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Background: Globally, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infection in women. Candida albicans is the most common agent. There is an increasing prevalence of non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, mostly in vulnerable populations, responding poorly to fluconazole, the drug of choice for VVC. It leads to treatment failure, especially in clinical isolates with intrinsic fluconazole resistance; hence, appropriate identification and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) are of paramount importance to ensure better clinical outcomes. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to identify different Candida species isolated from women with VVC and to evaluate their antifungal drug susceptibility pattern. A retrospective observational study including a total of 286 isolates of Candida spp. isolated from 729 women with vaginal discharge attending the Outpatient Department of an Apex Regional Sexually Transmitted Infections Center in North India over 1 year (June 2022–May 2023) was performed. Identification and AFST were performed as per standard microbiological procedures. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Data were presented as percentages and proportions. Results: Candida isolates were detected in 39.23% of women. The median age was 26–35 years. C. albicans was the most common isolate (60.8%), followed by Candida glabrata (31.8%), Candida tropicalis (4.19%), Candida parapsilosis (2.09%), Candida krusei (0.699%), and Candida kefyr (0.34%). Fluconazole resistance was seen in 29% of the isolates and susceptible dose-dependent in 32.15%. Conclusion: Increasing isolation of NAC species (39.2%) causing VVC and responding poorly to fluconazole (29% resistant strains) is a major concern. Timely and appropriate AFST will help improve the clinical outcome and quality of life.

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present significant global and national health challenges, particularly in India. Objective: This study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of STIs among attendees at the Suraksha clinic in the Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital. Methods: Retrospective data from January 2018 to December 2022 were statistically analyzed using Excel and SPSS. The study includes the examination for diagnosis of various STIs, such as syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydiasis, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), chancroid and genital herpes. . Gender distribution and syndromic diagnoses, including Vaginal/Cervical Discharge and Genital ulcers, were also considered. Referrals to Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres for HIV testing were analyzed. Results: The results reveal a substantial burden of STIs, with 3.06% showing reactivity to syphilis , 1.74% testing positive for HIV, 3.36% for Gonorrhoea, 11.78% for Chlamydiasis, 1.05% for Trichomoniasis, 26.24% for Candidiasis, 9.97% for Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), 7.80% for Chancroid, 11.64% for Herpes genitalis , and 4.01% for other non STI infections. Attendees' interactions included 34.36% of referrals to Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres for HIV testing. The gender distribution showed 58.92% male and 40.94% female attendees. Conclusion: Syndromic diagnoses, including Vaginal/Cervical Discharge (21.22%) and Genital Warts (8.00%), highlight prevalent conditions, necessitating routine screening, early detection, and targeted interventions for effective disease control and prevention. These findings underscore the significance of integrated screening, patient education, and proactive strategies to safeguard public health in the face of rising STI rates.

BackgroundIn alignment with the Measles and Rubella (MR) Strategic Elimination plan, India conducted a mass measles and rubella vaccination campaign across the country between 2017 and 2020 to provide a dose of MR containing vaccine to all children aged 9 months to 15 years. We estimated campaign vaccination coverage in five districts in India and assessed campaign awareness and factors associated with vaccination during the campaign to better understand reasons for not receiving the dose.Methods and findingsCommunity-based cross-sectional serosurveys were conducted in five districts of India among children aged 9 months to 15 years after the vaccination campaign. Campaign coverage was estimated based on home-based immunization record or caregiver recall. Campaign coverage was stratified by child- and household-level risk factors and descriptive analyses were performed to assess reasons for not receiving the campaign dose. Three thousand three hundred and fifty-seven children aged 9 months to 15 years at the time of the campaign were enrolled. Campaign coverage among children aged 9 months to 5 years documented or by recall ranged from 74.2% in Kanpur Nagar District to 90.4% in Dibrugarh District, Assam. Similar coverage was observed for older children. Caregiver awareness of the campaign varied from 88.3% in Hoshiarpur District, Punjab to 97.6% in Dibrugarh District, Assam, although 8% of children whose caregivers were aware of the campaign were not vaccinated during the campaign. Failure to receive the campaign dose was associated with urban settings, low maternal education, and lack of school attendance although the associations varied by district.ConclusionAwareness of the MR vaccination campaign was high; however, campaign coverage varied by district and did not reach the elimination target of 95% coverage in any of the districts studied. Areas with lower coverage among younger children must be prioritized by strengthening the routine immunization programme and implementing strategies to identify and reach under-vaccinated children.

Many people who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have recently been diagnosed with black fungus – or mucormycosis – disease. Rhino-orbital mucormycosis is becoming more common in people with COVID-19, particularly in India. On its own, diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and mucormycosis. The goal of this study is to conduct a review of the literature to determine the features of patients with mucormycosis and COVID-19. Increased mucormycosis in India appears to be the result of an unholy trifecta of diabetes (high hereditary incidence), corticosteroid overuse (increased blood glucose and opportunistic fungal infection), and COVID-19 (cytokine storm, lymphopenia, and endothelial damage). To limit the incidence of deadly mucormycosis, all efforts should be made to maintain optimum hyperglycemia, and only prudent evidence-based use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 is advocated. In this review, we emphasize knowledge on diagnosis and therapy regarding black fungal mucormycosis, which is accompanied by post-SARS-CoV-2.

A growing number of organisations, including medical associations, recommend that research subjects should be given the option of being informed about the general outcome and results of the study. We recently completed a study involving nine serosurveys from 2018 to 2020 in five districts of India among three age groups (children 9 months to < 5 years; 5 to < 15 years of age, and women 15 to < 50 years of age before and after the measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaigns). In Palghar district of Maharashtra all individuals in 30 selected clusters were enumerated, and 13 individuals per age group were randomly sampled. We established the procedures to return the results to the respondents for each stage of the survey. Of the 1,166 individuals selected for the measles and rubella serosurvey, 971 (83%) agreed to participate and were enrolled. Participants were informed that they will only be contacted if they test seronegative for measles and/or rubella antibodies. Overall, 140 individuals enrolled in the survey tested seronegative for IgG antibodies to measles and/or rubella viruses; were provided the reports and informed to seek medical advice. Upon follow up by phone, 10% (14) of the 140 participants reported to have been vaccinated. In this paper we discuss the procedures, experiences and considerations in returning results to participants in a community-based measles and rubella serosurvey. Although the lessons learned are specific to post measles-rubella vaccine campaign serosurvey in India, they might be helpful to those contemplating sharing results to participants of large scale survey settings.