INTRODUCTIONPseudomonas aeruginosa is an aerobic, motile, nutritionally versatile, gram negative bacteria. It is ubiquitous, human opportunistic pathogen and has implications on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs both in hospitals and in the community.1 Infections caused by P. aeruginosa are frequently life-threatening and difficult to treat causing increased stay in hospital and even increased morbidity and mortality as it exhibits intrinsically high resistance to many antimicrobials and the development of multi-drug resistance in health care settings.2,3 Biofilms are defined as microbially derived sessile communities characterized by the cells that are irreversibly attached to a substratum or to each other. They are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) they have produced, and exhibit an altered phenotype with respect to growth rate and gene transcription.4 Within a biofilm, bacteria communicate with each other by production of chemotactic particles or ABSTRACT Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ubiquitous pathogen capable of surviving in a variety of environmental conditions. It is increasingly gaining importance as a multidrug resistant nosocomial pathogen. Biofilm acts as a barrier, reducing the penetration of these drugs and consequently, preventing them from exercising their actions. The aim of this study is to isolate and identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa from various clinical specimen and to find out their production of biofilms and their correlation with antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: All Pseudomonas aeruginosa over a period of 1 year were isolated and identified from clinical specimens and antibiotic susceptibility test was done following standard operative procedures. Biofilm detection was done by Congo Red Agar method (CRA). Results: 134 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated. Maximum isolates were isolated from sputum samples 55 (41%) and most were from wards 68 (51%) giving a probability of increased healthcare associated infections. Biofilm production by the isolates was seen in 39 (29%). All the biofilm producing isolates shows more resistant pattern in comparison to non-biofilm producers. 69% of Imipenem and 82% of Meropenem resistant isolates produce biofilm. All the P. aeruginosa including MDR and biofilm forming strains were sensitive to Colistin. Conclusions: Resistance to antimicrobial agents is the most important feature of biofilm infections. Ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms renders antibiotic treatments inefficient and therefore promotes chronic infectious diseases. As a result, infections caused by bacterial biofilms are persistent and very difficult to eradicate.

Background: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is present worldwide. Around 18 million people are estimated to be infected with HDV and can infect individuals with active HBV infection and cause severe liver disease. There is lack of data on the prevalence of HDV infection in the state and also in the region. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of HDV in HBsAg positive patients attending Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Imphal, Manipur, India.Methods: This study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal).The study was done for a period of 2 years from September 2016 to August 2018. A total of 119 HBsAg ELISA positive cases were included in the study.Results: Out of 119 HBsAg positive cases, 5 cases were positive for hepatitis D antibodies, of which 3 were positive for anti-Hepatitis D virus IgM and 2 were positive for anti-Hepatitis D virus IgG. Seroprevalence of HDV infection was found to be 4.2%.Conclusions: Seroprevalence of HDV infection was found to be 4.2% which is higher than the finding in some of the recent studies in the country.