Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common gram-negative microorganisms identified in the clinical specimens of hospital admitted patients. This was a retrospective study done among the patients attending Dhaka Medical College Hospital during January to December, 2006. A total 294 strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated of which 206 (70%) were from admitted patients and 88 (30%) from outpatients. Some 175 (60%) of the isolates were from males while 119 (40%) from females. Majority of the patients (141, 41.2%) were aged between 21-40 years and 102 (34.7%) were below 20 years. A significant proportion (about 45%) of the patients were from casualty wards, surgical outdoor, ear-nose-throat outdoor and burn unit. Four of the clinical specimens including wound swab, pus, aural swab and urine comprised of 279 (95%) of the total samples. The bacteria isolated were identified by colony morphology, microscopy and relevant biochemical tests. Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern was tested using standard guidelines. Almost all of the P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to cefixime (93.3%) and co-trimoxazole (93.5%), majority were resistant to ceftazidime (86.8%), gentamycin (77.3%) and ciprofloxacin (75.5%). The result of the study shows that imipenem is the most effective drugagainst P. aeruginosa, followed by amikacin and ciprofloxacin.Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2007; 01 (02): 48-51

Both community acquired pneumonia and diabetes mellitus are common in Bangladesh. Though hospitalization of diabetic patients with CAP is increasing, data regarding their clinical presentation, microbial characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility and outcome are lacking. This study was aimed at finding any difference in clinical presentation, bacterial causes, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria and outcome in diabetic and non-diabetic hospitalized patients with CAP. In this study total 47 diabetic and 43 non-diabetic adult hospitalized patients with CAP were enrolled. Clinical presentation of CAP differed in diabetics and non-diabetics. Frequency of atypical presentation and CURB-65 score were significantly higher in diabetics. Pleural effusion with multilobar infiltration was also common feature for CAP in diabetic patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent causative pathogen for CAP in diabetic patients, whereas Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent causative agent for non-diabetic patients. Bacteria isolated from sputum sample of diabetic patients with CAP were resistant to almost all recommended antibiotics used for CAP but 100% of isolates were sensitive to Carbapenems. Pulmonary complications were relatively more in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Hospitalized diabetics with CAP required referral to intensive care unit more than that of non-diabetics. So, diabetic patients with CAP need extra attention.

Background Globally, studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association of blood groups with SARS CoV-2 infection. Objective To observe the association between ABO blood groups and the presentation and outcomes of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Design, setting, and participants This was a prospective cohort study of patients with mild-to-moderately severe COVID-19 infections who presented in the COVID-19 unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and were enrolled between 01 June and 25 August, 2020. Patients were followed up for at least 30 days after disease onset. We grouped participants with A-positive and A-negative blood groups into group I and participants with other blood groups into group II. Results The cohort included 438 patients; 52 patients were lost to follow-up, five died, and 381 completed the study. The prevalence of blood group A [144 (32.9%)] was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in the general population (p < 0.001). The presenting age [mean (SD)] of group I [42.1 (14.5)] was higher than that of group II [38.8 (12.4), p = 0.014]. Sex (p = 0.23) and co-morbidity (hypertension, p = 0.34; diabetes, p = 0.13) did not differ between the patients in groups I and II. No differences were observed regarding important presenting symptoms, including fever (p = 0.72), cough (p = 0.69), and respiratory distress (p = 0.09). There was no significant difference in the median duration of symptoms in the two group (12 days), and conversion to the next level of severity was observed in 26 (20.6%) and 36 patients (13.8%) in group I and II, respectively. However, persistent positivity of RT-PCR at 14 days of initial positivity was more frequent among the patients in group I [24 (19%)] than among those in group II [29 (11.1%)]. Conclusions The prevalence of blood group A was higher among COVID-19 patients. Although ABO blood groups were not associated with the presentation or recovery period of COVID-19, patients with blood group A had delayed seroconversion.

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Background: Stroke rehabilitation is a program designed to help the stroke patients to overcome the disability. Few studies have evaluated the profile of stroke patients. To provide information about demographic data & disease pattern among the patients receiving stroke rehabilitation. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), National Institute of Neuroscience and Hospital (NINSH) Dhaka, Bangladesh for the period of two year from 1st July 2013 to 30th June, 2015. Results: Total five thousand nine hundred thirty nine (n=5939) patients were studied, of which 62.33% were male and 37.67% were female. Maximum patients (27.93%) belong to 51-60 years of age. Major patients (52.67%) came from Dhaka city and most of the studied patients were housewife (25.43%). Largest disease group was ischaemic stroke (81.7%). Regarding service pattern, 69.59% patients received outdoor and 30.41% indoor services. Among clinical profile of stroke, 90.5% were first time onset, almost 99% suffered limb weakness, 24.03% speech problem and 32.6% face involvement. Maximum patients (58.8%) had history of multiple risk factors. Conclusion: Rehabilitation procedures in stroke patients can enable greater return of neurological functions and prevents complication, thereby improves long term outcome and quality of life. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.17 (1); Jan 2018; Page 9-12