Fluconazole (FLC) susceptibility of isolates of Candida spp., (n = 42) and efficacy as well as mechanism of anti-Candida activity of three constituents of geranium oil is evaluated in this study. No fluconazole resistance was observed among the clinical isolates tested, however 22% were susceptible-dose-dependent (S-DD) [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 16 μg ml(-1)] and a standard strain of C. albicans ATCC 10231 was resistant (≥ 64 μg ml(-1)). Geraniol and geranyl acetate were equally effective, fungicidal at 0.064% v/v concentrations i.e. MICs (561 μg ml(-1) and 584 μg ml(-1) respectively) and killed 99.9% inoculum within 15 and 30 min of exposures respectively. Citronellol was least effective and fungistatic. C. albicans dimorphism (Y → H) was highly sensitive to geranium oil constituents tested (IC50 approximately 0.008% v/v). Geraniol, geranyl acetate and citronellol brought down MICs of FLC by 16-, 32- and 64-fold respectively in a FLC-resistant strain. Citronellol and geraniol arrested cells in G1 phase while geranyl acetate in G2-M phase of cell cycle at MIC(50). In vitro cytotoxicity study revealed that geraniol, geranyl acetate and citronellol were non-toxic to HeLa cells at MICs of the C. albicans growth. Our results indicate that two of the three geranium oil constituents tested exhibit excellent anti-Candida activity and significant synergistic activity with fluconazole.

Cell surface hydrophobicity(CSH)of 50 clinical isolates of Candida albicans was studied, and values varied broadly in the range 2% to 41%. Purpose of the present work was to investigate correlation of CSH with the C. albicans adherence to solid surfaces, if any. To elucidate this, adhesion to the polystyrene model surface was studied for all the clinical isolates. Adherence varied in the range of 79 to 478 cells per microscopic field. Results indicated no correlation between CSH of the clinical isolates and their adhesion to polystyrene.

Background: Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among burn patients. The worldwide emergence of antimicrobial resistance among a wide variety of burn wound pathogens, particularly nosocomial isolates, limits the available therapeutic options for effective treatment of burn wound infections. The study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Dr. S.C.G.M.C, Nanded, Maharashtra, India to determine aerobic bacterial isolates from burn wound swabs and describe their antibiogram.Methods: Two wound swabs were taken from 570 patients, cultured aerobically. The isolates were identified by standard microbiological methods and antibiotic sensitivity pattern was determined.Results: Among 570 patients, 434 (76.14%) were female and 136 (23.85%) were male. Out of the total swabs collected, 548 (96.14%) were culture positive and 36 (6.56%) were having 2 isolates. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34.93%) was the commonest isolate followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.77%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.87%), Escherichia coli (13.01%) and Coagulase negative staphylococcus (11.31%). Incidence of MRSA was 59.39% and ESBL producers were 61.46 %. Gram positive isolates were 100% sensitive to Vancomycin, Linezolid and Gram negative organisms to Imipenem.Conclusions: Routine periodic sampling of burn wounds would facilitate the selection of appropriate empirical therapy and reduce the incidence of multidrug resistant infections among burn patients.

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BACKGROUND Neonatal sepsis takes a big toll of neonatal deaths in developing countries. It is estimated that up to 20% of the neonates develop sepsis and approximately 1% die of sepsis related causes. In India, sepsis is one of the commonest causes of neonatal mortality contributing to 19% of all neonatal deaths. The present study was undertaken to study aerobic bacterial profile of neonatal septicaemia by automated blood culture systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS This observational study was conducted in the Microbiology Laboratory of a tertiary care centre over a period of one and a half years [January 2013 to June 2014]. Blood samples of neonates of both sexes were collected and processed. Detailed history recording and clinical examination was conducted on each patient and findings were recorded. RESULTS Total 157 blood samples, 99 [63.05%] from male and 58 [36.94%] from female patients were processed. Out of 157 blood samples, 70 i.e. 44.58% were flagged as positive by BacT/ ALERT 3D 60 system and 87 [55.41%] were negative. Within the neonatal age group, 52 [74.28%] neonates with positive blood cultures were of the age less than one week. Out of 70 culture positive cases 64 [91.42%] deliveries were conducted in the hospitals, rest 6 [8.57%] were home-based deliveries. Out of 70, 12 [17.14%] neonates were having history of febrile illness in the mother during gestation. And 17 [24.28%] neonates were found to have history of Prolonged Rupture of Membranes [PROM] during delivery. 43 [61.42%] of the 70 positive cases had not attained their gestational maturity. Out of 70 blood culture positive neonates, 44 [62.85%] were having early-onset sepsis. Rest 26 [37.14%] were suffering from late-onset sepsis. All 70 blood cultures were monobacterial. Out of 70 isolates, 35 [50%] isolates were Gram-positive cocci and 35 [50%] isolates were Gram-negative bacilli. Least susceptibility of E. coli isolates was observed to Cefepime [18.75%] and Ampicillin [12.50%]. CONCLUSION Culture positivity was found more in male neonates as compared to females. The male-to-female ratio being 1.69: 1. Highest blood culture positivity, i.e. 74.28% was found in neonates of age less than one week. 17.14% out of 70 babies with positive culture were having history of maternal pyrexia during gestation. 24.28% cases were found to have prolonged rupture of membranes during deliveries. 61.42% cases were preterm deliveries. 60% babies were having low birth weight. 62.85% cases were having early-onset sepsis and 37.14% were of late-onset sepsis.

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Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain the most common bacterial infections in developing countries. Knowledge of susceptibility pattern of uropathogens in a specific geographical location is an important factor for choosing suitable antibacterial treatment. Objectives: A study was undertaken to ascertain the spectrum of causative agents responsible for UTIs and to determine the magnitude of drug resistance among them. Results: A total of 1806 organisms were isolated from 3559 urine samples studied during 2010-2016. There is a shift in causative agents of UTI. Escherichia coli have been reappearing and replacing the current pathogen Klebsiella. Coagulase-positive Staphylococci have been significantly replaced by coagulasenegative Staphylococci. Other Gram-negative bacilli belonging to Proteus and Pseudomonas, which were supposed to be major pathogens of UTI particularly in tertiary care hospitals, are surprisingly being less encountered recently. It has been observed that 55.48% of strains were resistant to the antibiotics tested and there was sudden increase in incidence of totally resistant uropathogens during the year 2014. Majority of the totally resistant strains could be seen with Klebsiella (66.23%) followed by Citrobacter (63.28%). Conclusion: These observations indicate extremely high degree of resistance in uropathogens and warrant change in the antibiotic usage as well as formulation of policy for rational use of antibiotics to reduce the emergence of drug resistance in future.