Background: Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death and major tobacco related diseases like cancer costs India more than Rs.308.33 billion per year. Cigarette smoking increases the total peripheral blood leukocyte count but its effect on other haematological parameters is largely unexplored.

Superficial fungal infections are most common in tropical and subtropical countries. In this study, 297 suspected superficial fungal infection cases were identified among 15,950 patients screened. The collected samples (skin, nail, and hair) were subjected to direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabourauds dextrose agar to identify the fungal species. The prevalence of superficial fungal infection was 27.6% (82/297), dermatophytosis was 75.6% (62/82), and non-dermatophytosis was 24.4% (20/82). Among the isolated dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum was the commonest species (79%) and Candida (60%) the commonest non-dermatophytic species. Tinea corporis was the commonest (78%) clinical presentation.

This study was conducted to determine whether mobile phones of healthcare workers (HCWs) and T corporate users harbour micro-organisms. Swabs collected from mobile phones were inoculated in solid and liquid media, and incubated aerobically. Growth was identified as per standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined for Staphylococcus aureus. A questionnaire was used for data collection on awareness of mobile phone use. Of 51 HCWs and 36 corporate mobile phones sampled, only 5 (6%) showed no growth. Pathogens isolated from HCW samples included S. aureus [meticillin-sensitive S. aureus (4), meticillin-resistant S. aureus (2)], Escherichia coli (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (43) were also isolated. Among corporate isolates, 29% were pathogenic. Polymicrobial growth was detected in 71% of HCW and 78% of corporate mobile phones. Only 12% of HCWs used disinfectants to wipe their mobile phones. Mobile phones serve as a ready surface for colonisation of nosocomial agents indicating the importance of hand hygiene to prevent cross-transmission.

IntroductionDiabetic foot infection is the most dreaded complication of diabetes mellitus and the commonest cause of hospitalization and limb amputation. Identification of the causative agent responsible for diabetic foot infection and the earliest initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy are vital for the control and prevention of the complication of diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the bacteriological profile of diabetic foot ulcers and to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers in our institute. MethodologyDuring the study period, samples were collected from the foot ulcers of 100 patients at the Diabetic Outpatient Department. The samples were processed according to the standard laboratory protocol, and bacterial isolates were identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique, and results were interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (CLSI 2016). A phenotypic test for MRSA detection was performed using cefoxitin (30 μg) disk. ResultsThe highest incidence of diabetic foot ulcers was observed in patients aged 41-50 years. There were 83 men and 17 women, with a male to female ratio of 4.882. Of the 100 collected samples, 73 were positive for microbial growth, and 27 samples showed no growth. Of the 73 positive cultures, monomicrobial infection was found in 48 patients, and polymicrobial infection was found in 25 patients. Gram-positive pathogens were isolated from 34 patients, and gram-negative microbes were isolated from 64 patients. Among all collected isolates (n=100), Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant organism and Acinetobacter species was the least common (only two isolates). Among the gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant. All the isolated gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to vancomycin. Gramnegative bacteria were highly susceptible to colistin with the exception of Proteus species which is intrinsically resistant to colistin and it is not reported for Proteus species. ESBL producers were primarily found among Klebsiella species isolates (22.22%). Among 29 S. aureus isolates, 8 (27.5%) were found to be MRSA producers. ConclusionBased on the bacteriological profile of diabetic foot ulcers, S. aureus among the gram-positive isolates and P. aeruginosa among the gram-negative isolates were the predominant pathogens. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and ESBL producers have been reported with increasing frequency. According to the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, treatment can be initiated, continued, or altered, thereby reducing morbidity in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.