Search

The rise of multidrug-resistant bacterial species in hospitals becomes a global challenge for surgeons who treat healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to identify the pathogens involved in surgical site infections (SSI) as well as the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the Nilgiris region. A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted for three years, at Microbiology Laboratory, the Govt. Medical College Hospital, where the clinical samples were collected, cultured, and identified. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Out of 513 pus samples (from SSI), 242 (47%) have shown positive microbial growth. These isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial resistance using 20 antibiotics belonging to different groups. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more prominent (69%), followed by Enterococcus species (14.5%) and Streptococcus species (10.3%). Other species like Proteus species, Klebsiella species, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa account for less than 2%. These results clearly indicate that Staphylococcus aureus was the leading cause of surgical site infections. Among the antibiotics studied, Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more resistant to Penicillin G (84%) followed by Ampicillin (23%). The high rate of antibiotic resistance highlighted the need for an antibiotic policy that encourages more rational use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the antiskin cancer effect of formulated agar (FA) from Laminaria digitata on dimethyl benzanthracene- (DMBA-) induced skin cancer mice. The agar was extracted and formulated (emulgel), and FA was biochemically characterized. The in vitro cytotoxicity of FA was tested using NTT 3T3 mice fibroblast cells. The mice were divided into 5 groups: group 1 served as control mice, group 2 mice were considered as DMBA-induced cancer control, group 3 mice were FA pretreated (low dose) + DMBA-induced mice, group 4 mice were FA pretreated (high dose) + DMBA-induced mice, and group 5 were positive control + DMBA-induced mice. The behaviour and biochemical markers of cancer were significantly decreased in group 2 (DMBA-induced) mice, which were brought to near normalcy by FA pretreated mice (groups 3 and 4). The levels of p53 and keratin were significantly elevated in group 2 mice and these levels were decreased in 3 and 4 mice as well. The histopathological examination of DMBA-induced mice was shown degenerated cervical patches in the skin, cirrhosis in liver, oedema in the renal tissue, and swollen and damage in cardiac tissue, which were reduced for the mice applied with FA. This confirms that FA pretreatment offered potential antiskin cancer property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]