BACKGROUND: Dengue is an important arthropod-borne viral disease of public health significance affecting tropical and subtropical regions of the world including Indian subcontinent. As there is no immunoprophylactic or specific antiviral therapy available, an epidemiological surveillance that provides reliable estimate of the disease is essential to implement effective vector control measures. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to understand the serological markers distribution, change in platelet count of probable dengue infection in view of its seasonal variation and demographic variables. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 4015 patients with dengue fever-like febrile illnesses from January 2012 to December 2012.These samples were tested for dengue specific Ns1 Antigen, IgM and IgG antibodies using rapid immunochromatographic assay from SD diagnostics. Platelet counts were determined by using automated SysmexXT1800icellcounter analyser. The seropositivity results were correlated with 2010 and 2011 year's data. RESULTS: Of the 4015 samples, 1385 (34.5%) were positive for dengue fever with peak incidence from June to October. Dengue seropositivity was 34.3% and 14.8% in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1 among positives. Younger age group with age < 18 Years (42%) had higher seropositivity compared to adults with age > 18 years (33%) with p value of 0.00003. NS1 antigen was positive in 59% of cases. IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 47.87% & 53.71 % cases respectively. Platelet counts of 822 positive patients were analysed. 590 (72.77%) patients had platelet counts < 1 lakh/ml and 232(28.22%) had platelet counts > 1lakh/ml. CONCLUSION: The probable dengue infection was higher in 2012 than in previous years. The observation of the present study emphasizes the need for continuous seroepidemiological surveillance for the timely formulation and implementation of effective dengue control programme during monsoon and post monsoon seasons.

CONTEXT: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) infections are an important cause of mortality in young children. There are a number of problems associated with establishing the microbial etiology by conventional methods, thus highlighting the need for a rapid, improved and accurate test method. A rapid immunochromatographic assay has been developed for detecting a pneumococcal cell wall antigen common to all 92 serotypes. AIM: The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the Binax NOW test when performed on Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and pleural fluid can give any additional information vis a vis the culture and other methods of identification of S. pneumoniae. MATERIAL & METHODS: CSF and pleural fluid samples were collected from suspected cases of both meningitis and/or pneumonia with or without synpneumonic effusions in the age group of 28 days to 60 months. The samples were subjected to Gram's stain, culture and sensitivity, CRP, cell count, cell type, protein and sugar tests. In addition, the immunochromatographic test (ICT) (Binax NOW, Scarborough, ME) was performed on all samples to detect S. pneumoniae polysaccharide antigen. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done in patients who had a positive ICT in the pleural fluid. RESULTS: A total of 104 children were recruited, of whom 90 were cases of suspected meningitis and 14 of pneumonia with synpneumonic effusions. The ICT result was positive in 19 patients, in 10 of 90 CSF and 9 of 14 pleural fluid samples. Culture for S. pneumoniae was positive in 6 cases (9 specimens). When ICT was compared to culture, the sensitivity of ICT was 100% (6/6) and the specificity was 85.97 (85/95). Streptococcus mitis (one), Staphylococcus epidermidis (one), Pseudomonas (one) isolated in culture gave false positive ICT results. Previous antibiotic exposure did not seem to alter the sensitivity of the test. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge this is the first Indian study on Binax NOW test on CSF and pleural fluid. The ICT test performed on CSF and pleural fluid samples not only augments the standard diagnostic methods of blood and fluid cultures, but is useful even in patients with prior antibiotic therapy.

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INTRODUCTION: S.pneumoniae is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in India and abroad and carriage is the key to invasive disease. Carriage (20-60%) and invasive disease are more prevalent in children and in the elderly. Increased case fatality is due to the emergence of Penicillin and Multidrug Resistant S.pneumoniae worldwide. Penicillin has been the drug of choice for treatment of pneumococcal infections but the increasing number of reports of penicillin resistant pneumococci (PRP) throughout the world makes it essential to regionally determine the prevalence of PRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children between ≥ 3 months and ≤ 5 years of age attending paediatric immunization OPD in a medical college tertiary care hospital and research centre, Bengaluru, between December 2008 and August 2009 (8 months). S. pneumoniae were isolated based on colony morphology, Gram's staining, optochin sensitivity, and bile solubility. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by Kriby-Bauer disc diffusion method for recommended commonly prescribed antibiotics. Oxacillin resistant strains denoting penicillin resistance were tested for Minimum inhibitory concentration for Penicillin G by Epsilometer test. RESULTS: 53 (27.89 %) S. pneumoniae were isolated from 190 nasopharyngeal swabs. 9 (16.98%) isolates have been intermediately penicillin resistant by E test. Only 5 (9.43%) and 34 (64.15%) isolates were sensitive to co-trimoxazole and tetracycline respectively. 51 isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime, 48 (90.56%) each were susceptible to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. 25(47.19%) out of 53 isolates could be recovered at the end of one year stored in STGG medium at-20˚ C. Serogroup types 19, 10, 3, 14, 7, were common among the isolates. CONCLUSION: Carriage of S. pneumoniae is prevalent among young children in Bengaluru, which may predispose them to subsequent invasive pneumococcal diseases. There is decreased susceptibility to penicillin and other recommended antibiotics that may warrant appropriate culture and sensitivity testing during the management of invasive pneumococcal diseases and prescription of antibiotics in general. KEY WORDS: Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumococcal carriage, epsilometer test, penicillin resistant pneumococci INTRODUCTION: S. pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in India and abroad and carriage is the key to invasive disease [1, 2, 3]. S. pneumoniae causes infections of the middle ear, sinuses, trachea, bronchi, and lungs by direct spread from the nasopharyngeal site of colonization. Infections of the CNS, heart valves, bones, joints, and peritoneal cavity usually arise