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Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common contagious diseases worldwide. Over the past few decades, researchers have made significant efforts to prevent TB. Recent predictions indicate that the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) will reach 552 million by 2023 due to ongoing epidemiological changes in several countries across the globe. India is expected to have 62-80 million people with diabetes by 2030, making it the "Diabetes Capital" of the world. Present review discusses the urgent need to understand the mechanisms and implications of DM on the immune systems of TB patients. The correlation between TB and DM has been shown to be bidirectional. Numerous studies have revealed a higher prevalence of diabetes in TB patients, as their immune systems are compromised. TB patients with DM experience progressive deficits in both innate and adaptive immune cell activity, reducing their ability to suppress Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and increasing their risk of developing TB. Increased inflammation and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines in circulation are characteristics of TB with DM co-morbidity, which indicate the active involvement of the angiogenesis-inflammation nexus. Therefore, to alleviate the burden of both disorders, it would be beneficial to make informed therapy choices by gaining a better understanding of TB immunology in the context of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brevundimonas species are aerobic, non fermenting Gram negative bacilli. Brevundimonas diminuta (B. diminuta) is not believed to be a significant pathogen, and its virulence is generally low, being rarely isolated from clinical samples. Only a few clinical cases of serious opportunistic infections, particularly in patients with compromised immunity, have been reported for B. diminuta. All known species of Brevundimonas spp. show strong resistance to most antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here, a case of B. diminuta infection in an eight-year-old female child is described. The patient also had a minor Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and a known congenital Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Following isolation from the blood sample, the VITEK 2 compact system identified B. diminuta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of Dermatophytosis is similar in several continents of the Asian country. The varied state of weather is favourable for mycosis that may lead to various clinical symptoms and infection spreads speedily if left untreated with time. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical and mycological pattern of dermatophyte infections in patients arriving at our dermatology outpatient department and also to correlate the formal clinical diagnosis with KOH positivity and culture positivity. This descriptive observational study was conducted among 300 patients presenting with dermatophyte infections who came to the dermatology outpatient Department of SRM Medical College and research centre, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu. The clinical specimens were put through direct microscopy by Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) mount and with the culture on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA). The study showed males were affected mostly and most of the participants were students. The common symptoms observed were Itching, Scaling and Discolouration. Commonly, patients had a primary diagnosis of Tinea corporis infection followed by T. cruris. Trichophyton mentagrophytes were the commonly isolated organism followed by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton violaceum. This study indicates the need for personal hygiene and the disadvantage of as only few participants had zoophilic infections of Tinea species. These methods of diagnosing and identification will further aid in better patients management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The main concern in the 21st century is antibiotic resistance. Early detection of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections can lower morbidity and death rates. Due to a shortage of alternative medicines, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia have become major therapeutic challenges in various countries. To ascertain the frequency of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and their antibiogram profile is done in order to create therapeutic and infectioncontrol advice. Materials and Methods: A total of 366 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from various clinical samples are subjected to initial identification and they are screened and confirmed for carbapenemase production by phenotypic methods based on CLSI and for genotypic detection polymerase chain reaction is done. Results: Among them, 90 isolates showed carbapenem resistance. 90 isolates of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were subjected to phenotypic detection of carbapenemase enzyme synthesis using MHT, mCIM, and eCIM. Out of which, 75 isolates showed positive for MHT, 80 isolates showed positive for mCIM, 70 isolates showed positive for eCIM. In genotypic detection 80 isolates were positive for mCIM. PCR is performed for mCIM positive isolates in which the NDM gene was positive for 70 isolates and KPC the gene was positive for 10 isolates these PCR findings correlate with the phenotypic detection method mCIM and eCIM respectively. Discussion: In this study, confirmatory tests mCIM (Carbapenemase detection) were determined to be the most significant and reliable method. Also, it can be performed in routine microbiological testing. Since these correlate with results of PCR, this will aid in the detection of antibiotic resistance and judicious use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a significant threat to healthcare and is classified as a global pandemic. This study aims to find the association between the inflammatory marker CRP, LDH, Ferritin, D-dimer, and the cycle threshold of SARS CoV2 in the pediatric population Methods: Patients admitted with COVID-19 infection (SARS CoV2 Real-Time PCR positive) from November 2020 to October 2021, were included in this study. The cycle threshold (Ct) of SARS CoV2 Real time-PCR test, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C reactive protein (CRP), serum Ferritin, D-dimer, white cell counts including absolute neutrophil and absolute lymphocyte count were analysed in these patients. Patients were divided into two groups based on the Ct (cycle threshold) value of SARS CoV2 RT-PCR for statistical analysis (Ct<=26 and Ct>26). Statistical analysis using the area under the curve with a Z score (95% confidence interval) was used to detect the significance between the serum parameters and the cycle threshold of RT-PCR in COVID-19 infection. Patients were grouped into asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 based on their clinical presentation. Unpaired t-test was used to identify a statistically significant correlation between clinical presentation and the serological parameters Results: Out of 1125 suspected COVID-19 patients, 47 patients (4% positivity) were identified as COVID-19 positive using RT-PCR. The mean age group of males was 8.74±5.11 years and females was 9.45±5.87 years. 2% of patients had severe and 13% of patients had moderate COVID-19 clinical presentation. The area under the curve analysis using a Z score with 95% CI identified a statistically significant correlation between the cycle threshold of SARS CoV2 RT -PCR and absolute lymphocyte count (p-value 0.04). No statistically significant correlation was identified between D-dimer, serum LDH, serum ferritin, total white cell count, and the cycle threshold of SARS CoV2 RT-PCR. Unpaired t-test showed a statistically significant correlation between clinical presentation and LDH, CRP, and D-dimer. Conclusion: The cycle threshold of RT-PCR does not show an association with serological parameters such as CRP, LDH, D-dimer, and serum ferritin. Absolute lymphocyte count can be used as an indicator to identify patients with low Ct values in SARS CoV2 RTPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]