Indian journal of medical microbiology
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jan 2018
ReviewEchinocandins: Their role in the management of Candida biofilms.
The importance of antifungal agents and their clinical implications has received little attention in comparison to antibiotics, particularly in the health-care setting. However, apart from bacterial infections rising in hospitals, the incidences of fungal infections are growing with the development of resistance to conventional antifungal agents. Newer antifungal agents such as echinocandins (ECs) have been extensively studied over the past decade and are recognised as a superior treatment compared with prior antifungals as a first line of therapy in tertiary institutions. ⋯ Analysing studies involving the use of these agents can help in making critical decisions for antifungal therapy in the event of a fungal infection in the ICU. In addition, the development of resistance to antifungal agents is a crucial factor for assessing the appropriate antifungals that can be used for treatment. This review provides an overview of ANID in biofilms, along with CAS and MICA, in terms of clinical efficacy, resistance development and potency, primarily against Candida spp.
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The western and North-Western parts of India are usually considered non-endemic for histoplasmosis. On the contrary, we observe histoplasmosis cases with relatively higher frequency from this region although the awareness and laboratory facility to diagnose the disease are not adequate. Hence, we planned the present retrospective study to compile the cases and to analyse different clinical parameters. ⋯ This study highlights that Gujarat and Rajasthan are an endemic region for histoplasmosis, and a systematic study is required to understand epidemiology of the disease. Histoplasmosis should be a differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with adrenal enlargement, lymphadenopathy, oral ulcers and fever of unknown origin in this region.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jan 2018
Changing trends of culture-positive typhoid fever and antimicrobial susceptibility in a tertiary care North Indian Hospital over the last decade.
The present study was undertaken to analyse the trend in prevalence of culture-positive typhoid fever during the last decade and to determine antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A isolated from patients of enteric fever presenting to our hospital. ⋯ We found that the most common etiological agent of enteric fever is S. Typhi causing the majority of cases from July to October in our region. MIC to ceftriaxone in typhoidal salmonellae is creeping towards resistance and more data are needed to understand the azithromycin susceptibility.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Oct 2017
Incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and impact of multidrug-resistant infections on patient's outcome: Experience at an Apex Trauma Centre in North India.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains one of the most common nosocomial infections in the Intensive Care Unit. In the face of extremely high rates of antimicrobial resistance, it is essential to gauge the clinical significance of isolation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens from clinical samples. This study details the trend of VAP and the clinical significance of isolation of MDR pathogens from respiratory samples at an Indian tertiary care hospital. ⋯ Isolation of MDR pathogens from bronchoalveolar lavage does not always adversely affect the outcome of patients. It requires an interdisciplinary team of clinical microbiologists, physicians and hospital infection control nurses, to collectively manage these patients.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jul 2017
ReviewOptimisation of antimicrobial dosing based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles.
While suboptimal dosing of antimicrobials has been attributed to poorer clinical outcomes, clinical cure and mortality advantages have been demonstrated when target pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) indices for various classes of antimicrobials were achieved to maximise antibiotic activity. Dosing optimisation requires a good knowledge of PK/PD principles. This review serves to provide a foundation in PK/PD principles for the commonly prescribed antibiotics (β-lactams, vancomycin, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides), as well as dosing considerations in special populations (critically ill and obese patients). ⋯ The quantitative relationship between a PK and microbiological parameter is known as a PK/PD index, which describes the relationship between dose administered and the rate and extent of bacterial killing. Improvements in clinical outcomes have been observed when antimicrobial agents are dosed optimally to achieve their respective PK/PD targets. With the rising rates of antimicrobial resistance and a limited drug development pipeline, PK/PD concepts can foster more rational and individualised dosing regimens, improving outcomes while simultaneously limiting the toxicity of antimicrobials.