Introduction: Group B β haemolytic streptococcus (GBS) is a colonizer of the female genital tract and a known cause of neonatal infections. Identification of GBS colonization in pregnancy is the key to prevent such infections. Published data regarding GBS colonization in pregnancy are limited in Sri Lanka. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnancy, to compare vaginal and rectal colonization rates and to find out the antibiotic susceptibility of the GBS isolates. Methods: Lower vaginal and rectal swabs were collected separately from 100 pregnant women of 35 to 37 weeks gestation attending the obstetric clinics at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya from August to November 2011. Vaginal and rectal swabs were separately enriched using Todd Hewitt broth supplemented with gentamicin and nalidixic acid and incubated at 35-37 o C. Following overnight incubation, the enriched broth was subcultured onto blood agar. Suspected colonies were identified with Gram stain, catalase and Lancefield's grouping. Susceptibility testing was performed using the Stokes method. Results: GBS colonization in the study sample was found to be 30%. GBS were recovered from both vaginal and rectal swabs in 20%. It was isolated only from vaginal swabs in 4% and only from rectal swabs in 6%. Rectal GBS colonization was 26% and higher than the vaginal colonization rate (24%). The sensitivity to penicillin was found to be 100% while the sensitivity to erythromycin and clindamycin were 63.3% and 30% respectively. Conclusion: This study implies the need for routine GBS screening in pregnancy and the importance of collecting both vaginal and rectal swabs for GBS screening.

Introduction: Legionella pneumophila can cause severe community acquired pneumonia which may be life threatening. This organism is found in aquatic environments and infection is acquired through inhalation of aerosols. Few studies conducted in Sri Lanka have confirmed the presence of this organism in cooling tower water in Sri Lanka. Published data regarding human cases of legionellosis in Sri Lanka is not available. Objective: To determine the prevalence of community acquired pneumonia due to L. pneumophila among patients who required hospital admission and assess the risk factors associated with this infection. Methods: The study was carried out from July 2014 to June 2015 at the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya. Expectorated sputum or endotracheal secretions and urine specimen were collected within 24 hours of admission after obtaining consent from all adult patients admitted during the study period with community acquired pneumonia. Respiratory specimens, if obtained, were inoculated onto Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) agar and were inoculated at 35 º C-37 º C for 7 days and observed for typical colonies. Urine specimens were stored at-20 º C and ELISA test was performed for the detection of L. pneumophila serogroup 1a antigen. Results: Eighty urine specimens and 27 respiratory specimens were obtained form 80 patients. None of the respiratory specimens grew suspected colonies of L. pneumophila and all urine specimens were negative for L. pneumophila serogroup 1a antigen. Conclusion: L. pneumophila serogroup 1a was not identified as the pathogen responsible for community acquired pneumonia in this study sample.

Background Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are the most critical group of MDR bacteria that pose a threat to human health especially affecting patients with haematological malignancies. Knowledge on the prevalence of CRE colonization of the gut will help healthcare providers to be vigilant in-patient management. However, there are no local studies exploring the gut colonizing CRE among patients with haematological malignancies. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of CRE genes in colonizing CRE isolates in patients with haematological malignancies and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods Rectal swab samples collected from patients with haematological malignancies were screened with selective chromogenic agar for CRE. Species identification and ABST of CRE isolates were done using VITEK® 2 system. blaKPC, blaNDM and blaOXA−48 genes were identified using an in-house conventional multiplex PCR, with previously described method and primers. Results A total of 264 adult patients with haematological malignancies were included in the study. Prevalence of gut colonization of CRE was 35.2% (93/264). A total of 119 CRE isolates from 93 study subjects were further studied. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant carbapenemase producer [68/119 (57%)] among the isolates. Sixty-one (51.2%) isolates harboured blaNDM, 48 (40.3%) blaOXA−48 and 12 (10%) blaKPC. Three isolates (2.5%) were shown to harbour all three genes and 24 (20%) two genes. Twenty (16.8%) of isolates tested negative for all three genes. Conclusions A relatively high prevalence of CRE gene occurrence and co-occurrence was detected in the study population. This indicates a potential challenge to infection prevention and control in the institute as colonization with CRE carries a threat to endogenous infection and cross transfer. Limitations In-house conventional PCR method was used to identify CRE genes. Twenty isolates that were negative for all tested genes need to be studied further.