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An endotracheal (ET) tube offers surface for potential pathogens to attach and produce biofilm. These potential pathogens are typically hospital flora with a broad range of antibiotic resistance. The study aimed to characterize the biofilm-producing flora in ET tube of critically ill patients. Following extubation, ET tubes were retrieved aseptically from 100 different patients and promptly transported in a sterile ziplock bag. Each ET tube was cut into three different sections; inner lumen was scraped out and inoculated on Blood agar, MacConkey agar, and Chocolate agar. Colonies produced on media were tested for antibiotic susceptibility testing by applying disc diffusion and Colistin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Out of 100 ET tubes, monomicrobial growth was observed in 62, polymicrobial growth in 14, and no growth in 24 specimens. A total of 93 potential pathogens were isolated including 25 (26.89%) Acinetobacter species, 23 (24.73%) Klebsiella species, 15(16.12%) Pseudomonas species, 13 (13.98%) E. coli, 6 (6.45%), Staphylococcus aureus, 4 (4.3%) Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus species (CoNS), 2 (2.15%) Proteus species, 1 (1.07%) Enterobacter species and 4 (4.3%) Candida species. Imipenem and Colistin proved to be among the most successful antibiotics against gram negative isolates. Only 1 out of 25 Acinetobacter species was resistant to Colistin. Methicillin resistance emerged in two S. aureus and three CoNS strains. Microorganisms usually adhere themselves to the surface of ET tubes. They may act as potential pathogens for the onset of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) and are resistant to commonly administered antibiotics in hospitals. A technique to reduce or prevent the risk of biofilm development is crucial.

From March to June 2021, India experienced a deadly second wave of COVID-19, with an increased number of post-vaccination breakthrough infections reported across the country. To understand the possible reason for these breakthroughs, we collected 677 clinical samples (throat swab/nasal swabs) of individuals from 17 states/Union Territories of the country who had received two doses (n = 592) and one dose (n = 85) of vaccines and tested positive for COVID-19. These cases were telephonically interviewed and clinical data were analyzed. A total of 511 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were recovered with genome coverage of higher than 98% from both groups. Analysis of both groups determined that 86.69% (n = 443) of them belonged to the Delta variant, along with Alpha, Kappa, Delta AY.1, and Delta AY.2. The Delta variant clustered into four distinct sub-lineages. Sub-lineage I had mutations in ORF1ab A1306S, P2046L, P2287S, V2930L, T3255I, T3446A, G5063S, P5401L, and A6319V, and in N G215C; Sub-lineage II had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, A3209V, V3718A, G5063S, P5401L, and ORF7a L116F; Sub-lineage III had mutations in ORF1ab A3209V, V3718A, T3750I, G5063S, and P5401L and in spike A222V; Sub-lineage IV had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, D2980N, and F3138S and spike K77T. This study indicates that majority of the breakthrough COVID-19 clinical cases were infected with the Delta variant, and only 9.8% cases required hospitalization, while fatality was observed in only 0.4% cases. This clearly suggests that the vaccination does provide reduction in hospital admission and mortality.

Introduction: Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) pose major health problems in India. Both viruses are enterically transmitted, resulting in Acute Viral Hepatitis (AVH) in developing countries. This study was done to determine prevalence of HAV and HEV and their co-infection in patients presenting with AVH in a tertiary care hospital. Aim: To determine the prevalence of HAV and HEV and their co-infection among patients attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jodhpur presenting with symptoms of acute hepatitis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of one year duration was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Dr S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur. A non random sampling of 174 patients presenting with AVH was considered in the study. On the basis of history, serum samples were analyzed for IgM anti-HAV and IgM anti-HEV for the detection of HAV and HEV, respectively using commercially available ELISA kits. Data collected was analysed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11 and p-value

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries with poor sanitation and hygiene. HEV is a non -enveloped RNA virus and its genome is formed by a non -segmented positive sense RNA chain. The virus is classified into four genotypes (1-4) with one serotype. Genotype I is the predominant strain in India. HEV infection is an underdiagnosed disease due to wide use of serological assay with low sensitivity. HEV infection outbreaks frequently occur due to fecal -oral transmission, usually through contamination of drinking water. Chronic infections are rare, except in organ transplant recipients, patients with hematological malignancy requiring chemotherapy, and individuals with HIV. Extrahepatic manifestations include a number of neurological syndromes and renal injury. Treatment is required in chronic infections by reducing immunosuppression in transplant patients and/or the use of antiviral therapy. A subunit vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing the clinical disease, but it is not yet commercially available.