We studied the clinical manifestations and outcomes of 114 patients with culture-confirmed melioidosis treated at a tertiary hospital in southern India. Diabetes mellitus is the main risk factor, and chronic melioidosis mimicking tuberculosis was more common than acute disease. Septicemia and respiratory involvement were associated with poor outcomes.

Patients with severe toxin-induced methemoglobinemia present with altered sensorium and cyanosis and may require ventilatory support and inotropes. Though methemoglobin concentrations greater than 70% are considered fatal, aggressive management with methylene blue and supportive therapy can lead to survival.

Rabies encephalitis is a fulminant, almost universally fatal infection involving the central nervous system. A unique treatment protocol, including anti-exicitotoxic therapy and induced coma was credited with the survival of a vaccinated teenager with bat rabies encephalitis in 2005. However, multiple efforts to replicate this expensive and intense protocol have not been successful. In this article, we report the failure of the protocol in Indian patients with canine-acquired rabies and elucidate the potential explanations for the failure of the protocol in our patients.

Purpose: To describe the changes in antibiotic susceptibility patterns of common intensive care unit pathogens with time from the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a 2100 bed tertiary care hospital in South India. All data regarding patient characteristics, disease characteristics, infective agents, identiÞ ed along with their antibiotic sensitivity patterns and patient outcomes were prospectively recorded in MICU data base. Various bacterial pathogen antibiotic sensitivity patterns from August 2004 to May 2005 were prospectively documented. During this period 491 patients were admitted to the MICU. Data were analyzed using excel spreadsheets. Results: Ceftazidime resistance reduced in Klebsiella spp. while cefotaxime resistance increased. In E. coli however, ceftazidime and cefotaxime resistance increased. Klebsiella resistance to cefotaxime and ceftazidime ranged from 25-50% and 14-91%, while E. coli resistance to these antibiotics ranged from 50-70% and 50 to 80% respectively. In Pseudomonas and the non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) ceftazidime resistance decreased. Third generation cephalosporin resistance seemed to be reducing in the NFGNB, however, carbapenem resistance appeared to be increasing, possibly due to their increasing use. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the trend in antibiotic susceptibility pattern (AST) of common gram negative infections seen in intensive care units. It demonstrates the changes seen especially after a change in the protocol antibiotic. Changes in the AST patterns of Klebsiella, E. coli, Pseudomonas and non-fermenting gram negative bacteria were seen. The data on the changing antibiotic susceptibility trends we believe is an important pillar in our efforts at infection control especially in intensive care settings.

Introduction:Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is the collection of pus in the iliopsoas compartment. The etiology of IPA is variable and depends on the geographical area and the antibiotic usage prevalence in that area. This study attempts to evaluate the etiology, clinical features, risk factors, management modalities, and outcomes in patients with IPA from a tertiary care center in South India.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study done in a tertiary care center in South India. Patient details were obtained from electronic medical records.Results:A total of 43 patients were enrolled in the study, the causative organism could be identified in 20 (46.5%) patients. The most common etiology was tuberculosis (TB). Most (23 [56.5%]) patients were treated conservatively, 20 (46.5%) patients were treated with percutaneous drainage (PCD), and 2 (4%) patients required surgery.Conclusion:The most common cause of IPA is TB. PCD was successful in 95% of the patients with complete resolution of symptoms.

Scrub typhus is a mite borne infectious disease that has the potential to involve multiple organs and can be fatal. Involvement of the abdomen in the form of hepatitis, gastric ulcerations and pancreatitis are well-documented, the pathology being disseminated vasculitis. However involvement of the spleen in scrub typhus is extremely rare and is reported only in a few autopsy studies. We report the case of a 50-year-old lady who presented with fever and left upper quadrant abdominal pain due to a splenic infarct due to scrub typhus.

Results:We tested 3,921 stool samples and identified 170 patients with CDI (1.04 cases per 10,000 patient-days). Seventyeight of the CDI patients were treated with MNZ and 41 were treated with VCM. No significant demographic or clinical differences were found between the two groups. The 90-day all-cause mortality rates in the MNZ and VCM groups were 16.2% and 28.9%, respectively. The survival curves did not differ significantly between the two groups after adjusting for several confounders established to be independent risk factors for severe or complicated-course CDI (age, hypoalbuminemia, acute kidney injuries, leukocytosis, hypotension or shock).Conclusion: Our study, Japan's first multi-center assessment of CDI treatment, showed no significant difference in prognosis between the MNZ group and VCM group. We expect MNZ to become a drug of choice for the treatment of CDI.

A 21-year-old gentleman, a worker in a mobile phone shop, was admitted with rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, and pulmonary edema requiring mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. After extensive workup and ruling out other causes, heavy metal poisoning was considered. Investigations during the course of the hospital stay revealed chromium poisoning. With repeated hemodialysis, his parameters normalized and he was discharged home in a stable condition. Diagnosis of chromium toxicity needs high index of suspicion. A history of occupational exposure might offer a clue to diagnosis. With hemodialysis and supportive care, it is a potentially salvageable condition.