Introduction:The role of natural bioactive substances in treating infections has been rediscovered as bacterial resistance become common to most of the antibiotics. Curcumin is a bioactive substance from turmeric. Owing to antimicrobial properties, its prospect as an antibacterial agent is currently under focus.Materials and Methods:We have evaluated the in vitro synergy of curcumin with antibiotics against sixty biofilm producing bacterial isolates. Congo red agar method was used to identify the biofilm producing isolates. Curcumin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method. Its antibiotic synergy was identified by the increase in disc diffusion zone size on Mueller-Hinton agar with 32 mg/L curcumin.Results:The mean MICs of curcumin against Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates were 126.9 mg/L and 117.4 mg/L, respectively. Maximum synergy was observed with ciprofloxacin among Gram-positive and amikacin, gentamicin, and cefepime among Gram-negative isolates.Conclusions:Curcumin per se as well as in combination with other antibiotics has a demonstrable antibacterial action against biofilm producing bacterial isolates. It may have a beneficial role in supplementing antibiotic therapy.

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The prevalence of CDI in our hospital was found to be 4%, which was relatively lower compared to other Indian studies. However, awareness of the risk factors may assist in identifying patients at higher risk for CDI, guide implementation of appropriate preventive measures, and modulate potential intervention measure during management.

UCBC is a simple convenient method, which ensures culture of adequate volume of blood from newborns allowing effective early isolation of bacterial pathogens, especially in EONS.

Hymenolepis diminuta (H. diminuta) is a common parasite of rats and mice. It is very rare among humans. The life cycle of this parasite is completed in two hosts. Human beings are accidentally infected due to ingestion of infected fleas. Most of the time human infections are asymptomatic. We report a case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a school-going 10-year-old girl from a coastal village in south Tamil Nadu. Demonstration of H. diminuta eggs in the stool is the important diagnostic tool. Absence of polar filaments confirms the Hymenolepis diminuta. Praziquantal is the drug of choice.

PCT may not be sufficiently used as a sole marker of sepsis in neonates compared to CRP. PCT in conjunction with CRP and other tests for septic screen can aid in better diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

Acinetobacter infections associated with multi-drug resistant and pan-resistant strains have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in our setting.

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