Evaluation of antibiotic sensitivity pattern in cases of enteric fever in north west Rajasthan.

A total of 50 cases of blood culture proved enteric fever were studied for clinical response to the treatment and compared with in vivo antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Out of 50 Salmonella strains isolated, 37 were S typhi and 13 S paratyphi A. All S typhi isolates were sensitive in vitro to gentamicin and ceftriaxone while sensitivity to ciprofloxacin was 73%, ampicillin 29.7%, chloromphenicol 27%, tetracycline 27% and co-trimoxazole 13.5%. Multidrug resistance (Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol, Cotrimoxazale and Tetracycline) was observed in 62% isolates. All Sparatyphi A isolates were sensitive to all the antibiotics. Clinical response to the antibiotic therapy was as follows: Group I--Ampicillin + Gentamicin: 15 cases, clinical response (CR), 9.1% (S typhi) and 75% (S paratyphi A), mean day of defervescence 5.33 days. Group II--Ciprofloxacin: 29 cases, clinical response 47.6% (S typhi) and 75% (S paratyphi A), mean day of defervescence--5.22 days. Group--III Ceftriaxone: 30 cases, clinical response 100% in all, mean day of defervescence--4.93 days. Thus we observed highly significant discrepancy in antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates and clinical response. Most importantly we observed significantly delayed clinical response to the ceftriaxone. This may be indicative of evolving resistance to ceftriaxone.

Hospital-based case series of 175 cases of serologically confirmed brucellosis in Bikaner.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical spectrum of brucellosis in Bikaner (Northwest India). METHODS: A total of 175 cases were diagnosed as brucellosis during the period of six year (June 1997 to May 2003). They were studied for clinical profile and treated by rifampicin and doxycyclin and additionally streptomycin for initial 14 days in patients of neurobrucellosis. These patients were followed up to 3 months. RESULTS: Patients of brucellosis presented with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Out of 175 cases 155 were from rural area. Age ranged between 12-60 years (124 males, 51 females). Analysis of risk factors revealed history of raw milk ingestion (86.86%), occupational contact with animals (81.14%), handling of infected material (62.28%), household contact (16%) and 2 patients were veterinarian. Joint pain (83.43%) and fever (77.71%) were the commonest presenting feature. Sacroiliac joint was most commonly involved (46.86%). 31 cases had involvement of multiple joints. Other mode of presentation were neurobrucellosis (18.86%), manifested as polyradiculoneuropathy, myeloradiculopathy, meningoencephalopathy and polyradiculomyeloencephalopathy; predominant pulmonary involvement (4.0%) presented as bronchitis, pneumonia and pleural effusion; epididymoorchitis, infective endocarditis, nephrotic syndrome and recurrent abortion. All patients responded well to the treatment. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis is an important emerging zoonotic disease but it is often under-diagnosed due to lack of suspicion and diagnostic facilities despite the fact that cattle farming (an important high risk group) is one of the main occupation in rural area. This report should infuse the awareness about this reemerging disease specifically in high-risk group.