To assess and compare cytogenic damage in the form of micronuclei in various oral lesions according to duration and frequency of tobacco use. The present cross sectional study was carried out from October 2015 to October 2016. We included total 420 cases with 60 cases in each of the following subgroups, no tobacco habit with no obvious oral lesion (control) and tobacco habit with no obvious oral lesion, oral sub mucous fibrosis, leukoplakia, melanoplakia, erythroplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oral mucosal cells were collected from both sides of cheek; slides were prepared and examined for cells with micronuclei. The mean micronuclei index distribution in control group, potentially malignant group, and malignancy group was 1.14, 2.63, and 4.88 respectively and was statistically significant. The mean micronuclei index in control group, smoking tobacco and smokeless tobacco group was 1.14, 2.64, and 2.76 and was statistically significant. The mean micronuclei index was significantly higher in those using tobacco, for longer duration and with frequent tobacco use. The mean micronuclei index can be used as a potential screening tool of genotoxic damage and biomarker for epithelial carcinogenesis. The method has practical utility for warning tobacco users that higher than range has a danger of malignant event and therefore this in future can be used as reinforcement to advice of avoiding tobacco before malignancy develops.

Introduction: Kocuria kristinae is a commensal organism, sometimes considered as a lab contaminant, but its repeated isolation from clinical samples in immunocompromised patients should raise red flags. Materials and Methods: We confirmed the infection with re-isolation of the organism from the same site before starting treatment. For the identification of Kocuria kristinae we used IDGP cards on VITEK 2 compact system. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done manually following CLSI guidelines 2018 for Coagulase-negative staphylococci. Results: A total of 510 major head neck oncosurgeries were performed during the period of two years. Out of which 120 patients had skin and soft tissue infections. Out of these infected patients, 90 were culture positive and of these Kocuria kristinae were isolated in 12 patients. Resistance to penicillin and oxacillin is seen in all isolates. Conclusion: Kocuria kristinae should not be ignored as a commensal flora or lab contaminant in immunocompromised hosts. Its Increase in resistance pattern is a matter of concern. It is an ignored opportunistic pathogen whose detailed sensitivity test should be developed to treat patients timely and effectively.

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