Objectives: The objectives of this study were semi-quantitatively analyze SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies following covishield vaccination in healthcare workers and to follow-up them for 6 months for persistence of antibodies and for getting infected with SARS-COV-2. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study which was conducted at tertiary care hospital, South India. The blood samples were collected after second dose of vaccine at 28 days, 60 days, and 120 days. The serum was subjected for detection of IgG antibodies against S1 RBD (Receptor binding domain) of the spike protein antigen by Euroimmun kit (PerkinElmer company, Germany) using ELISA. Results: Out of 30 healthcare workers, 28 (93.3%) were seropositive and 2 (6.7%) were seronegative. Out of two seronegative, one participant acquired SARS-COV-2 infection with severe symptoms. There was approximately 50% reduction in antibody levels in almost all seropositive individuals after 3 months of second dose. Even after 6 months, 25 (83.3%) were seropositive, 2 (6.7%) were seronegative, and 3 (10%) were borderline. When the IgG antibody ratio levels of 28 days following second dose of vaccination were compared with levels after 6 months, which showed, p value of 0.024 which is <0.05 implies statistically significant. Conclusion: Covishield vaccine induced good immune response in majority of the participants, the levels were sustainably positive until 6 months but decreasing pattern. The vaccine-induced antibodies prevented the severe symptoms among vaccine breakthrough infections.

Objective: Intensive care units (ICUs) are considered as the epicentre of infections due to its vulnerable conditions for development, amplification, and dissemination of drug-resistant microorganisms. Furthermore, the use of inappropriate or incorrect antibiotics is also closely related to development and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms. Hence, the present study was conducted in a private hospital in South Bangalore, to evaluate the spectrum of micro organisms isolated from clinical samples of patients admitted in ICU and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Methods: This observational study was conducted on critically ill patients admitted in medical ICUs of private hospital in south Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The study was designed to include all patients with age 18 years or older, admitted for more than 48 h in medical ICUs of the hospital and having at least two of the clinical signs of SIRS. Depending on the clinical suspicion, clinical samples such as pus, blood, urine, body fluids, respiratory specimen were collected. The samples collected were first subjected to gram staining and then were inoculated on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates taking proper aseptic precautions. Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of respective organisms were studied on Mueller Hinton agar media by Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method. Results: A total of 665 clinical samples were received in the microbiology laboratory out of which 60% samples showed significant microbial growth. The most predominant isolates were Gram-negative organisms 72.68% and Gram-positive isolates were seen in 27.3%. Sample-wise distribution of positive culture was done. Pus 33%, respiratory specimen 26%, urine 20%, blood 15%, and body fluids 6%. Majority of Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to amikacin, followed by piperacillin/tazobactum, cefeperazone/salbactum and imipenem and high resistance rates to ampicillin, amoxy clav was noted. Most of the Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to linezolid, vancomycin, followed by amikacin, pipercillin/tazobactum, and cefeperazone/salbactum. Conclusion: The present study showed the high prevalence of aerobic bacteria in clinical samples of critically ill patients in ICUs. The study identified both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms to be responsible for causing blood stream infections. There should be continuous surveillance of data of clinical isolates along with their sensitivity pattern with routine surveillance for baseline resistance, stringent hospital infection policy, and their implementation in the hospital is the need of the hour to stop or reduce drug resistance.

Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are most common infection seen in community and hospital. It is important to know the causative agent and antibiotic susceptibility pattern to administer specific treatment and prevent drug resistance. Hence, the present study was conducted to know the most common etiological agent and antibiogram of symptomatic UTIs. Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. All the adult patients presented with symptoms of UTI were involved. As per the standard guidelines, clean catch mid-stream urine sample was collected and inoculated on MacConkey’s agar and blood agar by standard loop technique. The isolates with significant bacteriuria were subjected for Kirby-Bauers’ disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility testing. Results: One thousand two hundred and fifty symptomatic patients were screened for UTI. A total of 358 organisms were isolated in culture with significant bacteriuria. Among 358, Escherichia coli was commonest organism with 267 (74.5%), followed by Klebsiella species accounting for 52 isolates (14.5%) and Citrobacter species 25 (7.0%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (4%). Higher degree of sensitivity was seen with imipenem (90%), amikacin (80%), and gentamycin (78%) followed by nitrofurantoin (75%) for E. coli. Lower degree of sensitivity was noted for norfloxacin (50%), ceftriaxone (62%), cotrimoxazole (56%), and pipericillin-tazobactum (60%). Klebsiella was sensitive to amikacin (74%) and imipenem (80%). Conclusion: In the present study, E. coli was the most common organism causing UTI. Nitrofurantoin can be started as empirical treatment for lower UTI. Gentamycin was found to be equally effective as amikacin so that it can be used instead of amikacin to decrease the selective pressure on amikacin.