Infections due to multidrug resistant E.coli range from uncomplicated urinary tract infections to life-threatening sepsis. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility in 173 (12.84%) Escherichia coli strains isolated from 1347 clinical specimens of different types. Isolation and identification of E.coli were done as per routine laboratory protocol directed by Cheesbrough1. The isolation rate of E.coli was 48.57% in stool followed by 17.68% in urine, 25% in wound swabs, and 15.38% in tracheal aspirate etc. Among the 173 isolates 102 (59%) were from males and 71 (41%) were from females. Patients were classified into five age groups: 0-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60 and >60 years. E.coli was found highest number in females (13.9%) of age range 31-45 years and in males (22%) belonged to age group of over 60 years. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method was conducted for 22 different antibiotics. The majority of isolated E.coli were highly sensitive to Imipenem (98.18%), Meropenem (97.37%), Amikacin (91.67%), Amoxiclav (80%), Ceftazidime (73.33%), and Gentamycin (71.76%). The antibiotics Tobramycin and Azithromycin were found as moderately sensitive against E.coli with the susceptibility rate of 52.5% and 50% respectively. The isolates show low degree of susceptibility to Penicillin G (9.52%), Carbenicillin (10%), Erythromycin (19.48%), Amoxycillin (19.59%), and Ampicillin (25%). These findings have clinical and epidemiological significance and provide a benchmark for future studies on the pattern of susceptibility of clinical isolates of E.coli in this region as well as may help the clinician to prescribe the right empirical treatment.KYAMC Journal Vol. 7, No.-1, Jul 2016, Page 681-686

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Aloe vera [Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.] is considered a valuable medicinal plant worldwide due to its remarkable beneficial effects on human health. However, challenges in A. vera propagation hinder meeting the increasing demand in the health and beauty sectors. As an alternative method, in vitro propagation is crucial for the mass production of Aloe plants, which is a rapid method as well. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol for A. vera by in vitro optimization of the effect of different plant growth regulators (PGRs).For shoot proliferation, sterilized explants were inoculated on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/l) in combination with 0.5 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subsequently, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/l) was used for root induction. It was found that the explants cultured on the MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA showed the highest percentage of response (90 ± 1.29) for shoot induction within the minimum number of days (5 ± 0.33). The highest number of shoots (2.7 ± 0.36) and length of shoots (4.7 ± 0.42 cm) per explant were also observed with the same concentration of PGRs. However, the highest number of roots (3.2 ± 0.57), length of roots (5.67 ± 0.21 cm), and root induction (80 ± 1.97 %) were noticed within the minimum number of days (11 ± 0.79) on the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA. Thus, the proposed method is a quick and effective approach for the mass propagation of A. vera with appropriate dosages of auxins and cytokinins, which may allow meeting the increasing commercial demand.

Neonatal infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among infants. Clinical pattern of neonatal infection in the neonatal unit of Institute of Post Graduate Medicine & Research (IPGM&R), Dhaka has been reported. Out of total 2160 Neonatal admission from July 1991 to June 1993, 320 (14.8%) cases of neonatal infections were found. Septicemia was the commonest type found in 118 (5.5%) cases. Other infections included umbilical sepsis (14.7%), Skin infections (1.6%), Meningitis (1.2%). Tetanus neonatorum were not included. Out of 320 cases, 20 patients died (6.2%). Preterm low birth weight and birth asphyxia were the common risk factors.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329.bjms.v1i3.17909

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections. To combat the challenge of life threatening MRSA remains a primary focus of most hospital infection control programs6. This study is undertaken in Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital to identify the MRSA for determination of its prevalence and is considered a component of an infection control program in many countries5.Methods: Three hundred seventy hospitalized patients of surgery and medicine departments were studied during 2015. Clinical information of the patients and their pus, wound swab, sputum, throat swab and CSF were cultured.Results: Out of 370 patients, pus and wound swab of 217 (59%) had wound infection, sputum and throat swab of 141 had respiratory tract infection (38%) and CSF of 12 (3.2%) had meningitis were aseptically collected and cultured. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 51% cases and out of them MRSA was identified in 72 (73%) cases. MRSA isolated in 50% cases of meningitis, 49% cases of respiratory tract infection and 29% cases of wound infection.Conclusion: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus appeared as a common cause of major illness and death and impose serious economic costs on patients and hospitals of our area like other developing countries. Detection of MRSA was associated with more severe clinical presentation.KYAMC Journal Vol. 7, No.-1, Jul 2016, Page 673-677