Chromogenic agar media are increasingly being used as versatile tools in early differentiation and identification of Gram positive and Gram negative isolates from clinical specimens. We have evaluated the chromogenic medium as it’s use reduces the burden of biochemical characterization and reduces the workload for identification of bacteria. This study included 400 consecutively collected midstream and/or catheter-catch urine samples obtained from patients attending the hospital out patient department (OPD) and also from patients admitted in BSMMU hospital. They were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey agar, cystine lactose, electrolyte deficient media and chromogenic agar plate for isolation of uropathogen. Out of 400 urine samples tested, 154 (38.5%) yielded significant growth of single organism and 16 (4%) yielded mixed growth. No growth was observed in 230 (57.5%) cases. The chromogenic agar media allowed the growth and primary identification in 171 (92.5%) strains out of 186 strains. The predominant uropathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. Enterococcus spp. and Eneterobacter spp. (KES group). The different coloured colonies produced by the breakdown of the chromogenic substrate by the specific enzymes of the bacteria were very useful in the presumptive identification of these organisms even from polymicrobial cultures by the color differences of the colonies. The medium also supported growth and differentiation of Gram positive organisms like Staphylococcus and Enterococci. Chromogenic agar media can be used as primary culture medium for isolation and identification of predominant uropathogens like E.coli, KES group and Enterococci. It is an easy to use primary screening medium that considerably reduces the daily workload and thus minimizes or limits the use of identification tests. Key words: Chromogenic agar medium, KES, CLED media, UTI DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8464 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 18-23

Abstract:Background: Many of the established skin diseases give rise to psychiatric disorders notably psoriasis and vitiligo. In Bangladesh, no study has yet been reported on psychiatric morbidity among psoriasis and vitiligo patients. Objectives: The objective of the study was to see the psychiatric morbidities in two chronic skin diseases, psoriasis and vitiligo, in Bangladesh. Methods: This was a cross sectional, analytical and comparative study. It was conducted to see whether psychiatric morbidity was higher among patients with psoriasis than that of vitiligo. Specific types of psychiatric disorders were identified by consultant psychiatrist assigned as per criteria of (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental and Behavioural Disorders-Fourth Edition)DSM-IV among 50 patients with psoriasis and same number of patients with vitiligo and were compared. Study places were the Departments of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in Dhaka city. Results: Among the two dermatological conditions, psychiatric disorders were found 25 (50%) in psoriatic patients and 12 (24%) that in vitiligo patients. The proportion of major depressive disorders (MDD) was higher among psoriasis patients 15(30.0%) compared to vitiligo patients 04(8.0%). However, no statistical difference was found between two groups of patients in terms of anxiety disorders (8% in psoriasis and 12% in vitiligo patients). In patients with psoriasis, MDD was found highest (30.0%) followed by anxiety disorders (8.0%), adjustment disorder (4.0%) and somatoform disorder not otherwise specified (2.0%). Whereas, among the vitiligo patients, anxiety disorder was found highest (12.0%) followed by MDD (8.0%). The Present study showed significant association of psychiatric morbidities in these two dermatological diseases (psoriasis and vitiligo) with the variables of the study population. Conclusion: It has been found in Bangladesh that the psychiatric morbidity is higher among the patients with psoriasis than vitiligo.

Pityriasis versicolor is a chronic, superficial fungal infection affecting the superficial layer of a stratum corneum. Malassezia furfur is the major species involved in pityriasis versicolor. Currently many researchers reported increase in the incidence of other species as a causative agent of pityriasis versicolor. Isolation and identification of Malassezia species from suspected Pityriasis versicolor patients was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and immunology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from September 2013 to August 2014. Ninety two clinically diagnosed patients of Pityriasis versicolor were studied and samples from skin lesion were processed for direct microscopy and culture. Species of Malassezia were identified by cultural characteristics in Dixon's agar media by macro and microscopic observation of the colonies and by catalase test, urease test, esculin test and tween assimilation test. A totalof 92 cases 70(70.08%) were positive by direct microscopy and 50(54.34%) were positive by culture. Malassezia globosa was found in 38(76%) cases as the commonest etiological agent and Malassezia furfur was found in 10(20%) cases and Malassezia obtusa in 2 (4%) cases respectively.

Bony changes in lepromatous leprosy are one of the causes of deformity and disability. Fasting calcium and creatinine ratio in urine is used as a bone resorption marker in a number of diseases such as hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, paget’s disease and sarcodosis. In lepromatous leprosy assessment of bone resorption might be done with that marker. To assess the role of fasting urinary calcium and creatinine ratio as a marker of bone resorption in patients with lepromatous leprosy. A case control study was conducted on 28 patients diagnosed as lepromatous leprosy and 28 age-matched healthy control. The participants who fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied by measuring fasting urinary calcium and creatinine level as well as observing X-rays of both hands and feet of affected individuals. The mean age of cases 38.1±14.2 years and 38.9±12.9 years was in control group. Male - female ratio was 3.6: 1. It was observed that 10.7% leprosy patients showed urinary Ca/Cr ratio >0.20 (0.13±0.12) and 10.7% healthy control showed urinary Ca/Cr ratio ratio>0.20 (mean ±SD 0.11±0.7). the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). X-ray finding was positive in 14.3% leprosy patients and none of the control group. That difference was not significant statistically (p>0.05). there was no relation between raised urinary Ca/Cr ratio and positive findings of bone resorption on x-rays among the leprosy cases. Bangladesh Med J. 2019 Sep; 48 (3): 28-33