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Aims and objectives: The etiological spectrum of any superficial mycosis is largely dependent on the flora in the immediate environment of the individual. It is influenced by the geographic, climatic and occupational factors. The study is basically to formulate baseline data for the species prevalence of various dermatophytes in patients with onychomycosis attending the Central Referral Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis were subjected to mycological studies. Results: Thirty-two (94.12%) cases were positive for fungal elements by direct microscopy and 28 (82.35%) by culture. Young adults in the age group of 21-30 years were mainly affected. The male:female ratio was 1.125:1. Dermatophytes were isolated in 18 cases (64.29%). Trichophyton tonsurans (44.44%) was the most common isolate followed by T. mentagrophytes (22.22%), T. rubrum (11.11%), T. verrucosum (11.11%) and Microsporum audouinii (11.11%). Apart from dermatophytes, Aspergillus niger (21.43%) and Penicillium marneffei (14.28%) were also isolated. Conclusion: Dermatophytes, mainly T. tonsurans, as well as moulds other than dermatophytes were isolated from onychomycosis patients in Gangtok, Sikkim.

Background & objectives: The two major genotypic markers that distinguish community acquired (CA) from hospital acquired (HA) methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates are the architecture of mobile genetic element (SCCmec type) and presence of panton valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin. This study was conducted to determine the molecular characteristics of CA- and HA- MRSA and methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates in Sikkim. Methods: A total of 150 clinical isolates of S. aureus isolated from various clinical specimens were subjected to duplex (mec-A and pvl gene) and multiplex (SCCmec typing) PCR. Results: of the 150 isolates, 53 (35.33%) and 66 (44%) were positive for mec-A (MRSA) and pvl genes, respectively. Thirty eight (25.33%) met the definition of CA-MRSA and 15 (10%) of HA-MRSA and the remaining 63 (42%) and 34 (22.66%) as CA- and HA-MSSA, respectively. No significant difference was seen in the distribution of PVL toxin in MRSA and MSSA isolates, but it was significantly (P<0.001) high in overall MRSA isolates than in MSSA. The majority of the MRSA isolates showed a double amplification band of SCCmec type III plus V (54.71%), and only a fewer isolates were amplified by single DNA fragments of type I (1.88%), III (3.77%), IVa (1.88%) and V (11.32%). SCCmec types I, II, IVa, were found only in HA-MRSA isolates, whereas type V in both the CA- and HA-MRSA. AST pattern showed that 18.42 per cent (7/38) and 46.66 per cent (7/15) were multidrug resistant (MDR)-CAMRSA and MDR-HA-MRSA, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: The present results show that SCCmec type V MRSA has been on the rise, and genotypic markers such as pvl gene detection used for the differentiation of these clinically distinct isolates of MRSA may not be reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and different health-seeking behaviours among 250 cured and 250 category-II tuberculosis patients., Methods: A case-control study was conducted in different health settings in Sikkim, a part of the Indian continent. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose., Results: Results showed significant differences in overcrowding, smoking and alcohol intake. There was a general unawareness with the disease and its treatment between the two groups. 45% of the respondents reported that tuberculosis is caused by germs. 81.4% stated that tuberculosis presents only as cough. 94.8% of the case group and 90.8% of the control group stated that it is a transmissible disease. Sharing food with tuberculosis patients (64% of case group, 55% of the control group; p < 0.05), inadequate diet (16.4% of case group, 9.6% of the control group; p < 0.03) were mentioned as modes of transmission. Sixty six per cent of the case group and 56.8% of the control group mentioned the use of DOTS for prevention and control (p < 0.05). Sixty three per cent of the control group regarded tuberculosis as a life threatening condition (p < 0.00) [(adjusted OR = 2.04, (95% CI: 1.43, 2.93)]. Tuberculosis was considered as a completely curable disease by 96.4% of the case group (p < 0.05). 40.6% of the respondents agreed to be in contact with a tuberculosis infected person. 64% of the retreatment group discontinued their treatment due to frequent travelling for work., Conclusion: The study revealed lack of knowledge, positive attitude and inappropriate health seeking behaviours among of the tuberculosis patients, irrespective of their categorization.