A dependable method for the rapid diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis has become increasingly important, as routine methods are neither very sensitive nor very specific. The objective of this study is to verify the reliability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis and management of osteoarticular tuberculosis. This investigation was a prospective study conducted at the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. Tissue samples of 74 patients suspected of osteoarticular tuberculosis were sent for PCR and histopathologic examination. Taking histopathology as the gold standard, PCR has a sensitivity of 73.07% and a specificity of 93.75% (with 95% confidence interval [CI] 62.97; 83.17).The positive agreement between histology and PCR was 0.693, indicating good agreement. PCR showed a sensitivity of 90% with spinal samples. It has a low false positivity of 13.63%. We conclude that conventional methods are neither sensitive nor specific enough and are also time consuming. PCR is an effective method for diagnosing tuberculosis and antitubercular treatment can be started if PCR is positive, since false-positive rates are very low.Résumé Une méthode pour le diagnostic rapide des tuberculoses osseuses articulaires voit sont importance augmenter par rapport aux méthodes de routine cependant très sensitives mais peu spécifiques. L'objectif de cette étude est de vérifier la fiabilité de la PCR (polymérase réaction en chaêne) diagnostic dans la conduite et le traitement des tuberculoses ostéo articulaires. Matériel et méthode: au cours d'une étude prospective conduite au Collège Médical Kasturba de Manipal Indes, les fragments tissulaires de 74 patients suspects de tuberculose ostéo articulaire ont été adressés, pour examen histopathologique et dosage PCR. Résultats: l'histopathologie reste le « gold standard », la PCR a une sensitivité de 73.07% et une spécificité de 93.75% (avec 95% d'intervalle de confiance CI 62.97; 83.17). La compatibilité entre histologie et la PCR est de 0.693, la PCR montre une sensitivité de 90% avec du tissu rachidien. Il existe des faux positifs (13.63%). Conclusion: les méthodes conventionnelles ne semblent ni sensitives ni spécifiques et demandent beaucoup de temps. La PCR est une méthode diagnostique de la tuberculose fiable et permet de suivre et de démarrer le traitement anti tuberculeux si la PCR est positive, les taux de faux positifs étant très bas.

BackgroundSeroprevalence and incidence of toxoplasmosis in women of child bearing age has remained a contentious issue in the Indian subcontinent. Different laboratories have used different patient recruitment criteria, methods and variable results, making these data difficult to compare.AimTo map the point-prevalence and incidence of toxoplasmosis in India.Material and MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a total of 1464 women of fertile age were recruited from 4 regions using similar recruitment plans. This included women from northern (203), southern (512), eastern (250) and western (501) regions of India. All samples were transported to a central laboratory in Delhi and tested using VIDAS technology. Their age, parity, eating habits and other demographic and clinical details were noted.ResultsMost women were in the 18–25 years age group (48.3%), followed by 26–30 years (28.2%) and 31–35 years (13.66). Few (45) women older than 35 yr. were included. Overall prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was seen in 22.40%, with significantly more in married women (25.8%) as compared to single women (4.3%). Prevalence increased steadily with age: 18.1% in the 18–25 yr. age group to 40.5% in women older than 40 yr. The prevalence was high (66%) in those who resided in mud houses. Region-wise, the highest prevalence was observed in South India (37.3%) and the lowest (8.8%) in West Indian women. This difference was highly significant (P<0.001). Prevalence was 21.2% in East India and 19.7% in North India. The IgM positivity rate ranged from 0.4% to 2.9% in four study centers.ConclusionsThis pan-India study shows a prevalence rate of 22.4% with a wide variation in four geographical regions ranging from as low as 8.8% to as high as 37.3%. The overall IgM positivity rate was 1.43%, indicating that an estimated 56,737–176,882 children per year are born in India with a possible risk of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Nearly 60–70% of the child Indian population suffers from dental caries. Mouth rinsing is the most cost effective method of preventing dental caries. 'Triphala' has been a classic Ayurveda remedy, probably the best known among all Ayurvedic compounds. This study was conducted on 1501 students in the age group of 8-12 years with the aim of determining the effect of Triphala mouthwash on prevention of dental caries (manifest caries) as well as incipient carious lesions, and also comparing the effect of Triphala and chlorhexidine mouthwashes. The incipient caries was recorded at 3, 6, 9 months intervals and manifest caries at 9 months interval. No significant increase in the DMFS scores was found at the end of 9 months. Also, there was no significant increase in the incipient caries score towards the conclusion of the study. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between the Triphala and the chlorhexidine mouthwashes.

Melioidosis has recently gained the status of an emerging disease in India. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria, however, are already responsible for treatment failure and mortality. In addition, pandrug-resistant (PDR) Gram-negative bacteria have emerged as a new threat to modern medicine. The treatment, clinical follow up, and outcome of 25 patients with melioidosis and 46 patients with MDR non-fermenters (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.) infection were documented during the period 2005 2007. Pandrug resistance status of the MDR strains was evaluated with the minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint of colistin. Skin and soft-tissue involvement (16%), liver abscess (16%) and bone and joint involvement (16%) were the most common presentations of melioidosis in diabetic patients. The presence of septicaemia (44%) and major organ failure (48%) resulted in death. Relapse was seen in patients with inappropriate treatment. Clinical cure was observed in five cases infected with PDR strains; colistin was used in only one case. Comorbid conditions may have contributed to the high fatality (82.7%). More awareness among clinicians and laboratory staff, and environmental investigations of soil are required for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of melioidosis. For MDR strains, colistin is the 'last resort' and should be used with caution; resistance should be monitored both globally and locally.

Wound infection (with both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms) is a major problem in delayed wound healing. Persistence of these organisms in the wound delays considerably the healing time and increases length of hospital stay. Ultraviolet-C has shown to effectively eliminate these organisms (bactericidal effect) in few laboratory, animal and human studies and has shown promising role in promoting wound healing. Several wound dressing methods have been used to accelerate the rate of wound healing. Among them, Limited Access Dressing (LAD) utilizes intermittent negative pressure dressing using a transparent plastic cover combined with moist wound healing principle, minimizes need for regular change of dressing. Thus, the present study was conducted to explore the in-vitro bactericidal effect of direct and filtered UVC through transparent plastic sheet on Gramnegative bacilli.