Indian J Med Res
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Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic in India and is a dangerous pathogen for hospital acquired infections. This study was conducted in 15 Indian tertiary care centres during a two year period from January 2008 to December 2009 to determine the prevalence of MRSA and susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolates in India. ⋯ The study showed a high level of MRSA in our country. There is a need to study epidemiology of such infections. Robust antimicrobial stewardship and strengthened infection control measures are required to prevent spread and reduce emergence of resistance.
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Metabolic syndrome (MS) is an important determinant of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) often underestimate the CV risk in Asians, younger patients and those with MS. Asians often develop coronary artery disease (CAD) at a younger age and also have a high prevalence of MS. Only limited data are available on the relationship between MS and FRS in such patients and the present study was undertaken to report on this aspect in an Indian patient population with angiographically documented CAD. ⋯ MS is common in Indian patients with angiographically documented CAD; most patients with MS have 10-year risk of >10 per cent as estimated by FRS. Though MS is uniformly prevalent across all age groups, using the FRS may underestimate the CV risk in Indian patients despite documented CAD. These findings have significant implications for Asian patients with CAD in whom onset of CAD is often at a younger age than their Western counterparts. There should be continued health care emphasis on detection of MS and intensification of targeted preventive strategies.
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Medical college faculty, who are academicians are seldom directly involved in the implementation of national public health programmes. More than a decade ago for the first time in the global history of tuberculosis (TB) control, medical colleges of India were involved in the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) of Government of India (GOI). This report documents the unique and extraordinary course of events that led to the involvement of medical colleges in the RNTCP of GOI. ⋯ Medical colleges are contributing to diagnosis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-TB co-infection and development of laboratory infrastructure for early diagnosis of multidrug-resistant and/or extensively drug-resistant TB (M/XDR-TB) and DOTS-Plus sites for treatment of MDR-TB cases. Overall, at a national level, medical colleges have contributed to 25 per cent of TB suspects referred for diagnosis; 23 per cent of 'new smear-positives' diagnosed; 7 per cent of DOT provision within medical college; and 86 per cent treatment success rate among new smear-positive patients. As the Programme widens its scope, future challenges include sustenance of this contribution and facilitating universal access to quality TB care; greater involvement in operational research relevant to the Programme needs; and better co-ordination mechanisms between district, state, zonal and national level to encourage their involvement.
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Biography Historical Article Classical Article
Experimental studies on the hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora mukul Engl. (Guggul). 1969.