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Introduction. As the world was still recovering from the 2020 pandemic, the devastating impact of Covid-19 driven by the Delta variant shook the world in 2021. As the second wave was declining, there was an unusual surge in Covid-19 positive cases by the end of 2021 which led to global concern about the change in virus characteristics. Hypothesis/gap statement. Whole genome sequencing is critical for understanding a rapidly progressing pandemic. Aim. To provide an insight into the major differences encountered in the changing characteristics between the second and third waves of the pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in India. Methods. A retrospective observational cohort analysis was conducted on Covid-positive patients during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic (from March 2021 to April 2021) and the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic (from December 2021 to January 2022). Results. Out of 303 Covid-19 positive cases, 52 samples were tested by whole genome sequencing during the second wave and 108 during the third wave. A decline of 18.5 % was observed in the case fatality rate from the second wave to the third wave. There was a 5 % decline in the number of patients admitted with ARDS and a 16.3 % decline in the number of patients with co-morbidities. In total, 51.9 percent of cases were due to the Delta variant during the second wave and 95 percent due to the Omicron variant during the third wave. We found that 36.5 % of Covid-positive patients during the second wave had been vaccinated compared to 40 % in the third wave. Conclusion. Whole genome sequencing of clinical samples from a wide range of individuals during a viral epidemic will enable us to develop a more rapid public health response to new variants and identify the required vaccine modifications more quickly.

Introduction. India is home to the most significant number of tuberculosis (TB) cases around the globe. The COVID-19 crisis has massively affected TB healthcare services in the country. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Are we sufficiently equipped to fight against TB during emergencies? Aim. Our study aims to provide a true insight into the disruption of TB care during the pandemic period at a tertiary care hospital in India. Methods. A retrospective observational cohort analysis was conducted on 6491 patients who accessed the TB diagnostics at the tertiary care hospital during the study period, i.e. the COVID-19 pandemic period (March 2020 to March 2021) compared with 14 665 in the control period (March 2019 to Feb 2020). Results. Out of the total tested, 3136 patients were notified as new TB cases in the study period than 4370 in the control period (P-value=0.0000001), i.e. 28.23 % decline in notifications. A drastic decline of 69 % in notifications was observed during the lock down months in the pandemic period, i.e. March to June 2020 (P-value=0.00001). A reduction of 44 % in treatment accession by 3690 TB patients in the control period compared with 2062 in the study period (P-value=0.0000001) was noted. Lost to follow-up patients increased by 65 % from 460 in the control period to 760 in the study period (P-value=0.0000001). Also, an increased death rate by 43 % from control to study period (P-value=0.0000001) was reported. Conclusion. There is an urgent need to maintain the continuity of essential TB services to reduce the rising burden in vulnerable populations. The need of the hour is to undertake novel strategies for tuberculosis control to combat such emergencies in the coming future.

To evaluate the utility of endotracheal aspirate microscopy, culture and endotracheal tube tip culture for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates. Inborn ventilated neonates were followed-up for ventilator-associated pneumonia using Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. Endotracheal aspirate microscopy, culture and endotracheal tube tip cultures were performed. Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in 28/68 (41%) neonates as per CDC criteria. Endotracheal aspirate microscopy (≥5 polymorphonuclear cells per high power field) and endotracheal aspirate culture had 78.6% and 75% sensitivity, 87.5% and 90% specificity, positive predictive value of 81.5% and 84%, and negative predictive value of 85.4% and 83.72%, respectively. Mean (SD) time of result of microscopy and endotracheal aspirate culture was 55.7 (4.3) h and 108.3 (19.7) h, respectively in comparison to diagnosis made at 143.5 (23.3) h, as per CDC criteria. Endotracheal aspirate microscopic examination and culture can be supportive in objective diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia with an added advantage of earlier prediction.

Brain abscess is an uncommon and serious life-threatening infection in children. Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella spp. in this age group are also rare. We report the case of a 4-month-old male infant with a frontoparietal brain abscess caused by Salmonella typhimurium, the presence of which was not suspected clinically.

Brain abscess is an uncommon and serious life-threatening infection in children. Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella spp. in this age group are also rare. We report the case of a 4-month-old male infant with a frontoparietal brain abscess caused by Salmonella typhimurium , the presence of which was not suspected clinically.