Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection transmitted from animals to humans by the ingestion of infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal or inhalation of aerosols. The last method is remarkably efficient given the relatively low concentration of organisms (10 – 100 bacteria) needed to establish infection in humans, and has brought renewed attention to this old disease. Brucella is a facultative intracellular pathogen that has the ability to survive and multiply in the phagocytes and cause abortion in cattle and undulant fever in humans. Brucella spp particularly B. melitensis, B. abortus, and B. suis represent a significant public health concern. At present, B. melitensis is the principle cause of human brucellosis in India. Molecular studies have demonstrated the phylogenetic affiliation of Brucella to Agrobacterium, Ochrobactrum, and Rhizobium. Human brucellosis still presents scientists and clinicians with several challenges, with regard to the understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, severity, progression, and development of improved treatment regimens. Molecular studies have now highlighted the pathogenesis of Brucella, for the development of newer diagnostic tools that will be useful in developing countries where brucellosis is a common, but often a neglected disease. This review compiles all these issues in general and the pathogenicity and newer diagnostic tools in particular.

Aims: Dermatophytoses are commonest type of fungal infections seen in human beings, invading keratinised tissue skin, hair and nails by keratinophilic fungi. Dermatophytoses can be treated effectively by antifungals. Settings and Design: Retrospective study Methods and Material: A total of 200 patients which were referred from the department of dermatology to the department of microbiology were collected from July 2020 to June 2021. After cleaning with povidone iodine and 70% alcohol, the skin was scrapped, hair was plucked and nails were clipped. Skin, Hair and Nail were treated with 10%, 20% and 40% KOH respectively to identify septate hyphae and arthrospores. The specimen was cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) with and without cycloheximide. Microscopic description of the growth was done by Lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) staining. Antifungal susceptibility testing was done by E strip method using Rosewell Park memorial institute (RPMI) media for Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Posaconazole, Griseofulvin and Terbinane. Results: Out of 200 samples, the commonest age group affected was between (21-30 yrs) 39.5%. Female to male ratio was 2.5:1.6. Tinea corporis was 63% and tinea cruris 27%. The commonest species isolated was Trichophyton rubrum 47.5%. Antifungal susceptibility test – Most susceptible to Itraconazole 81.4% and resistant to Griseofulvin 67.9%. Conclusions: Dermatophytosis is prevalent in high temperature zones. Most common isolates were T. rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in tinea cruris and tinea corporis respectively, they were most susceptible to Itraconazole and resistant to Griseofulvin. Resistance pattern of antifungal drugs helps in deciding empirical therapy for patient's better outcome.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B is a disease that has been gaining more and more interest of late with a lot of research being conducted on its pathogenicity, its structure, the epidemiology of the disease and prospects and outcomes of vaccination. It has captured so much attention because of its grievous consequences and widespread prevalence as well as the ease with which it can be controlled. Our objective was to assess trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore and to determine the HBV carrier rate, magnitude and pattern of HBV infected super carriers and simple carriers in patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a hospital-based prospective observational study. The prevalence of HBV infection was determined in a representative sample of the general population. It was a hospital-based prospective study. Study period being 2 months, June-August 2015 with sample size of 2061 samples. Inclusion Criteria: Samples taken randomly during inpatient routine screening, outpatient screening or blood bank donor screening. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects suffering from present liver disease or HIV positive at point of blood collection.

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BACKGROUND Urinary tract Infection (UTI) are the most common clinical conditions in general practice and gynaecological department. Men and women of all age groups are affected by UTI, but its overall prevalence is higher in women. The major causative agents are Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae. In majority of the cases, empirically treatment is started with antimicrobials before the urine culture and sensitivity reports become available. This has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance in urinary pathogens. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of uropathogens to commonly used antimicrobials in treating UTIs. METHODS A total of 200 urine samples were obtained from patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of UTIs attending Bapuji and Chigateri General Hospital which are attached to Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College (JJMMC), Davangere for a period of 3 months that is from May 2016 to July 2016. Urine samples were processed within 2 hours of reaching the laboratory. Semi quantitative urine culture was done. Isolation and identification were done by performing standard biochemical tests and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using the standard disc diffusion method by Kirby-Bauer technique. RESULTS There were 170 urinary isolates from 200 samples. Children less than 10 years were more affected 54 (27 %). Female patients were more, 119 (59.5 %) compared to males 81 (40.5 %). Escherichia coli was the most predominant isolate, 71 (41.8 %) followed by Enterococcus species 22 (1.9 %). Organisms were resistant to commonly used antibiotics i.e., cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and amoxicillin. Both gram negative and gram-positive isolates were sensitive to amikacin and nitrofurantoin. CONCLUSIONS In present study Escherichia coli is the predominant pathogen. Uncomplicated UTIs can be empirically treated by nitrofurantoin. Occurrence of treatment failure with commonly used antimicrobials is more often in Indian setting. Hence, antimicrobial susceptibility testing must be employed routinely. KEY WORDS UTIs, Uropathogens, E. coli, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern