Serological Screening of TORCH Agents as an Etiology of Spontaneous Abortion in Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal
Dhruba Acharya,
Abha Shrestha,
Bikash Bogati,
Kishor Khanal,
Shrinkhala Shrestha,
Prabin Gyawali
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2014
Pages:
34-39
Received:
2 March 2014
Accepted:
8 April 2014
Published:
10 April 2014
Abstract: The role of TORCH infections as a cause of spontaneous abortions is still debatable with conflicting results where geographical variation may play a significant role. This study was undertaken to discover the association of TORCH infections in women with spontaneous abortions by serological testing. The descriptive case control study was conducted from January to December, 2012. A serological evaluation was carried out to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, using commercial diagnostic kits by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Mean age of the study and control subjects were 24.8+/-6.4 and 23.8+/-3.8 years respectively where 72.8% of the study subjects were of the age between 20 to 35 years and 23% of the women with spontaneous abortion were below 20 years. Most of the cases were of incomplete abortions (43%) followed by complete abortions (26%). Only 1.3% of both IgG and IgM seropositivity against TORCH agents were noted among the study subjects whereas highest IgG seropositivity was detected with Rubella (86.8%) followed by HSV-I (72.8%). An infection susceptibility rate of 77.9% to Toxoplasma gondii, 11.7% to Rubella, 51.9% to CMV, 36.4% to HSV-I and 84.4% to HSV-II was noted. No significant difference in relation to age and type of abortion was found in seropositivity between the study and the control subjects. This study, probably the first of its kind from Nepal, suggests that current infection with TORCH agents might not be the possible etiology of spontaneous abortion. Serological TORCH screening may not be conclusive.
Abstract: The role of TORCH infections as a cause of spontaneous abortions is still debatable with conflicting results where geographical variation may play a significant role. This study was undertaken to discover the association of TORCH infections in women with spontaneous abortions by serological testing. The descriptive case control study was conducted ...
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Antimicrobial Drug Resistance and Disinfectants Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Clinical and Environmental Samples in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia
Meseret Mitiku,
Solomon Ali,
Gebre Kibru
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2014
Pages:
40-45
Received:
21 March 2014
Accepted:
26 April 2014
Published:
10 May 2014
Abstract: P. aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogen that causes nosocomial infections often acquired from hospital environment and contaminated medical devices. The infections caused by this bacterium are particularly problematic because it is inherently resistant to several unrelated antimicrobial agents and antiseptics. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine drug resistance and disinfectants susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples and hospital environments. A laboratory based cross sectional study was conducted from May to September, 2012 on a total of 81 P. aeruginosa isolates. A standard bacteriological technique (conventional biochemical tests and pigment production) was used to identify the bacterium. Drug resistance and disinfectant susceptibility tests were determined by Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion and through the classic method of successive dilutions respectively. In this study a total of 305 (160 clinical and 145 environmental) samples were investigated for P. aeruginosa and 81 isolates were obtained. This gives an overall P. aeruginosa isolation rate of 26.5% (81/305). About 47.5% of the clinical and 34.2% environmental isolates were detected from wounds and ward sinks respectively. Of these P. aeruginosa isolates, 95.1% were resistance to Trimethoprim-sulphametoxazole, 62% to Gentamicin, and 58% to Ceftriaxone. But, only 4.9% of isolates were resistance to Amikacin. Moreover, disinfectant susceptibility test revealed that hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite had a higher (92.6% & 91.4%) bactericidal activity compared to ethanol and savlon at the recommended user dilution. In general, our results indicated that P. aeruginosa was significantly resistance to commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs, a situation that demands a more rational and appropriate use of antibiotics. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite were relatively more effective when used in recommended dilution. However, all tested disinfectants or antiseptics showed reduced bactericidal activities in higher dilutions. Therefore, strict adherence to the recommended dilution is important for better activity. The correct use of them also has to be considered appropriately as part of infection control practices.
Abstract: P. aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogen that causes nosocomial infections often acquired from hospital environment and contaminated medical devices. The infections caused by this bacterium are particularly problematic because it is inherently resistant to several unrelated antimicrobial agents and antiseptics. Hence, the aim of this stu...
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Cytogenetic Investigation in Prenatal Specimecimens for Effective Prognosis of Pregnancy Related Complications
Binay Kumar Raut,
Lakshman Kumar Balasubramanian,
Mukesh Kumar Jha,
Shyam Sundar Malla,
Moka Rajasekhar
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2014
Pages:
46-54
Received:
22 April 2014
Accepted:
14 May 2014
Published:
30 May 2014
Abstract: Background: Alterations in chromosomal content of mother and infant are central characteristics of various complications related to pregnancy and early childhood. About 60% of the pregnancy losses, 2-3% of all the neonates and 50% of childhood deafness, blindness, mental retardation and 1 to 10 % of all the malignancies are directly due to genetic factors. Hence cytogenetic testing of pre and post natal samples can prove to be useful for discovery of non-invasive markers for prevention of such conditions beforehand. Aim of the study: The present study was carried out to detect numerical and structural abnormalities in 56 subjects with repeated miscarriages, bad obstetric history and sub fertility by analysing peripheral blood, products of conception (POC) material, and recovered cell lines from prenatal samples. Methods: Conventional cytogenetics: Peripheral blood culture (PBC) supplemented with mitogen Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), metaphase chromosomes was harvested after 72 hours for chromosome analysis. Tissue cytogenetics: Culture of solid tissue was used as a source for mitotic cells from products of conception (POC) from first trimester spontaneous abortions for aneuploidy detection; and Prenatal chromosome analysis was performed by either chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniotic fluid and cord blood after culture. Image acquisition and analysis was performed by using automated karyotyping (IKAROS) software based on G, C and R banding. Results: Chromosomal abnormalities were located in all types of specimens but were predominantly observed in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and product of conception (POC) samples. Aberrations observed were mainly translocations, satellites, additions in RPL cases like 46,XX with instances of (D/D,D/G,G/Gassociations);45,XX,rob(13;14);46,XXt(4;21);46,XX,(9qh+);46,XX,(14ps+);46,XX, t(5;6) and ploidy involving 67,XX+;64,XXX+;69,XXX;63,XXX;58,XX+ in the POC cases. Conclusion: Cytogenetic screening could provide to be a useful method for monitoring patients with abnormal pregnancies. The cytogenetic result is an independent prognostic indicator, with certain karyotypes associated with a good prognosis for the better treatment.
Abstract: Background: Alterations in chromosomal content of mother and infant are central characteristics of various complications related to pregnancy and early childhood. About 60% of the pregnancy losses, 2-3% of all the neonates and 50% of childhood deafness, blindness, mental retardation and 1 to 10 % of all the malignancies are directly due to genetic ...
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