Multilocus Sequence Typing of Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus from India.

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complex. In the present study, to understand the molecular epidemiology of 208 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus from different parts of India, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using ISHAM MLST consensus scheme for C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex was used. MLST analysis yielded a total of 10 Sequence Types (STs)-7 STs for C. neoformans and 3 for C. gattii species complex. The majority of isolates identified as C. neoformans belonged to molecular type VNI with predominant STs 31 and 93. Only 3 isolates of C. gattii species complex were obtained, belonging to ST58 and ST215 of VGI and ST69 of VGIV. Phylogenetic analysis revealed less diversity among the clinical Indian isolates compared to the global MLST database. No association between prevalent STs and HIV status, geographical origin or minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) could be established.

Favourable outcome of severe COVID-19 patients in hyperinflammatory phase with high dose dexamethasone pulse therapy: A series of 10 cases.

The hyperinflammatory phase of COVID-19 occurring because of cytokine storm is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the affected patients. Various drugs with no definite cure are being tried to tackle the cytokine storm. Recently high dose corticosteroids are being used to arrest the surge of cytokines. In the current case series, we will be discussing the outcome of high dose dexamethasone pulse therapy in 10 cases of COVID-19 in hyperinflammatory phase who were cured of the disease along with improvement in laboratory parameters without any complications to the therapy.