Members of Bacteroidaceae family are the most commonly isolated anaerobic pathogens in humans. This study summarises our experience of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of these anaerobes from diverse clinical infections in a tertiary care hospital. Over a period of 5 years, 611 samples were received for anaerobic culture. Of these, 53 specimens yielded 62 anaerobic isolates. Thirty of the 62 isolates (48.4%) belonged to Bacteroidacea family obtained from 29 patients. They comprised of 14 (14/32; 43.7%) Prevotella spp., 13 (13/32; 40.6%) Bacteroides spp., 3 (3/32; 9.3%) Porphyromonas spp and Fusobacterium (2/32; 6.2%). In 14 of 27 patients (48%) the infection was polymicrobial. All the isolated strains were sensitive to metronidazole. This study highlights need for adopting anaerobic culture technique as a routine diagnostic procedure and constant monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of all anaerobic isolates.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1998

The microbial spectrum of brain abscess with special reference to anaerobic bacteria.

The bacteriological and clinical findings of 18 cases of brain abscess are presented. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic strains was performed both by conventional methods and the newer RapID ANA II panel and E-test methods, respectively. Characterization of the anaerobic isolates was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Anaerobic or aerobic organisms alone were recovered in three (16.6%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic in another three (16.6%) patients. There were nine anaerobic isolates. The predominant anaerobes were Prevotella melaninogenicus (four isolates), Bacteroides preacutus (three isolates), Fusobacterium nucleatum and Peptostreptococcus sp. (one isolate each). A total of six aerobic isolates, all of which were Gram-positive cocci were recovered. All the anaerobic isolates were susceptible to metronidazole, but two isolates of P. melaninogenicus were resistant to penicillin. There was complete agreement between the identification based on biochemical profiles and RFLP patterns. These findings indicate the microbial complexity of brain abscess and the need to target antimicrobial therapy against both the aerobic and anaerobic components of infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Rapid diagnosis of chlamydial infection in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility by immunoperoxidase assay.

The study describes the value of specific chlamydial IgM antibody detection by indirect immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) for early confirmation of cases of primary infertility and pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) of chlamydial aetiology. Forty-eight infertile women and forty-six women with acute PID were screened. Seven (14.2%) infertility patients and twenty-one (45.6%) PID patients had positive titers for chlamydia trachomatis. The difference in incidence of antichlamydial antibodies in the study group as compared with control was statistically significant (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that in the absence of tissue culture facilities, detection of specific chlamydial IgM antibody is a sensitive serological marker for specific diagnosis of chlamydial infection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in children with community acquired pneumonia.

A prospective one year study was performed on 62 children admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) for the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Diagnosis of infection with M. pneumoniae was based on serological tests viz microparticle agglutination test for detection of IgM antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence test for antigen detection from throat swabs (sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 93.3%). The indirect solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for detection of IgG antibodies was used to determine the prevalence of C. pneumoniae (sensitivity 88.8%, specificity 75.8%). Seventeen patients (27.4%) were found to have serological evidence of M. pneumoniae infection whereas only 4 (6.4%) patients were seropositive for C. pneumoniae. Results of this study indicate that M. Pneumoniae plays a significant role in CAP in infants and young children. Thus specialized laboratory testing for these agents should be more widely used thereby affecting empiric antibiotic regimens.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anaerobic septicaemia by Fusobacterium necrophorum: Lemierre's syndrome.

Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by acute pharyngotonsillitis with secondary thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein which is complicated by multiple metastatic foci of infections. This syndrome is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum in healthy young persons and is extremely rare in occurrence. A pre-school child with Lemierre's syndrome is reported. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are emphasized in order to sensitize physicians to this uncommon condition.

Child, Preschool↗
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

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↗