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Many COVID-19 studies are about epidemiological and clinical features but information about secondary bacterial infections is limited. The presentstudy was conducted to determine the prevalence andcharacteristics of bloodstream infections in COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary care academic healthcare organization. All blood samples were obtained from patients with COVID-19 admitted were includedin the study. Blood cultures were performed using BD BACTEC ™ FX40, and the diagnosis and bacterialidentification and antimicrobial sensitivity was performed by manual method. 2200 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized during a 6-month study period in which 315 blood cultures were performed. Of these,24 (7.61%) were positive. The median age of patients with positive blood culture was 38 years and included13 males and 11 females. Seventeen patients (70.83%) needed intensive care in the ICU. Significantcorrelations with blood culture positivity have been noted with parameters such as admission to the ICU,availability of accommodation, basic illness and adverse clinical outcomes. Bloodstream infectionsprevalence in COVID-19 patients is low. However, antibiotic prophylaxis needs to be used with caution, andimmediate discontinuation should be made based on clinical judgment.

Background: This prospective study was carried out to look for the frequency of isolation of Extended spectrum b lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria from urine samples and study their susceptibility pattern. The detection of ESBL genes responsible for their resistance was done by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: The study was carried out over a period of one year from January 2016 to December 2016. Urine specimens from patients were processed as per standard protocol. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines 2016. Urine isolates obtained were screened for ESBL, by cefotaxime, ceftazidime disk and confirmation was made by Double disk diffusion test method. The detection of ESBL genes responsible for their resistance was done by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for blaCTX-M, blaTEM and blaSHV genes. Results: Prevalence of ESBL producing uropathogens were found to be 20.47% with most common organism to be isolated was Escherichia coli (E. coli) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem were the most effective antibiotic agents against urinary isolates. Most common gene responsible for ESBL production was blaCTX-M (71.42%). Conclusion: A large number of ESBL producing strains are creating significant therapeutic problems. Therefore, monitoring of ESBL production, judicious use of antibiotics and infection control measures are necessary to avoid treatment failures in patients with Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

Cryptosporidium species is identified as an important cause of morbidity in children and adults. Prevalence rate as reported from various studies in India is much lower when compared to developed word. Present study was designed to analyze the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. Stool samples from 306 patients suffering with gastrointestinal symptoms were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. A higher prevalence (25%) was found when compared to reports from north east and western India. Cryptosporidium was prevalent in 35-36% of adults, 17% of children and 20% of infants.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) associated with parvovirus B19 (B19) infection has a favorable prognosis in children. However, there is no data available to predict outcome in cases of FHF associated with hepatotropic virus coinfection. Clinical characteristics of 3 pediatric groups with FHF were compared and it was observed that B19 coinfection with other viruses adds to the severity of the disease and increases the probability of a fatal outcome.

Background: Blood transfusion service (BTS) is an integral part of health care system which primarily aims at providing adequate and safe blood. Transfusion transmitted infections (TTI) pose constant threat to safety of recipients of blood. Therefore all donated blood should be screened against these infections. Aims &objectives : This retrospective study was carried out to know seroprevalence of different Transfusion transmitted infections in healthy blood donors of Western U.P.to prevent transmission of diseases. Material and method : Blood units collected from healthy non remunerated , replacement and voluntary donors within blood bank premises of Sharda hospital, Greater Noida, over a period of 6 years(2007-2012) were screened against NACO recommended TTI- HIV, HBsAg, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria parasite. Results : Total donations were 9592. Out of which 330 donors were sero reactive and 18 showed co infections (dual infection). Seropositivity for HBsAg was present in 168 donors (1.75%), HCV - 116(1.208%), RPR for syphilis 52 (0.54%) and HIV - 12 cases (0.12%) . Majority of single and co infections were in 21-40 yrs age group .Co infection was present in 18 cases. RPR done for syphilis was a common positive marker in all 18 cases of co infection. Other infections were HBsAg -11 cases (61.1%), HCV - 6 cases (33.3%) and HIV - one case (5.55%). Conclusion : Blood bank should follow more stringent donor selection criteria and promote voluntary donation. Public awareness regarding mode of spread of TTI and judicious use of blood will reduce the threat of transfusion transmitted infections.

Antimicrobial agents still remain the mainstay in the treatment of enteric fever; however, indiscriminate use of these drugs has led to the emergence of resistance in Salmonella typhi. Many reports are available on drug resistance in S. typhi from different parts of India,1 but there is no report available from the eastern part of northern India. There are reports from India that ciprofloxacin has begun to produce delayed clinical responses in enteric fever2 with gradual increases in MICs of ciprofloxacin3 and clinically quinolone-resistant typhoid fever.4 The present study was conducted to investigate the pattern of drug resistance in isolates of S. typhi obtained between 1979 and 1998 in the University Hospital of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, with special reference to ciprofloxacin. A total of 140 isolates of the bacterium were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by agar diffusion and 59 isolates, selected randomly, were subjected to MIC determinations of ciprofloxacin by the agar dilution method as recommended by NCCLS (1997).5 Plasmids from the three ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were obtained with a Qiagen-QIA prep spin Miniprep Kit and transformation studies were carried out in Escherichia coli (DH5α).