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Introduction: Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a small circular double stranded DNA virus is the major aetiological agent of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions. Genital HPV types are divided into high and low risk types, according to their oncogenic potential. The proportion of women infected with HPV varies greatly across populations as is the distribution of HPV genotypes. Aim: The present pilot study was conducted to determine the most frequent genotypes of HPV associated with: a) Histologically proven cases of cervical carcinoma; b) Women with normal cervical cytology. Materials and Methods: The present hospital based crosssectional study was conducted on 132 women attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of a tertiary care hospital. Consecutive cervical brushings were collected from women presenting with any type of cervical lesion and were subjected to cytology, histopathological examination, HPV DNA testing and genotyping by using Sacace real time PCR. Results: Of the 132 women studied between January 2014- October 2014, 50 (37.87%) had histologically proven cervical carcinoma and 82 (62.12%) had normal cytology. In proven cases of cervical carcinoma, HPV infection was found to be associated in 49/50 (98%) and all of them had high risk HPV genotypes. The most common genotypes were 16 (67.34%) and 18 (20.4%). Other genotypes present were 45 and 33. Out of 82 cytological normal women, five showed presence of HPV DNA on RT PCR. While all the five had infection of HPV genotype 18, in one there was presence of both 16 and 18 genotypes. Conclusion: The detection of HPV genotypes 16, 18 along with high risk type 33 and 45 in Malwa region of Punjab confirm the importance of identifying the types of HPV that infects this community to design more effective prevention strategies and thus contribute to fight against cervical cancer.

Introduction: Hepatitis-A virus infection (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus infection (HEV) are faecally contaminated water borne infection of great public interest in developing countries. HAV has a world-wide distribution and affects infant and young children in developing countries and its epidemics are not very common. HEV is restricted to tropical countries and affects older children and young adults and its epidemics are common. Studies suggested that HEV is etiologically responsible for 10%–95% of admitted cases of hepatitis. Exposure rates over a period of time are different in different parts of the country and in different socio-economic groups. Aim of the study 1. To study the prevalence of HAV and HEV in the outbreak of hepatitis in certain areas of Malwa region of Punjab, India. 2. To determine the age specific prevalence rates of HAV and HEV. 3. To determine any change in the epidemiology of these infections. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology in GGMC and Hospital Faridkot, A leading Tertiary care hospital and the major referral centre of malwa region of Punjab,India. Collection and Serological Tests: 1.Venous blood samples of patients of acute hepatitis were taken. 2.Relavent information regarding their Age, Sex Education, Socio-economic status, personal and community hygiene were recorded. All of the sera were screened for IgM Antibody to HEV and HAV using IgM capture ELISA Kit (ASIA-LION Biotechnology for HEV and GENERAL BIOLOGICAL CORPORATION for HAV ) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Result and Conclusion : 1.The outbreak was due to hepatitis A &E virus(HEV predominating resulting from fecal contamination of drinking water). 2.Hepatitis E is more widely prevalent 3.There is a change in the epidemiology of HAV so,more cases are seen in age group of more than 20 years.

Background: Haemodialysis (HD) patients are at an increased risk of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which is significantly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of HCV infection in anti-HCV antibody negative haemodialysis patients by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and value of HCV-RNA among seronegative patients undergoing haemodialysis in a remotely located tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 chronic renal failure patients on haemodialysis were studied. All the patients were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA test and for HCVRNA by RT-PCR. Results: The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 32%. Antibody positivity was 30% and HCV-RNA by RT-PCR was detected in 20%. HCV-RNA in seronegative patients was detected in 2.8%. Conclusion: Serological assays (30%) are quite reliable for detecting HCV infection in patients undergoing haemodialysis in our tertiary care hospital. Only a small proportion of them (2.8%) require the documentation of viral genome for current infection.

Background: Perforation peritonitis is the most common surgical emergency. A large number of microorganisms have been cultured from the abdominal fluid obtained from patients with gastrointestinal perforation peritonitis. The present study was undertaken to determine the frequency of positive fungal culture in perforation peritonitis as Candida co-infection is reported to be a bad prognostic factor in these patients. Materials and Methods: The intraoperative specimens of abdominal fluid collected during laparotomy from 140 consecutive patients of gastro-intestinal perforation were analysed by microbial culture for bacteria and fungi. Their antimicrobial susceptibility was also studied. Results: The mean presenting age of the patients was 35 years and 120 (85.7%) of them were males. Aerobic Gram Negative Bacilli (AGNB) were observed in 82 (79.6%) of the culture positive abdominal fluid specimens, of which 58 (70.7%) were Escherichia coli. Gram negative bacteria were most frequently isolated from colorectal perforation (100%) while Gram positive bacteria were from upper gastrointestinal perforation (47.2%). Candida was cultured in as many as 68 of 140 (48.6%) specimens. Its prevalence was highest in patients with gastroduodenal perforation (70.5%) and was altogether absent in patients having appendicular perforation. Conclusion: High prevalence of fungal culture positivity of peritoneal fluid of patients of perforation peritonitis shows that along with the bacterial culture, fungal cultures should always be asked for in such patients. Adequate and timely antimicrobial treatment including treatment of fungal infection could help reduce mortality in this group of patients.

Background and Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the commonest opportunistic infection and the leading cause of death in HIV patients in developing countries. HIV infection is a well recognised risk factor for both activation of initial infection and reactivation of latent infection. This study was done to find out the co-prevalence and the trend of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients and to determine the prevalence of MDR Tuberculosis in HIV positive patients using Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, United States). Materials and Methods: The sputum samples are received from five districts of Punjab. Sputum samples of the patients with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis including both new cases and on treatment are received from the various district and civil hospitals of five districts. Sputum specimen was processed for TB detection by Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification testing (CB-NAAT) using Xpert MTB/RiF assay technology. Results: The study period is from October 2013 to September 2014. A total of 907 patients with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis including both new cases and on treatment. Out of these patients 733 were reported MTB detected. Out of these 907 patients 29 were reported HIV positive and out of 733 patients 19(2.5%) were reported positive for (HIV +TUBERCULOSIS). Of these 19 cases 16(84.21%) cases were sensitive to rifampicin (RIF) and 3(15.78%) cases were showing resistance to rifampicin (RIF) Drug. Conclusion: Co-existence of HIV and tuberculosis is high and there is high Prevalence of MDR tuberculosis in HIV patients.