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Background: Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is quite evident in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The pattern of the isolates from the catheter tip as well as blood culture and their sensitivity against antibiotics varies and set a huge challenge for the physician for its management. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to isolate and identify, causative organism in CRBSI from the HD patient and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of each isolate and determines the current trend. Materials and Methods: A total (n=101) patients admitted for HD in the nephrology unit of a tertiary care hospital with preexisting comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension (HT) were recruited according to inclusion/exclusion criteria after obtaining written consent. Blood samples from peripheral blood vessel of suspected CRBSI patients were collected as well as the catheter tip was cut and collected in sterile test tube and transported to microbiology laboratory for isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility test. Results: The HD catheter tip culture was found positive in 54 (53.46%) samples out of the total 101 samples. The distribution of catheter tip culture positive patients and their association with diabetes mellitus was highest at age group > 60 years with a p < 0.0001. The association between catheter tip culture positive and HT was also found significant with P

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) refers to a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. It becomes a global epidemic and day by day it is increasing, expecting more than 200 million type 2 DM cases will be seen in next decade predicted by World Health Organization (WHO). India has 31.7 million diabetic patients and the number is expected to increase upto 79.4 million by 2030. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains a leading cause of visual disability and blindness. It is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and is frequently accompanied by lipid exudation. The elevated level of blood glucose and HbA1c is highly associated with changes in central corneal thickness. Objective: To estimate the changes of central corneal thickness (CCT) and optic disc in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without retinopathy. Materials and Methods: It was a hospital base cross sectional study. The study population were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria after proper evaluation. The study population was divided into two groups. Group A (control) and group B (study) were considered as patients who had type 2 DM without DR and with DR respectively. The data were collected and tabulated in excel sheet. The statistical analysis was done as percentage, proportion Pearson’s chi square test/ Mann-Whitney U test. The statistical significant was considered if p value < 0.05. Results: The mean CCT of control and study groups were 549.60±4.56µm and 555.45 ± 5.71µm respectively. (p ≤ 0.001). The mean IOP of control and study groups were 19.88±1.82 mm Hg and 23.55 ± 1.77 mm Hg respectively. (p ≤ 0.001). Among study groups, optic atrophy, disc hemorrhage, disc neovascularization (NVD) and nerve fiber damage were 4%, 2%, 4% and 4% respectively. Conclusion: The Type2 diabetes with retinopathy patients had higher CCT, increase risk of optic atrophy, NVD and nerve fiber damage.

Background: Ocular surface disorders and dryness of eye are increasing day-by-day particular among type 2 diabetics. The factors such as autonomic dysfunction and high blood sugar level account for the development of dry eye in diabetes. Although pathogenesis of dry eye syndrome (DES) is not clearly understood, it has been shown that accumulation of sorbitol may cause lacrimal gland structure damage and dysfunction resulting decreased tear secretion. Poor glycemic control affects both the anterior and the posterior segments of the eye and increasing prevalence of diabetes-associated DES has been reported in recent years. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital. Consecutive 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who attended outpatient department were included as per inclusion-exclusion criteria. Results: The majority of the patients (58%) was female with female-to-male ratio of 1.38:1. Most of the patients (43%) were under 50 years followed by 51–60 years (34%). Overall, the mean age was 54.26 ± 10.06 years. More than half (63%) of the patients had duration of diabetes up to 5 years. The result showed 42% prevalence of DES among the patients. Number of patients had been suffering from mild, moderate, and severe dry eye were 21%, 16%, and 5%, respectively. The condition was pronounced with longer duration and poor control of diabetes. Conclusions: DES in patient with type 2 DM was significantly associated with increasing age but not with the sex. The duration of diabetes had a direct influence on dry eye. Poor control of diabetes was associated with higher prevalence of dry eye. Early detection of diabetes and its adequate control is the key measure for prevention of dry eye in diabetes.

Introduction: Several previous studies shown that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D has inhibitory effects on inflammation and angiogenesis, which are involved in the development of DR. Objective: To find an association with 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels and Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and also to explore whether any relationship exists between 25 (OH) Vitamin D level and degree of severity of Diabetic Retinopathy. Methods: 58 Type 2 DM patients [32 cases with Diabetic Retinopathy and 26 Control with out Diabetic Retinopathy] were evaluated for their ophthalmic findings, glycaemic status and 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels. They were further sub-divided into Patients with No Retinopathy, Mild to Moderate Retinopathy and Severe Retinopathy. Chi square test, Student t test, ANOVA, Relative Risk and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed and a significance level of 0.05 was used. Results: Patients with retinopathy had longer diabetes duration and significantly low 25 (OH) Vitamin D level (p value 0.005364*, 0.002454* respectively) although age of the patients in years showed no significant relationship with retinopathy (p value 0.392599). There is significant inter-group variation in 25 (OH) Vitamin D level among no Retinopathy, mild-moderate Retinopathy and severe Retinopathy group (p value 0.00012*). Patients with 25 (OH) Vitamin D deficiency shows significantly higher risk of developing DR [RR2.70, 95% CI (1.38-4.64), p value: 0.0025] and 25 (OH) Vitamin D level is an independent predictor of DR (p value 0.00027*) but duration of type 2 DM in months is not (p value 0.98). Conclusion: Type 2 DM patients with retinopathy were found to have significant vitamin D deficiency as compared to those without retinopathy.

Background: Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy (GON) is very common in the glaucoma patients, and impaired effect of glaucoma is measured by the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness. Objective: The study was conducted to find out the mean RNFL thickness, RNFL thickness in different quadrants, Intra-Ocular Pressure (IOP) changes, and visual field changes after filtration surgery in different ages and genders using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Materials and Methods: The study was an interventional case-series conducted at the Glaucoma Clinic at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology at Kolkata from March 2009 to August 2010. Fifty-one eyes of 43 open angle glaucoma patients had been selected for clinical and ophthalmologic evaluation. All the eyes of glaucoma patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were registered in the study population. The glaucoma filtration surgery was done in these patients. The RNFL thickness, IOP, visual field changes were measured before and after intervention of filtration surgery. Pre-operative OCT images of RNFL were obtained 0 to 120 days before surgery, and post-operative images were obtained from 60 to 120 days after surgery. Data collected in a standard data collection form included schedule. Results: Paired t-test was used. RNFL thickness was (pre-operative: 52.56 ± 17.40, post-operative: 58.48 ± 20.20, P < 0.0001) significantly increased after filtration surgery measured by OCT with significant reduction of IOP (r = - 0.38, P = 0.005) irrespective of age and gender. Conclusions: An increase in RNFL thickness was observed after glaucoma filtration surgery that correlated with IOP reduction.

Background: Tuberculosis is an important public health problem. The Smear Conversion Rate (SCR) is an operational indicator for the Directly Observed Treatment Short course strategy of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India. This study was conducted to determine the initial sputum smear grading and to assess the smear conversion rate (SCR) and treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted among 341sputum smear positive patients from tuberculosis units of North 24 Parganas district. Record of initial smear grading, conversion and outcome of all new sputum smear positive patients were utilized. All patients were followed up periodically under the RNTCP guidelines. Result: Total numbers of newly diagnosed smear positive TB patients collected were 341.Among them sputum grading were high positive cohort (3+) 24.6% and low positive cohort (scanty, 1+ and 2+) 75.4%. The conversion rates were observed for Scanty, 1+, 2+ and 3+ at 81.7%, 82.2%, 76.5% and 52.4% respectively at the end of the intensive phase of the treatment. It has been estimated that approximately 50% of mycobacterial load was reduced after intensive phase in high grading cohort whereas it was more than 75% reduction in low grading cohort. Conclusion: The conversion rate of sputum smear was found dependent on initial sputum grading. The conversion rate was low in high grade cohort but increase in low grade cohort. The conversion rate was probably decreased on high mycobacterial load.

Introduction: Globally, 162 million under-five children were suffering from stunting; 99 million from underweight and 51 million from wasting in 2012. The Government of India has introduced NewWHO 2006 Child Growth Standards in India for monitoring growth of children. This study wasconducted with the objective to assess the magnitude of under-nutrition among 24-59 months children in a rural area of West Bengal and some social factors influencing their nutritional status. Materials and methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 360 children of 24 – 59 months in ten randomly selected villages of West Bengal in March 2013 using a predesigned pretested schedule. Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 49.17%, 59.44% and 20.28% respectively. Boys suffered more than girls in all indicators. The prevalence of under-weight, stunting and wasting was significantly associated with age of the study population, literacy status of parents and socio economic status but not with sex. Conclusion: The problem of under-nutrition amongst under-five children needs to be addressed through comprehensive preventive, promotive, curative and social measures.