A bstract Background World is in grip of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic right now. Majority of studies center around its epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Information regarding secondary bacterial infections is limited. This retrospective observational study was done to determine the prevalence and characteristics of bloodstream infections in COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary care center in Jaipur. Materials and methods All blood cultures received from COVID-19 positive patients admitted in designated COVID care ICUs and wards were included in the study. A predesigned pretested questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Blood cultures were done using BD BACTEC™ FX40, and identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates were done by VITEK® 2 COMPACT. Results One thousand five hundred seventy-eight (1578) COVID-19 positive patients were admitted in center during 5-month study period from whom 158 blood cultures were received. Out of these, 15 (9.4%) were positive. Median age of patients with positive blood culture was 54 years and included 10 males and 5 females. Ten (67%) patients needed intensive care in ICU. Significant correlation of blood culture positivity was found with parameters like ICU admission, presence of an indwelling device, underlying comorbidity, raised biochemical markers, and adverse clinical outcome. Conclusions Incidence of bloodstream infections is low for COVID-19 patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis needs to be used with caution, and prompt discontinuation should be done based on clinical judgment. How to cite this article Rajni E, Garg VK, Bacchani D, Sharma R, Vohra R, Mamoria V, et al. Prevalence of Bloodstream Infections and their Etiology in COVID-19 Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jaipur. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):369–373.

Candidemia is one of the significant causes of mortality amongst critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors and antifungal susceptibility pattern in candidemia cases admitted in ICU in a tertiary care hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan from June 2021 to November 2021. Candida species isolated from blood culture of clinically suspected patients of sepsis were defined as candidemia cases. Blood culture and antifungal susceptibility testing were performed as per standard laboratory protocol. Analyses of risk factors was done between candidemia cases and matched controls in a ratio of 1 : 3. Forty-six candidemic cases and 150 matched controls were included in the study. C. tropicalis was the most prevalent species (22/46; 48%) followed by C. auris (8/46; 17%) and C. albicans (7/46; 15%). Candida species showed good sensitivity to echinocandins (97%) followed by amphotericin B (87%) and voriconazole (80%). In multivariate analysis, longer stay in ICU, presence of an indwelling device, use of immunosuppressive drugs and positive SARS-CoV-2 infection were associated with increased risk of candidemia. The constant evaluation of risk factors is required as prediction of risks associated with candidemia may help to guide targeted preventive measures with reduced morbidity and mortality.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2(SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of corona virus disease-2019(COVID- 19) which has led to a global pandemic. The true extent of the burden of COVID-19 may be underestimated, and there is need to know the current prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in population. Methods The present study was a cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of SARS-CoV- 2 IgG antibody among 586 healthy voluntary blood donors who donated whole blood between mid-December 2020 to January 2021. A chemiluminescence assay was used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in serum samples in addition to recommended transfusion transmitted infections tests and Signal to Cut Off (S/C) > 1 was considered as reactive for antibody as per manufacturer’s instructions. Results In the present study, 586 healthy voluntary blood donors were enrolled and were screened for SARS- CoV-2 IgG antibody. Out of 586 donors, 52 donors had indeterminate values of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. A total of 534 healthy voluntary blood donors’ samples were included in the present study for analysis. Out of total 534 healthy blood donors, 42.88% (229) were found to be seropositive while 57.11% (305) were found to be seronegative. Conclusion A 43% positivity of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody among healthy blood donors was detected which is an indication of presence of infection at community level and majority of the population already has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there was no statistically significant association of type of blood group and age with seropositivity.

AIM: Prevalence of anemia and its socio-demographic determinants in pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the pregnant women aged 25 to 35 years, registered at antenatal clinic at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur were included. A predesigned and pre tested questionnaire was used to elicit the information. Various possible causes of anaemia were considered. Data was entered on Microsoft Access and was analysed using the statistical software SPSS version 11.5 for windows vista. Chi square test was used for finding the association between degree of anaemia and various factors. p value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant and p value less than 0.001 was considered to be highly significant. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women is still quiet high (70%), as also found in various other studies done in India. The existing health care resources should be reinforced striclly, with mandatory supply of IFA tablets to adolescent girls & pregnant women, food fortification along with correction of other nutritional deficiencies and timely interventions for reducing the burden of malaria, & other infectious diseases. Unfavourable socio demographic factors are the major barriers to the efforts in place for the prevention of anaemia during pregnancy. Socio-economic status, literacy of women & awareness related to health concerns are the major determinants that contribute to the problem of anaemia. Therefore public health education/information on reproductive health are important health care measures to be undertaken at the community level, taking care of the fact that the health care should be provided during the important years of adolescence, before marriage & child bearing. Also it is high time for realisation that health system should focus on various factors that contribute to the occurrence of anaemia & include them as an important indicator in the national health care policy.

A bstract Background The genus Providencia , earlier considered a rare pathogen, is now increasingly recognized as a notorious opportunistic pathogen capable of causing serious nosocomial infections, mainly urinary tract infections (UTIs). Treating these infections is an onerous task given the resistance seen in clinical strains to many currently available antimicrobials. The objective of the present study is to provide an overall view into the prevalence of Providencia spp. causing UTIs, their antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and respective clinical outcomes. Materials and methods This is a retrospective observational study carried out in a tertiary care teaching referral hospital located in Jaipur, India from March 2021 to May 2021. All Providencia spp. strains isolated from urine samples were included in the study. Data were entered in Microsoft Office Excel worksheet. Results are presented in numbers and percentages. Results Out of 1,261 urine samples processed in the laboratory during the study period, 426 were culture positive and the majority were gram-negative isolates and included Escherichia coli (46.0%) and Klebsiella spp. (28.0%). Providencia spp. was the fourth most common gram-negative pathogen (6.0%). The median age of patients was 65 years. The male:female ratio was 3:2 and maximum patients belonged to the 30–60-year age-group. Diabetes was the commonest associated comorbidity. All patients had an indwelling urinary catheter. Three (20.0%) patients succumbed to infections. Conclusion Providencia is an opportunistic pathogen that cannot be neglected due to escalating antibiotic resistance. Effective infection control and antibiotic stewardship policies are required to prevent the development of further antibiotic resistance. How to cite this article Rajni E, Jain A, Garg VK, Sharma R, Vohra R, Jain SS. Providencia Causing Urinary Tract Infections: Are We Reaching a Dead End? Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(4):446–451.