Background: Mucormycosis is an infection caused by a fungus that is present naturally in the environment. There has been an increased number of mucormycosis infections reported during COVID-19 and post COVID period. Dysregulated immune system due to COVID-19 and steroid use in the treatment which suppresses the immune system predisposes to this fungal infection. Patients with Diabetes Mellitus & those who receive humidified oxygen during COVID-19 are found to be at higher risk of developing mucormycosis. Methodology: 60 patients with mucormycosis admitted in the mucormycosis ward of SVRRGGH, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India in June 2021 are enrolled and retrospectively studied. Data were collected according to prestructured proforma about risk factors which include the previous history of Diabetes, CT severity score during COVID-19, and use of steroids and oxygen during the period of COVID-19. Results:  A total of 60 patients with mucormycosis were included in the study with a mean age of 49.25+/-10.29. 80% of the patients were males & 20% were females. 38.33% had mild COVID-19 (CTSS 0-7), 45% had moderate disease (CTSS 8-17) and 16.66% had severe disease (CTSS 18-25). 70% had stage 2, 18.33% had stage 3 and 10% had stage 4 mucormycosis. Out of total patients, 78.33% were found to have a previous history of diabetes or newly detected diabetes. 60% of the patients had a history of humidified oxygen inhalation & 58.33% of the patients had received steroids during COVID-19. Conclusion: Male preponderance was observed in the study. Diabetes Mellitus, steroid use, humidified oxygen usage are the identifiable risk factors in mucormycosis associated with COVID-19. CT severity score is directly proportional to mucormycosis severity in the present study.

Background: The knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding has been prejudiced by demographic, social, cultural, biophysical, and psychosocial factors. About two-thirds of under-five deaths in India are associated with inappropriate infant feeding practices. Objective of this study was to assess the awareness, knowledge and practice of breastfeeding among the mothers attending to the tertiary care institute at Puducherry, India.Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 150 postnatal mothers who attended immunization clinics, post-natal and paediatric wards at the tertiary care hospital at Puducherry collecting data about breastfeeding knowledge and practices using a structured interview.Results: The breastfeeding practices were significantly poorer in terms of initiation, feeding colostrums, timing and frequency of feeding and inclusion of pre-lacteal feeds among obese women compared to the normal weighted mothers. The breastfeeding knowledge and attitude was healthy among the mothers as depicted by the awareness of nutritive value of breast milk by majority (84%) of mothers.Conclusions: The mothers had poor knowledge regarding initiation of breastfeeding and administration of colostrum. There was a positive attitude about exclusive breastfeeding, frequency of feeding and social aspects of breastfeeding.

Lecture is an important mode of sharing and providing knowledge to a large group of students in a specified time and place. Medical curriculum is changing from time to time and evaluation of curriculum is a routine process by the experts. However the opinion of students is important because they are at the recipient end. Changes in the curriculum can be adopted by considering their opinion. Objectives: To study the perceptions and preferences of the medical students about large group teaching. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study is taken among 459 medical students of Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, A. P. after informed consent. A validated questionnaire is administered to the students. Answered questionnaires are analyzed. Results: 85% of the students participated; 91%, 81% and 80% of pre, para and clinical year students respectively. Most of the students are not satisfied with the present day teaching by using PPT. They prefer black board teaching and using of PPT whenever necessary with better audio visual aids and improved class room environment. Conclusions: This survey identifies many defects in the essential component of medical curriculum i.e., teaching. Improving the skills of teaching in medical teachers and improving the facilities in the lecture halls, so that the students can learn in a better manner to become effective primary care physicians in the society.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of acute bacterial illness in infants and children(1).Diagnosis is often missed in infants and children as urinary symptoms are minimal and nonspecific. It is becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among organisms.Method: It was done as a retrospective cross sectional study conducted on Children of 2-12 years of age suspected to have UTI  from January 2018 to December 2018 in Pediatric Department of AVMCH.Results: Out of 286 children with symptoms suggestive of Urinary tract infection, 22(7.7%) were found to have culture positive UTI with 9.2% prevalence in 2-6 years age group as against 6.4% in 7-12 years of age group. Culture positive UTI was predominantly found in males in 2-6 years age group as against female predominance in 7-12 years age group. E. coli (45.5%) was the commonest organism isolated among them followed by Klebsiella. 90% of organisms were sensitive to Nitrofurantoin  and 80% were sensitive to Amikacin(80%).Discussion: Culture positive UTI  rate varies with gender and age group. It was predominantly found in males in 2-6 years age group as against female predominance in 7-12 years age group. E. coli and Klebsieella were the most common organisms with predominant sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin and Amikacin similar to other studies. Limitation of this study Retrospective study, small sample size and follow up for complications not done.Conclusion: This study concludes E. coli and Klebsieella were the most common organisms with predominant sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin and Amikacin. Antibiotics need to be selected based on organisms and their sensitivity pattern.