A 5-year study of dengue seropositivity among suspected cases attending a teaching hospital of North-Western region of India.

Dengue virus infection is estimated to cause infection in approximately 390 million people globally each year, of which 96 million develop clinical disease. Dengue serotype 2 (DEN-2) is the most prevalent serotype over the past 50 years in India, but serotypes 3 and 4 have appeared in some epidemics as well. A retrospective study was conducted in a teaching hospital, western India, between January 2014 and December 2018. The records of dengue serological test were analyzed. In total, 40 randomly selected nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen-positive samples were analyzed by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The demographic data, that is, age and sex, along with geographic location and platelet count level, were recorded from the Serology laboratory register and Hospital Information System. In total, 14.85% (735/4948) samples tested positive for dengue serology. Most of the laboratory-confirmed dengue cases, 34.97% (257/735), were observed in the 21-30 years of age group. The most common serotype detected in the tested samples was DEN-3 in 55% cases (22/40, 13 monoinfection and 9 coinfection with DEN-1 and DEN-2). The present study gives an insight into the trend of dengue seropositivity among suspected cases in the western part of Rajasthan, India. This study showed a higher seroprevalence of dengue infection as well as a gradual increase in the seroprevalence in this part of India.

Screening for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage on the Hands of Healthcare Workers: An Assessment for Hand Hygiene Practices.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is capable of causing a wide range of infections. Colonized healthcare workers (HCWs) and contaminated hand-touch surfaces act as a potential source of MRSA in hospitals. This study was conducted to detect the carriage of MRSA in the hands of HCWs during patient care to check awareness among HCWs to follow proper hand hygiene protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional point prevalence study done in wards and intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary care hospital. Hand cultures were collected from HCWs after the clinical rounds, without prior information about the procedure. It was done on three consecutive days to include maximum HCWs from the hospital. Cultures were taken before and after the use of alcohol-based hand rub. Hand cultures were obtained by asking HCWs to touch the surface of chromogenic screening agar for MRSA with their fingertips and thumbs of both the hands. RESULTS: Of a total of 62 HCWs screened, 32 (51.61%) were positive for MRSA. Among these, seven were doctors. After using alcohol-based hand rub, six HCWs were still positive for MRSA. Another important finding on this screening agar was detection of Candida on the hands of HCWs. CONCLUSION: Regular monitoring of hand hygiene compliance is vital to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections. The MRSA screening agar is rapid, simple, cost-effective, and useful to identify the carriage of not only MRSA but also Candida (in the wake of nosocomial outbreaks with Candida auris) in the hands of HCWs. Further studies are required to evaluate the transmission rate of MRSA from HCWs to patients in Indian hospitals. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sharma A, Kalita JM, Nag VL. Screening for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage on the Hands of Healthcare Workers: An Assessment for Hand Hygiene Practices. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(12):590-592.