Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Occult hepatitis B virus infection among chronic liver disease patients: Insights from a tertiary care hospital","authors":"S.R. Ramya ,&nbsp;Shashikala Nair ,&nbsp;S. Veeraraghavan ,&nbsp;Reba Kanungo","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is a often overlooked contributor to chronic liver disease (CLD). This study aimed to determine the occurrence of OBI among CLD patients, assessing the presence of HBV DNA in HBsAg-negative individuals and exploring associated risk factors and clinical implications.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, enrolling 169 CLD patients who tested negative for HBsAg. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for anti-HBc antibodies using the VIDAS anti-HBc total ELFA kit (BIOMERIEUX). HBV DNA was detected using real-time PCR with the Qiagen Artus HBV PCR kit. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded to identify risk factors and disease patterns.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 169 HBsAg negative chronic liver disease (CLD) patients were evaluated. Anti-HBc positivity was observed in 32 % (54/169), OBI was identified in 5.3 % (9 out of 169) of patients, characterized by concurrent presence of anti-HBc antibodies and detectable HBV DNA. OBI cases were exclusively male and primarily in 41–60-year age group. Clinical features and biochemical parameters did not differ significantly between OBI and non-OBI groups. Blood transfusion history was the only risk factor significantly associated with OBI (p = 0.04). HBV DNA-positive patients showed elevated liver enzymes, indicating ongoing hepatic injury.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) was detected in 5.3 % of HBsAg-negative chronic liver disease (CLD) patients, primarily among middle-aged males. The findings emphasize the limitations of routine serological testing and advocate for the inclusion of anti HBc screening and HBV DNA testing, particularly in patients with prior blood transfusions. Early identification of OBI is crucial for appropriate clinical management and may help prevent further progression of liver disease in this high-risk group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100903"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Kashmir: A community-based study using indirect immunofluorescence assay","authors":"Bashir Fomda ,&nbsp;Uksim Qadri ,&nbsp;Rauf Ur Rashid ,&nbsp;Sehrish Baqal ,&nbsp;Qounsar Nisar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Rickettsial infections, caused by obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, are an emerging public health concern globally, particularly in regions like India, where the epidemiology remains largely underexplored. The study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of spotted fever rickettsiosis (SFR) in the Kashmir Valley, using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the gold standard for rickettsial diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This prospective, population-based study was conducted over three years at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar. A multistage random sampling technique was used and a total of 571 individuals across 10 districts were included in the study. Blood samples were analysed for SFR IgG antibodies using IFA. Data was collected through a house-to-house survey, including demographic and environmental risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, with significance set at P &lt; 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 571 participants, 143 (25 %) tested positive by IgG immunofluorescence assay for SFR. The majority of seropositive cases were males, 52.4 % (n = 75). Seropositivity was highest in the &gt;50 year age group and among participants having risk factors like contact with uncut vegetations, collection of Firewood And living near Forests. The seroprevalence varied significantly across districts, with the highest prevalence observed in Pulwama. Risk factors associated with higher seropositivity included contact with shrubs, milking and animal slaughtering. No significant associations were found between gender, urban/rural residence, or age group and seropositivity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights a high seroprevalence of spotted fever in the Kashmir Valley, emphasizing the significant public health burden in the region. Early detection and targeted prevention strategies, particularly in high-risk areas, are crucial for effective control and management of spotted fever in this region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100902"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144481457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in an immunocompetent adolescent","authors":"Debasish Biswal ,&nbsp;Rashmi Mittal ,&nbsp;Ananya Arora ,&nbsp;Sadia Khan ,&nbsp;Anubhav Pandey ,&nbsp;Sharmila Sengupta","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100898","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100898"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurological involvement in two phases of Kyasanur Forest Disease","authors":"Pothumarthy Venkata Swathikiran ,&nbsp;Nitin Gupta ,&nbsp;Muralidhar Varma ,&nbsp;Chiranjay Mukhopdhyay","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100901","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100901","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral illness endemic to Southern India, often categorized as viral haemorrhagic fever, though its biphasic neurological involvement is less frequently discussed. We present the case of an elderly woman from Karnataka, India, who initially presented with fever and altered sensorium, diagnosed with the first phase of KFD and treated with supportive care for ten days. Four weeks later, she returned with second-phase manifestations of fever, headache, neck stiffness and lymphocytic pleocytosis on cerebrospinal fluid analysis. We report this case to emphasize the need for high suspicion of KFD in patients presenting with neurological symptoms in the endemic regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100901"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144368830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing STI diagnostics – Potential of aptasensors as POCTs","authors":"Shilpi Malhotra ,&nbsp;Rachna Verma,&nbsp;Seema Sood","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100900","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100900"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144365940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for pathogen detection in septic patients based on blood samples in intensive care units","authors":"Tianlai Lin ,&nbsp;Xinzheng Liu ,&nbsp;Licong Wu ,&nbsp;Qingqing Wu ,&nbsp;Haiwen Zeng ,&nbsp;Wushuang Li ,&nbsp;Hui Tang ,&nbsp;Jiangman Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhirong Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is considered superior to traditional culture for pathogen detection. However, its utility in septic patients based on blood samples remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This research aimed to compare mNGS and culture-based diagnostics in 78 septic patients, with 25 with sepsis and 53 with septic shock.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 68 cases with matching sample types, pathogens of 38 cases were solely identified through mNGS, and in contrast, 2 cases had their pathogens detected by microbiological culture only. Moreover, 17 of 63 cases (26.98 %) were found to be positive by both mNGS and culture, and 6 of 63 cases (9.52 %) came negative under both diagnostic methods. Regardless of prior antibiotic exposure, the positive rate of mNGS, which was 80.77 %, was significantly higher than that of culture (37.18 %). Significantly, among the 38 septic patients diagnosed solely by mNGS, 23 patients achieved a favorable outcome after physicians adjusted the treatment based on the mNGS findings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In conclusion, mNGS offered a swift and accurate means for pathogen identification, and thus making this approach as a promising technology for detecting sepsis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100897"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144365939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing beyond conventional vaccines: The potential of next-generation vaccines in combatting antibiotic-resistant bacteria","authors":"A.R. Heamchandsaravanan ,&nbsp;Damodharan Perumal ,&nbsp;Ragala Venkata Nandha ,&nbsp;Prabu Dhandapani","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The global rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, largely driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, has escalated into a serious antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Traditional vaccine platforms, such as inactivated vaccines (IVs) and live attenuated vaccines (LAVs), have been effective in controlling bacterial infections but face limitations in combating emerging antibiotic-resistant strains, particularly MDR pathogens. The production of traditional vaccines often requires the cultivation of live pathogenic microorganisms, which can be both costly and time-consuming. Moreover, IVs and LAVs may not be effective against emerging MDR strains. There is an urgent need for more efficient vaccine development strategies to combat MDR pathogens. The more promising approaches could be in silico immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This review aims to provide an in-depth examination of the next-generation vaccinology approach, highlighting preclinical and clinical advancements. It emphasizes the importance of developing vaccines that are both safe and immunogenic to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.</div></div><div><h3>Content</h3><div>These bioinformatics approaches enable the identification of conserved antigenic targets across multiple strains of resistant bacteria. Multi-epitope vaccines, such as those based on recombinant proteins, DNA, or mRNA, offer the potential for broader protection and faster development timelines. Next-generation vaccines hold promise not only for enhancing immune responses but also for providing a safer and more scalable alternative to traditional vaccines against AMR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100896"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accelerating pneumococcal protection in India: The case for rapid adoption of PCV20 across pediatric and adult populations","authors":"Rosemol Varghese ,&nbsp;M. Gurumoorthy ,&nbsp;Greeshma Grace Thomas ,&nbsp;Kamini Walia ,&nbsp;Anil Kumar ,&nbsp;Shariqa Qureshi ,&nbsp;Bijayini Behera ,&nbsp;K.G. Gopinath ,&nbsp;Richa Gupta ,&nbsp;Ruchika Goel ,&nbsp;Ayyanraj Neeravi ,&nbsp;Sulochana Putli Bai ,&nbsp;Balaji Veeraraghavan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> poses a significant public health burden, particularly in India, where invasive and non-invasive forms contribute to high morbidity and mortality. Rapid disease progression and limitations of antimicrobial therapy underscore the need for preventive strategies. Pneumococcal vaccines, especially the 20-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV20), offer robust protection against diverse serotypes, reduce nasopharyngeal carriage, and promote herd immunity.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To understand the epidemiology of the pneumococcal disease and establish the evidence for the use of higher valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Indian adults.</div></div><div><h3>Content</h3><div>This paper describes the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease, urgency of pneumococcal vaccination, serotype replacement dynamics, and the advantages of PCV20 over PPSV23. In India, delayed vaccine adoption and unique serotype profiles necessitate targeted strategies, including catch-up campaigns and enhanced surveillance, to achieve herd immunity and mitigate the disease burden within 5–10 years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100893"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144309904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic analysis in cases of ventilator associated pneumonia from a teaching hospital in Delhi, India","authors":"Sheetal Goenka,&nbsp;Manisha Jain,&nbsp;Wanshisha Wanswett,&nbsp;Poonam Loomba,&nbsp;Abha Sharma,&nbsp;Bibhabati Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100894","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100894","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>The high prevalence of multi drug resistant and carbapenam resistant <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em>(CRAB)is a serious concern for patient management. The most common mechanism of carbapenamresistance is the presence of different types of carbapenamaseenzymes. The type of carbapenamase present affects the optimization of treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of carbapenem resistance and characterize the genetic mechanisms associated with antimicrobial resistance in <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em> isolates.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>All clinical isolates of CRAB from ventilator associated pneumonia were included in this study. Clinical, phenotypic, and genotypic data were collected, including clinical details, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phenotypic detection of carbapenemase activity, biofilm formation assay, and molecular identification of carbapenemase genes like blaOXA-23,blaNDM-1,blaVIM-1 and AmpC.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The blaOXA-23-like gene was detected in 97 % (97/100) of CRAB isolates followed by AmpC (21/100,21 %), blaNDM-1(10/100,10 %) and blaVIM-1 in 6 % (6/100) of isolates. The mortality rate among MBL-positive patients was found to be 67 % (65/97). Furthermore, all <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em> isolates exhibited biofilm-forming capacity, with varying degrees of biofilm production.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>There is high prevalence of carbapenamase enzymes in CRAB isolates. The high detection of blaOXA-23-like, AmpC, blaNDM-1, and blaVIM-1AmpC underscores the urgency to enforce infection control measures and optimize antimicrobial stewardship practices to prevent cross transmission of the organism. Further presence of biofilm formation in almost all the isolates reiterates the need for innovative strategies to combat persistent infections by this organism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100894"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unearthing novel mutations and genetic variation in drug sensitive and resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through whole genome sequencing: A study from eastern Uttar Pradesh, India","authors":"Kamal Singh ,&nbsp;Saravanan Vijayakumar ,&nbsp;Swati Sharma ,&nbsp;Shampa Anupurba","doi":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijmmb.2025.100895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) presents a formidable public health challenge worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to elucidate the complete genetic profiles of drug-sensitive (DS), and drug-resistant TB isolates using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study includes a set of sputum specimens containing five DS-TB, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) from distinct individuals. The identification and susceptibility was confirmed using GeneXpert assay, GenoType MTBDR plus assay, and GenoTypeMTBDR<em>sl</em> assay. Furthermore, specimens were cultured using the BD BACTEC MGIT 960 and subsequently confirmed through Capilia rapid kit. WGS was employed for the identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> complex (MTBC) lineages, and spoligotypes. The <em>H37Rv</em> was used as a positive control.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings of WGS showed, all the MDR-TB and XDR-TB isolates exhibited non-synonymous mutation (Ser450Leu, Gln432Leu, and His445Gln) within the <em>rpoB</em> gene. The isolates were simultaneously harboring mutations at <em>fab</em>G1-8T &gt; C, <em>fab</em>G1-17G &gt; T, <em>fab</em>G1-15C &gt; T, and <em>inhA</em>-154G &gt; A. One DS-TB isolate was carrying resistance mutations in the rrs gene at position 517C &gt; T, while three MDR-TB isolates turned out to be pre-XDR-TB carrying mutations associated with fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance (<em>gyrA</em> Ala90Val, <em>gyrA</em> Asp94His, and <em>gyrA</em> Asp94 Gly). The study reports novel mutations <em>pncA</em>391dupG and for the first time mutation in <em>thyX</em> gene in clinical isolates of MTBC. Most of the MDR/XDR-TB isolates were predominantly associated with the Beijing sub-lineage within the East Asian Lineage 2.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In conclusion, our study highlighted the challenges surrounding the rapid identification and essential information regarding the genetic diversity of TB strains which contribute valuable insights into the TB epidemiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13284,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100895"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144280473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}