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Background: Anemia from the Greek word (anhaima) meaning "without blood" is the deficiency of red blood cell and/or hemoglobin which result in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood causing tissue hypoxia. Aims and Objectives: To study the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) versus iron sucrose in the management of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective, singlecenter, comparative interventional randomized study was carried among 180 antenatal mother admitted to antenatal ward in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, from July 1st, 2020, to December 30th, 2021. Results: A total of 180 patients, 90 patients in each FCM and iron sucrose group, were included in the study. There was significant (P=0.001) mean change in hemoglobin (Hb) level in both the groups from pre-treatment to 3 and 6-week post-treatment. There was also a significant (P=0.001) mean change in ferritin level in both the groups from pretreatment to 3 and 6-week post-treatment. The mean change in Hb level and ferritin level was higher among patients of FCM compared to iron sucrose. The adverse reactions were lower among patients of FCM than iron sucrose. Conclusions: This study found that FCM is safer than iron sucrose. Treatment with FCM resulted in rapid replenishment of iron stores in pregnant women with significantly high rise of Hb and ferritin levels over a 6-week period with lesser adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive cocci bacterium responsible for variety of infections. Emergence of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains has led to a greater threat in different clinical settings. Early identification of MRSA in different infections is an effective measure to prevent and treat such systemic infections. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to isolate and identify MRSA with their antibiotic sensitivity in different clinical samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 2041 clinical samples from January to June 2021were collected and processed at the Microbiology Department of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. S. aureus was identified and their antibiotic susceptibility testing was determined. MRSA/methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were identified by cefoxitin disc (30 mcg/disc) and their susceptibility to vancomycin and MIC determined by Etest following British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) guidelines. Results: Of 2041 samples, 358 (13.36%) isolates were S. aureus, of which 207 (57.82 %) MRSA and 151 (42.18%) MSSA. Among the 207 MRSA isolates, 40% were from patients with sepsis, 18.36% from pyrexia of unknown origin, 12.56% from surgical site infection, and 10.62% from ventilator-associated events. The highest number (55.55%) of MRSA was isolated from blood followed by 27.05% of isolates were from pus. All the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin with MICs of 0.5 μg, 0.75 μg, 1.0 μg, and 1.5 μg according BSAC and also very good sensitivity to levofloxacin and piperacillin/tazobactam. Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of MRSA is posing a real threat to the health-care system. Careful detection and judicious use of antibiotics are the only answer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Novel coronavirus infections cause major morbidity and mortality globally in the all age groups, including the pediatric population. Viral respiratory infections in children may act as a source of infection especially those with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to analyze the SARS-CoV-2 characteristics in pediatric age group. Materials and Methods: Ninety seven children neonate to 5 years age tested positive by RT-PCR were included in the study. Detailed data on socio-demography, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, comorbidities, management, and outcome of the study population were collected. Results: Sex distribution showed 47 (48.4%) male and 50 (51.5%) female. Among these 97, 5 children (5.1%) were <28 days of age, 30 children were (31%) neonate to infant age, and 62 children were (63.9%) above 1 year but <5 years of age. The group was divided into two-one with 56 children (57.7%) who were discharged, 2nd with 41 (42.3%) hospitalized children. 1st group was asymptomatic (64.3%)/mildly symptomatic (35.7%). In 2nd group 36.5% were moderately symptomatic, 29.2% were with severe complications, and 34.3% of children were critical--22 (52.6%) required PICU admission--17 children (41.4%) required mechanical ventilation and 36 (87.8%) required respiratory support. Conclusion: Reports state that COVID-19 infection is mild in the pediatric population but our findings suggest that some children can develop severe/critical infection requiring hospitalization, respiratory support, and mechanical ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]