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Background: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has emerged as the greatest threat to human existence. Estimating the rate and trends of HIV seroprevalence among pregnant women provides essential information for an effective implementation of Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV (PPTCT) programme and for monitoring its spread within different parts of the country. Objective: As few studies are available from India on HIV prevalence among the antenatal population, a study at a tertiary care hospital in southern Odisha was carried out to know the current trends of seroprevalence in this group. Methods: Blood samples were collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre II (ICTC II) after pre test counselling and informed consent from November 2005 to April 2012. The samples were tested for HIV antibodies as per WHO and NACO guidelines. Result: Among 18,905 pregnant women counseled, 15,853 (83.85%) were accepted for HIV testing. From the total 15,853 tested in six and half years, 0.66% women were found to be HIV seropositive. The mean age of HIV positive women was 24.31 years (SD ± 3.9 yrs). The HIV seroprevalence rates showed a declining trend from 1.53% in 2006 to 0.34% in 2012. Among seropositive women majority (43.8%) were in the age group of 25-29 years. Conclusion: Declining seroprevalence rate indicate prevention campaigns are working, condom usage and preventive sexual behavior has increased.

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in antenatal women is microbiological diagnosis and if untreated have 20-30 fold increased risk of developing pyelonephritis during pregnancy. Aim: The prospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence, risk factors and antibiotic resistance related to ABU in antenatal women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 287 asymptomatic pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital, Odisha, India from July 2012 to December 2012 were enrolled. Two consecutively voided urine specimens were collected by clean-catch midstream urine technique for culture. The urine samples were processed and microbial isolates were identifi ed by conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all bacterial isolates by Kirby Bauer's disc diff usion method. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Quick Calcs Statistical Software Inc., USA. Inferential statistics was done by Chi-square ( 2) test and a P < 0.05 was considered signifi cant. Results: The prevalence of ABU in antenatal women was 11.5% (33/287). Lower socioeconomic status and low level of education were signifi cant risk factors related to ABU (P=0.02). Parity, maternal and gestational age was not signifi cantly associated with ABU. Escherichia coli (54.5%, 18/33) were the most prevalent isolate followed by Enterococcus faecalis (15.2%, 5/33). Nitrofurantoin was the most eff ective antibiotic, showed resistance rate of 3% (1/33) for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusion: Routine screening using urine culture method should be performed for ABU in early pregnancy. Specifi c guidelines should be issued and followed for testing antimicrobial susceptibility with safe drugs in antenatal women. Empirical treatment with nitrofurantoin can be recommended, which is a safe drug and active for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Background:To determine the prevalence of Isospora belli and its correlation with CD4+ cell counts in HIV-positive patients with diarrhea in this region.Materials and Methods:Stool samples from 250 HIV-positive patients, including 200 with diarrhea and 50 without diarrhea included in the study were examined for the presence of enteric parasites under microscopy. Prevalence of the enteric parasites with special reference to I. belli in HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea were calculated and correlated with their CD4+ cell counts.Results:Enteric parasites were detected in 39% of the HIV patients with diarrhea compared to 30% without diarrhea. I. belli was detected in 22% of the patients with diarrhea and in 4% without diarrhea (P = 0.0019). I. belli was the most common parasite, followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (5%) in HIV-positive patients with diarrhea. In HIV-positive patients without diarrhea, the most common parasite detected was E. histolytica/dispar (12%) followed by C. parvum (6%) and I. belli (4%). The mean CD4 cell count of HIV-positive patients with diarrhea suffering from isosporiasis was 138.35 ± 70.71. In patients with CD4 cell counts <200/μl, I. belli was seen in 36/123 stool samples and 2/27 stool samples which was statistically significant (P = 0.0157).Conclusion:I. belli was the predominant parasite with a prevalence of 22% among HIV-positive patients with diarrhea, majority having CD4 cell count <200/μl. This study highlights the importance of routine screening for coccidian parasites in HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea especially in those with low CD4 cell counts.

Arthrographis kalrae is a hyaline fungus. It is a saprophyte of the environment, mainly found in soil and compost. It is a rare isolate in clinical specimen. In recent years this pathogen has been attributed to various cases of opportunistic infections. Our patient was a 51-year-old Indian woman, farmer by occupation, who had HIV infection and was under HAART treatment. She presented with complaints of cough with scanty expectoration for 2 months. Her CD4 count was 75 cells/μl. Induced sputum was collected and sent for detailed microbiological examination. Bacteriological and mycological profile was checked. The causal agent was identified as Arthrographis kalrae based on morphological characteristics (culture). Unfortunately, samples could not be preserved and sent for ITS region sequencing due to COVID-19 outbreak. The case is of interest because, to the best of our knowledge, Arthrographis kalrae has not been reported so far from our country, India.