BACKGROUND Conjunctivitis is one of the most common nontraumatic eye complaints and is one of the most frequently reported diseases in the outpatient and emergency departments. Bacterial conjunctivitis has been reported as one of the most common type of infectious conjunctivitis after viral infections. It is also considered as the primary cause of acute conjunctivitis in children. This study was conducted to isolate and identify organisms causing bacterial conjunctivitis and to determine their in vitro susceptibility or resistance. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Microbiology at Katihar Medical College from December 2018 to May 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from 175 patients using structured questionnaire. External ocular specimens were collected using sterile swabs and inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey’s agar and chocolate agar. Presumptive isolates were further identified by a series of biochemical tests. All isolated organisms were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility against various antibiotics using the Kirby-Baur disk diffusion method. RESULTS A total of 175 samples were collected, out of which, 62.8 % (110 / 175) showed growth of bacteria. Maximum cases of bacterial conjunctivitis were seen in the age group 11 - 20 years. The male to female ratio was 2.7:1. Maximum frequency of bacterial conjunctivitis was observed from May to September. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria isolate 65.5 % (72 / 110) followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis 19.1 % (21 / 110). Most of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were found to be sensitive to moxifloxacin 98.6 % (71 / 72) and gentamicin 95.8 % (69 / 72). 25 % (18 / 72) of Staphylococcus aureus strains were found to be resistant to cefoxitin and were considered as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Maximum numbers of gram-negative strains were sensitive to moxifloxacin 100.0 % (9 / 9) followed by tobramycin 88.9 % (8 / 9). Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains showed maximum sensitivity to moxifloxacin 100.0 (8 / 8) followed by ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin 62.5 % (5 / 8). CONCLUSIONS This study provides an insight into the organisms isolated from cases of bacterial conjunctivitis in Katihar District of Bihar. Determining the susceptibility pattern of these pathogens to available antibiotics is crucial for effective management of bacterial conjunctivitis especially when treatment has to be given empirically. KEY WORDS Bacterial Conjunctivitis, Antibiogram

BACKGROUNDInjuries secondary to severe burns rank among the most serious forms of trauma resulting in anatomic, physiologic, endocrinologic and immunologic stress, especially when burns involve more than 20% of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA). In patients surviving the initial burn and resuscitative phase, infections are a leading cause of mortality. The burnt surface is sterile immediately following thermal injury but after 48 hours the wound is colonised with skin pathogens that typically reside in sweat glands and hair follicles before the burn. After 5 to 7 days, wounds become colonised with yeast and/or Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms from the host's intestinal and upper respiratory tracts, or from the hospital environment and health care workers' hands.

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BACKGROUND Reproductive tract infection (RTI) is a common problem among women and represents a threat to their health. RTI including sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV/ AIDS are increasingly being recognised as a serious public health problem. The most common long-term sequelae are pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical cancer, infertility, spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy, which may lead to maternal death. The common infective agents are Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Agents such as toxoplasma, rubella, CMV and HSV are important causes of infections during pregnancy. Most of the TORCH infections cause mild maternal morbidity, but have serious foetal consequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Design-This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, in a tertiary care medical college hospital in eastern Bihar. A total of 200 high vaginal swabs were collected in duplicate from an equal number of patients attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department with symptoms suggestive of RTI. In the laboratory one swab was used for culture and identification of the organism, the other was used for direct microscopic examination (Gram stain and wet mount) and other tests like amine test and measurement of pH. RESULTS Maximum patients were seen in the age group of 21-30 years, 43.5% (87/200). Least number of cases were seen in the age group of < 20 years 2.5% (5/200). Out of the 200 samples processed in the laboratory, 88 were found to show no growth. The most common isolate was Candida species, 25.5% (51/200). Neisseria gonorrhoeae 0.5% (1/200) was the least common organism isolated. Moreover, the overall rate of isolation of organisms was higher in patients with bad obstetric history. CONCLUSION Vulvovaginal candidiasis was the most common RTI followed by trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. A single case of gonorrhoea was detected. Interestingly, the incidence of RTI was higher in patients with bad obstetric history.

BACKGROUND The commonest bacterial agent involved in causation of urinary tract infection (UTI) is Escherichia coli, both in the community as well as in the hospital. In this study Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with UTI were studied especially for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and determination of fluoroquinolone resistance. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Katihar Medical College and Hospital from December 2018 to May 2020. Urine samples from suspected UTI cases were processed and bacterial isolates were identified as per standard protocol. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer discdiffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. ESBL detection was done as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. RESULTS Out of 3938 urine samples received in the microbiology laboratory, 708 samples showed significant growth of various bacteria and candida species, out of these only 105 patients had urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli. The male to female ratio was 0.25:1. Isolates were highly sensitive to nitrofurantoin (80.9 %) followed by amikacin (72.4 %) and imipenem (71.5 %). Maximum resistance was seen with amoxicillin (98.1 %), cefuroxime (96.2 %), cefpodoxime and cefotaxime (90.5 %), ceftriaxone (85.7 %), nalidixic acid (91.4 %) and ciprofloxacin (70.5 %). 70.5 % were found to be ESBL producers and 29.5 % were non-ESBL producers. The double disc synergy test (DDST) could detect only 42.8 % of ESBL producers whereas phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion (PCDDT) detected 70.5 % of ESBL producers. CONCLUSIONS It was seen in the present study that a high proportion of community acquired strains of Escherichia coli were ESBL producers. In this study, 70.5 % of Escherichia coli strains were ESBL positive. It can therefore be recommended that all gram-negative isolates be tested for ESBL production preferably by the PCDDT test as this test was found to be most sensitive for detection of ESBL production. The PCDDT test requires minimum laboratory infrastructure, is cheap and easy as compared to molecular methods. KEY WORDS Escherichia coli, UTI, ESBL, PCDDT, DDST