Introduction: Neonatal Septicemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. As infections due to ESBL producing K. pneumoniae & E. coli are on the rise, the present study was carried out in the NICU of KIMS, Narketpally, with an aim to identify any environmental sources & the mode of transmission over a period of 3 years from August 2006 to July 2009. Materials and Methods: A total of 264 neonates admitted with clinical features suggestive of septicemia in the NICU were studied by blood culture and CRP estimation. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined. ESBL detection was done by double disc synergy test. Environmental samples from various sites (Incubators, phototherapy units, suction apparatus, trolley, door, floor, work surfaces) were collected using sterile swabs every month and processed simultaneously. Results: Of the 264 blood cultures, 197 (75%) showed bacterial growth. K. pneumoniae, 64 (32.7%) was the commonest organism followed by E. coli 55 (28%), S. aureus 31 (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 28 (14%), Acinetobacter 13 (7%), and Coagulase negative Staphylococci 6 (2.8%) respectively. K. pneumoniae & E. coli were isolated from various environmental sites at least on one occasion and consistently from phototherapy units, door & floor of the NICU. The similarity between antibiograms of ESBL producing strains of K. pneumoniae & E. coli isolates from neonates and environment of NICU were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Wide spread use of third generation cephalosporins as a preemptive antibiotic for suspected cases of septicemia have contributed to the emergence of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae & E. coli in addition to other risk factors, both of which have extensively colonized the environment of the NICU. Repeated isolation of these two organisms from the NICU environment proves that some of the neonatal infections may be from the environment itself. Transmission can be stopped by maintaining the sterility of the NICU & hand hygiene among the mothers and health care workers.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis is sometimes seen in Papanicolaou stained smears, but because emphasis is placed on malignant cells in Papanicolaou stained smears, not much is done to search for this parasite in smears. In this study, cervical and vaginal specimens were examined by conventional Papanicolaou method for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis microscopically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred high vaginal swabs collected from gynaecology OPD were stained with Papanicolaou stain. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty (30%) out of 500 Papanicolaou stained smears screened, were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. Out of them 76.67% of positive smears were from asymptomatic females. Presumptive diagnosis based on perinuclear halo and complete T. vaginalis had the highest sensitivity of 69.33%, while diagnosis based on perinuclear halo alone was 50.66% and 41.33% for diagnosis based on identification of complete organisms in Pap smear.

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Dermatophytosis is the most important group of superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes and clinical manifestations vary depending on the causal agent and on the host immune response. The present study was undertaken to assess the clinical profile of dermatophytic infections and to identify the causative fungal species in various clinical presentations among the patients attending the dermatology department of Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh where suspected cases of dermatophytosis attending the outpatient department of Dermatology, KMC & H, Chinakondrupadu, Guntur conducted during January 2018 to May 2019. Specimen collected was subjected to potassium-hydroxide (KOH) wet preparation (10% KOH for skin and hair; 40% KOH for nail)the specimen was inoculated into a test tube containing Sabouraud's dextrose agar with 0.05% chloramphenicol and 0.5% cycloheximide.Out of 163 cases, 73 (44.79%) were males and 90 (55.21%) were females. Male-to-female ratio was 0.81:1. Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 31 – 40 years. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical type observed among 95 cases (58.28%). Mixed dermatophytosis was observed in 54(33.13%) cases. Out of which majority were T corporis + T cruris (66.67%) clinical types. 33.12% of the cases showed culture positive isolates. T. mentagrophytes was the commonest (78.8%) isolate identified in Culture medium. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical type observed in the present study. T. mentagrophytes was the commonest (78.8%) isolate identified in culture medium.