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Background and Objectives: Due to the reduced susceptibility of clinical Clostridioides difficile strains in hospitals to various antimicrobial agents, the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (ASTs) has increased. This study aimed to investigate the toxin gene profiles and the antimicrobial resistance of C. difficile isolated from hospitalized patients suspected of having Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: The stool samples were obtained from a hospitalized patients. The samples were shocked by alcohol and the patients cultured on cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar in anaerobic Conditions. Toxin assay was performed for detection of toxinogenic isolates. An antibiotic susceptibility test was done. Furthermore, their genome was extracted for PCR to confirm C. difficile and detect toxin gene profile. Results: Toxigenic C. difficile were identified in 21 of the 185 stool samples (11.3%). PCR detected seven toxin gene profiles; the highest prevalence was related to tcdA+B+, cdtA+B- toxin gene profile (57.1%). There were 14.3% and 28.6% resistant rates of the isolates towards vancomycin and metronidazole with the toxin gene profiles; tcdA+B+, cdtA±B+; and tcdA+ B-, cdtA-B+. All resistant isolates to moxifloxacin, clindamycin, and tetracycline were belonged to the toxin gene profiles; tcdA+B+, cdtA+B+; tcdA+B+, cdtA+B-, and tcdA-B+, cdtA+B-. Conclusion: Relative high resistance was detected towards metronidazole and vancomycin, although, still have acceptable activity for CDI treatment. However, a proper plan for the use of antibiotics and more regular screening of C. difficile antibiotic resistance seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chronic fungal infection in tropical regions, chromoblastomycosis is caused by dematiaceous fungi, the form-family of Fungi Imperfecti, usually affecting one lower limb at the site of a trauma but sometimes involving other areas of the body including head & neck. In this article, we report the case of a rare primary chromoblastomycosis of the palate and chest in a 27-year-old man who was successfully treated with surgical resection and combined drug therapy, and eventually free tissue transfer reconstructive surgical procedure to cure the palatine defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cryptosporidiosis has not been reported as an endemic disease in Kashmir, but high prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. has been found among asymptomatic (non-diarrheic) HIV positive immigrants in present study. Due to increasing number of HIV positive immigrants in Kashmir, Cryptosporidium may become a public health problem in Kashmir. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 stool samples were obtained from symptomatic (diarrheic n = 9) and asymptomatic (non-diarrheic n = 36) patients infected with HIV. The stool samples were concentrated using formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique, stained with modified Kinyoun's cold stain and oocysts were identified by microscopy under 1000 x magnification. It was confirmed by detection of antigens in stool samples by ELISA. Results: It was established that all the patients studied were carriers of Cryptosporidium. In present study though 80% of patients were asymptomatic (non-diarrheic) and HIV positive which involved non-Kashmiri army personals and travelers (immigrants) but were carriers of Cryptosporidium and 20% of HIV positive patients were emigrants (local Kashmiri traders) who travelled different states of India were having diarrhea (symptomatic) as well as carrier of Cryptosporidium. Conclusion: Though Cryptosporidium infection causes chronic diarrhea but in present study all HIV positive patients screened whether diarrheic or non-diarrheic were positive for Cryptosporidium. To prevent the transmission of Cryptosporidium oocyst in environment and endemic spread of cryptosporidiosis as non-diarrheic HIV positive population may be potential source of infection, obligatory laboratory testing for Cryptosporidium in HIV positive immigrant population like traders and travelers is highly recommended in order to have a better understanding of the cause of spread Cryptosporidium infection in Kashmir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]