Background: Urinary tract infections are the most commonly acquired bacterial infections and they account for an estimated 25-40% of the nosocomial infections. The microbial biofilms pose a public health problem for the persons who require indwelling medical devices, as the microorganisms in the biofilms are difficult to treat with antimicrobial agents. Aims:The present study included the isolation and the biofilm formation of the uropathogens in patients with catheter associated urinary tract infections. Methods and Materials:This prospective analysis which was carried out over a period of two months, included 50 urine samples from catheterized patients with symptoms of UTI. Following their isolation and identification, all the isolates were subjected to the biofilm detection by the tube adherence method and the Congo Red agar method.Results: E.coli was found to be the most frequently isolated uropathogen 35(70%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 8(16%), Pseudomona aeruginosa 2(4%), Acinetobacter spp 1(2%), coagulase negative Staphylococci 3(6%) and Enterococci spp 1(2%). In the current study, 30 (60%) strains were positive in vitro for the biofilm production. Conclusion:To conclude, there was significant bacteriuria in all the symptomatic catheterized patients and E.coli was the most frequent isolate. Diabetes (44%) was the most common factor which was associated with the UTIs in the catheterized patients.

VAP is a common nosocomial infection associated with ventilated patients. The mortality associated with VAP is high. The organisms associated with VAP and their resistance pattern varies depending on the patient group and hospital setting. The diagnostic methods available for VAP are not universal; however, a proper infection control policy with appropriate antibiotic usage can reduce the mortality rate among ventilated patients.

To conclude E.coli was the most frequent isolate, of which 63% were biofilm producers. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern in the present study showed quinolones were the least active drug against uropathogens. The uropathogens showed the highest sensitivity to carbapenems. The next best alternatives were aminoglycosides. Significant correlation between biofilm production and multi-drug resistance was observed in our study.

MBL production was the main resistance mechanism in the 11 carbapenem resistant P. aeruginosa isolates collected, with multidrug resistance associating significantly with MBL production in P. aeruginosa from our institution.

Background: Diabetic foot infections are one of the most feared complications of diabetes. This study was undertaken to determine the common aetiological agents of diabetic foot infections and their in vitro antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: A prospective study was performed over a period of one year in a tertiary care hospital. The aerobic bacterial agents were isolated and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined. Members of Enterobacteriaceae were tested for extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production by combination disc method and staphylococcal isolates were tested for susceptibility to oxacillin by screen agar method. Results: Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17%), Staphylococcus aureus (17%) and Escherichia coli (14.6%) were the most common aetiological agents. Polymicrobial infection was observed in 52% patients. The members of Enterobacteriaceae as well as Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. were found to be susceptible mainly to amikacin, piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem. Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. were susceptible mostly to vancomycin, with varying susceptibility to tetracycline. 56% of the isolates belonging to Enterobacteriaceae were producing ESBL and 65.5% of Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin-resistant. Conclusion: High prevalence of multi-drug resistant pathogens was observed. Amikacin, piperacillintazobactam, imipenem were active against gram-negative bacilli, while vancomycin was found to be active against gram-positive bacteria.