Background and Aims:Health-care-associated infection is a key factor determining the clinical outcome among patients admitted in critical care areas. The objective of the study was to ascertain the epidemiology and risk factors of health-care-associated infections in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in a tertiary care hospital.Methods:This prospective, observational clinical study included patients admitted in ICU over a period of one and a half years. Routine surveillance of various health-care-associated infections such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central-line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) was done by the Department of Microbiology through specific Infection Surveillance Proforma.Results:Out of 679 patients, 166 suffered 198 episodes of device-associated infections. The infections included CAUTI, CLABSI, and VAP. The number of urinary tract infection (UTI) episodes was found to be 73 (10.75%) among the ICU patients who had indwelling urinary catheter. In addition, for 1 year CAUTI was calculated as 9.08/1000 catheter days. The number of episodes of blood stream infection was 86 (13.50%) among ICU patients having central line catheters. Also, CLABSI was found to be 13.86/1000 central line days. A total of 39 episodes (6.15%) of VAP was found in ICU patients over 18 months and VAP present for 6.04/1000 ventilator days.Conclusions:The organisms most commonly associated with health-care-associated infections were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species. The risk factors identified as being significantly associated with device associated infections in our ICU were diabetes, COPD and ICU stay for ≥8 days (P < 0.05).

In present study focus has been given on estimating quality and toxicity of waste with respect to heavy metals and its impact on groundwater quality, using statistical and empirical relationships between different hydrochemical data, so that easy monitoring may be possible which in turn help the sustainable management of landfill site and municipal solid waste. Samples of solid waste, leachate and groundwater were analyzed to evaluate the impact of leachates on groundwater through the comparison of their hydrochemical nature. Results suggest the existence of an empirical relationship between some specific indicator parameters like heavy metals of all three above mentioned sample type. Further, K/Mg ratio also indicates three groundwater samples heavily impacted from leachate contamination. A good number of samples are also showing higher values for NO À 3 and Pb than that of World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water regulation. Predominance of Fe and Zn in both groundwater and solid waste samples may be due to metal plating industries in the area. Factor analysis is used as a tool to explain observed relation between numerous variables in term of simpler relation, which may help to deduce the strength of relation. Positive loading of most of the factors for heavy metal clearly shows landfill impact on ground water quality especially along the hydraulic gradient. Cluster analysis, further substantiates the impact of landfill. Two major groups of samples obtained from cluster analysis suggest that one group comprises samples that are severely under the influence of landfill and contaminated leachates along the groundwater flow direction while other assorted with samples without having such influence.

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Mangroves are considered to be a minor source of greenhouse gases (CH 4 and N 2 O) in pristine environmental condition. However, estimates of efflux suggest that anthropogenic activities have led to a pronounced increase in greenhouse gas emission. Along the east coast of India, mangroves vary substantially in area, physiography and freshwater input, which ultimately modify the biogeochemical processes operating within this ecosystem. An attempt has here been made to elucidate the existing variation and role of climatic variability on the emission of greenhouse gases from mangroves. The flux estimates of CH 4 and N 2 O have been quantified from Bhitarkanika mangrove accounting for spatial and temporal (seasonal) variation. The annual rates were estimated to be 0.096 · 10 9 g CH 4 year )1 and 5.8 · 10 3 g N 2 O year )1 for the whole mangrove area of the east coast of India. Upscaling these estimates yield an annual emission of 1.95 · 10 12 g CH 4 year )1 and 1.1 · 10 11 g N 2 O year )1 from worldwide mangrove areas. The influence of elevated nutrient inputs through anthropogenic influence enhances the emission of greenhouse gas. The present article shows the need to develop an inventory on greenhouse gas flux from mangrove ecosystem.