White coats: how much safe are they.

Various studies have suggested that health care workers'(HCW) clothing, including white coats, are potential reservoirs for microorganisms causing health care associated infections, reinfecting the hands of HCWs and may be a vector for transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Hence the present study was undertaken to detect the incidence of pathogenic microorganisms that contaminate nurses white coats. Methods: Total 324 swabs, collected by swabbing the three sites of the surface of the Nurses’ white coat (pockets, abdominal zone and the sleeve ends) were inoculated on blood agar, Mac-Conkey’s agar and incubated at 37°C overnight. Microbial growth was identified by standard methods. Antibiotic sensitivity test was carried out by Kirby-Baur disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines. Results: Non-pathogenic bacteria (skin flora) were isolated from all white coat culture and pathogenic bacteria from 76 (70.3%) white coats (45 from Surgery & allied departments, 31 from Medicine & allied departments). From total 324 samples, 85 (26.2%) samples were positive for pathogenic bacteria and total 94 pathogenic bacteria were isolated which includes 33 (35.1%) Staphylococcus aureus (6 MRSA, 27 MSSA), 56 gram negative bacilli (17 ESBL producers). The rate of contamination with pathogens, was higher on pockets (57.4%) compared with abdominal zone (27.6%) and sleeve ends (14.8%). Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of white coats as potential source of cross infection. A strict protocol should be followed for preventing cross-contamination from the white coats.

Molluscum Contagiosum — An Update.

Molluscum contagiosum, a viral disease, can cause popular lesion on skin of face, arm, trunk and ano-genital region. Multiple lesions can be observed in immunocompromised hosts. Though the lesions resolves within 2-6 months, in HIV positive patients it may take more time. The mode of transmission, newer diagnostic and therapeutic options have been discussed in this article.

Epidemiological Markers of Fungi and its Clinical Application.

The risk factors for opportunistic fungal infections are progressive HIV infection, Diabetes mellitus or patient on antibiotics, steroid or antimalignant therapy. Though with the development of Medical sciences, fungal infections are gaining importance, the field of epidemiology of fungal infection has not expanded that much. The different epidemiological markers for fungal infection have been discussed in this article. Ideally epidemiological marker should be standardized, reproducible, sensitive, easy to perform and inexpensive.