Candida continues to be leading cause of morbidity and mortality in large population of immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. Invasive Candidiasis due to non-albicans candida has been on the rise in last few years. Incidence rates vary geographically, often because of different patient populations studied. The present study was conducted to find out the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species from different sources and patient population of our tertiary care hospital. A total of 103 Candida species were isolated from the different clinical specimens of suspected candida infection cases, In this study, it was observed that candidiasis can occur at all ages and in both sexes. 82 (79.6%) isolates were obtained from cases admitted in different inpatient departments of which 51 (49.5%) accounted for isolates from various ICUs mainly NICU. Most of the isolates obtained were from urine samples (44.6%) followed by blood (34.9%). Non albicans Candida were isolated at a higher rate (52.8%) than Candida albicans (47.5%). Among all species of Candida commonest isolate was C. albicans (47.5%) followed by C. tropicalis (26.21%). Overall high suceptibility to voriconazole and Amphotericin B (99.03%). This study emphasizes the need for monitoring local epidemiologic data and antifungal susceptibility pattern of candida isolates for proper treatment.

Increasing prevalence of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and resistanceto multiple antibiotic classes is a global issue. Regional surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility of the organism is a necessary step to overcome the issues of antimicrobial resistance and treatment failure in MRSA infections. The study was conducted to find the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility in MRSA isolated from the pus samples of patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Bastar tribal region in Central India. The study was performed on 215 MRSA isolates cultured from pus samples of patients over a period of two years and five months. In the methicillin resistant organisms selected by oxacillin screen agar test and cefoxitin disk diffusion test, antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby Baur disk diffusion test with CLSI guide lines. Of the total S. aureus isolates, the incidence of MRSA was 34.1% of which 82.8% were resistant to co‐trimoxazole, 77.2% to tetracycline, 68.8% to gentamycin, 66% to erythromycin, 64.2% to ciprofloxacin, 1.4% to vancomycin, and 0.9% to linezolid. All these isolates were resistant to the ß‐lactam antibiotics tested. Emergence of linezolid resistance and relatively higher vancomycin resistance in the MRSA isolates is a worrisome finding of this study. The antibiotic prescribing must rely on both initial empirical therapy and microbiological antibiotic susceptibility result.

Background: Empirically chosen antibiotics based on the local resistance pattern of uropathogens remain the principle treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI).Methods: Antibiogram of most frequent uropathogen was determined. Based on the antibiogram result, authors compared effectiveness of drugs recommended for UTI by National centre for disease control (NCDC), India, and assessed age and gender based variability in the effectiveness of these drugs.Results: 1278 urine samples were accounted, of which 405 samples showed significant growth. E. coli was the most common uropathogen (n=146, 36%) followed by enterococcus species (31%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10%). Using McNemar’s test authors found that nitrofurantoin (90% sensitivity) was statistically the most effective drug among drugs recommended by NCDC for uncomplicated cystitis. Furthermore, authors used Fisher’s exact test on adults and paediatrics and found that significant difference in effectiveness was observed for nitrofurantoin (p-value <0.001) and cotrimoxazole (p-value 0.034). Using logistic regression, authors found that with age, effectiveness of ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole deteriorate significantly (p-value 0.021 and 0.002 respectively). Additionally, authors observed that cotrimoxazole has significantly better efficacy in males compared to females (p-value 0.022).Conclusions: In accordance with present study, nitrofurantoin can be used as first line treatment for uncomplicated cystitis. Age and gender should be considered while prescribing empirical treatment for UTI. Periodic surveillance should be carried out to identify the on-going pattern of antibiogram to update the guideline for empirical therapy.

Deinococcus radiodurans Deinococcus radioduransDeinococcus radiodurans is one of the most yet discovered extremophilic microbe, the isolation of which from the various habitats of Kotumsar cave is always a matter of enticement to discover its ecological economics. In the present work we studied the intra versus extracellular alkaline protease and glucose isomerase secretion capabilities of ; KCB21, KCB50, KCB93 isolated from three distinct subterranean niches of Kotumsar cave. The selected niches/zones were the entrance zone, transient zone and the deep inner zone from where the soil sediments were collected to isolate the bacterial strains. The results revealed high extracellular alkaline protease activity from the strain which was isolated from the deeper zones of the cave, whereas no such phenomenon was revealed forglucose isomerase. The possible reason for the obtained results has been discussed. Subterranean Microhabitat Dependent Intra Versus Extracellular Enzyme Secretion Capabilities of Deinococcus radiodurans AbstractStudy Area: Kotumsar Cave, Jagdalpur, India Coordinates: : 18 52'090" N; 81 56'05" E 0 0

BACKGROUND The resistance of Acinetobacter varies widely geographically and between various units of the same hospital at various time points. The variations in Acinetobacter resistance demands a periodic surveillance of these pathogens to achieve appropriate selection of therapy. Due to unpredictable multidrug resistance patterns of clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, it is important to know the prevalent susceptibility profiles as well as various risk factors associated with multidrug resistance. The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of Acinetobacter infections, susceptibility patterns and the possible risk factors for the multidrug resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 18 months. Acinetobacter species were isolated from a range of clinical samples (ICU, wards, outpatient departments) received in Department of Microbiology. The antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the standard disc diffusion method. RESULTS Out of total 1581 positive samples, 4.7% were found to be Acinetobacter. The most predominant species was Acinetobacter baumannii complex (72.8%). Samples showed the maximum resistance to piperacillin (49%), ceftazidime (48%), amikacin (46%), cefepime (41%), ciprofloxacin (27%), imipenem and netilmicin (33%). Antibiotic resistance was higher in the samples from Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of the hospital. Statistical analysis showed the following risk factors for Multidrug Resistance (MDR) A.baumannii infection: the occurrence of ischaemic heart disease patients (OR= 2.12, p-value 0.04), mechanical ventilation (OR= 2.84, p-value= 0.001) and usage of home-based antimicrobial treatment (OR= 2.47, p-value= 0.02). CONCLUSION This study clearly documents a high prevalence rate of infections as well as antibiotic resistance. The occurrence of multidrug resistant infections was associated with the risk factors, which can be prevented or treated early.