The aim of the current study was to compare block of the sciatic nerve through the anterior approach by two methods, namely, the nerve-stimulator guided and ultrasound-guided, with or without nerve stimulation, with regard to the ease of performance, reliability and safety of this approach.36 adult patients were randomly allocated equally into one of 2 main groups: "Nerve Stimulator-Guided Group (NSG)" where the nerve was located by nerve stimulator only and "Ultrasound guided group (USG)" where the sciatic nerves were blocked by a stimulated needle under guidance of the ultrasound. Assessment of performing each technique, sensory and motor blockades, occurrence of acute systemic toxicity and haematoma formation were compared.Only one-third of the sciatic nerves could be visualized by US. This did not affect the block execution time but caused less number of needle passes in a statistically significant value. Sensory and motor block showed significant differences between the 2 groups. Criteria of acute systemic toxicity and occurrence of hematoma were not reported in both groups.Results of the current study showed that the addition of ultrasound to nerve stimulator in the anterior approach to the sciatic nerve block added only little to the ease of performance, reliability and safety. This was because only one-third of the nerves could be seen. More practice, better machines and new blocking techniques may be needed to overcome the problem of anisotropy of the nerve.
Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiologic spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates in post-traumatic endophthalmitis and compare with our earlier published report. A retrospective review was conducted on 581 consecutive patients with culture-proven post-traumatic endophthalmitis at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, India, from January 2006 to March 2013. Findings A total of 620 isolates from 581 patients were identified (565 bacteria and 55 fungi). The most common isolate was Bacillus spp. (106/620, 17.1%) closely followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (105/620, 16.9%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (97/620, 15.6%). In our earlier report, the commonest bacteria included Streptococcus spp. (30/139, 21.6%) and gram-positive coagulase-negative micrococci (26/139, 18.7%). Gram-positive isolates were usually susceptible to vancomycin (98.2%). Gram-negative isolates were generally susceptible to gatifloxacin (92.9%), ofloxacin (89.4%), chloramphenicol (88.6%, Pseudomonas isolates were often resistant), amikacin (83.5%), and ceftazidime (77.2%). Fourteen years ago, the most sensitive antibiotic was ciprofloxacin for both gram-positive bacteria (95.12%) and gram-negative bacteria (100%). Conclusions The microbiological spectrum of post-traumatic endophthalmitis has remained unchanged over the last 14 years, and Bacillus spp. continues as the most common infecting organism. Vancomycin is the drug of choice for empiric coverage of gram-positive bacteria. Susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria to commonly used antimicrobials (amikacin and ciprofloxacin) has decreased by 10% - 15% and to ceftazidime has increased by 10.5%.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and visual acuity outcome of acute-onset postoperative Gram-negative bacterial endophthalmitis cases resistant to both ceftazidime and amikacin seen between 2005 and 2010 at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, a tertiary care ophthalmic Centre in South India. Medical records of all patients with Gram-negative bacterial endophthalmitis resistant to both amikacin and ceftazidime between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010 were reviewed in this non-comparative, consecutive, retrospective case series. Favorable outcome was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≥20/200.Sixty five (39.6%) of 164 culture-positive postoperative endophthalmitis were caused by Gram-negative organisms. Among these 65 isolates, 32 (49%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 37% to 61%) were resistant to ceftazidime, 17 (26%; 95% CI 15% to 37%) to amikacin, and 12 (18.5%; 95% CI 9% to 27%) to both ceftazidime and amikacin. Eight Pseudomonas isolates, three Enterobacter isolates, and one Haemophilus isolate were resistant to both ceftazidime and amikacin. The isolates were sensitive to fluoroquinolones (42%) and imipenem (50%). Presenting visual acuity was light perception in 10 (83.3%) cases. A final visual acuity ≥20/200 was achieved in 5/12 (41.7%) of these patients.In the current study, Pseudomonas was the most common Gram-negative bacteria resistant to both amikacin and ceftazidime. The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria causing endophthalmitis is a matter of concern in India. Alternative antibiotics like imipenem or fluoroquinolones may be considered for the management of these resistant organisms.
Purpose: To report the clinical presentation and management outcome of patients with endophthalmitis caused by Enterococcus species and to report the susceptibility profile of the isolates. Methods: Twenty-nine cases with culture-proven Enterococcus endophthalmitis from January 2005 to May 2018 underwent vitrectomy/vitreous biopsy, intravitreal antibiotic with or without additional procedures. The undiluted vitreous was subjected to microbiologic evaluation. A favorable anatomical outcome was defined as preservation of the globe, absence of hypotony, attached retina, and absence of active inflammation at the last visit. Favorable visual outcome was final visual acuity ≥20/400. Results: There were 24 men (82.8%). Mean age at presentation was 32.89 ± 25.25 years (median 24 years). Inciting event was open globe injury in 18 (62%), endogenous in 5 (17.24%), postcataract surgery in 3 (10.34%), postscleral buckling in 2 (6.89%), and postkeratoplasty in 1 (3.44%). Enterococcus casseliflavus was the commonest species isolated (14/29, 48.27%) followed by E. faecalis (9/29, 31%). Susceptibility to vancomycin was seen in 27/29 isolates (93%). Visual acuity was ≤20/400 in all eyes at presentation and ≥20/400 in 10/29 cases (34.48%) at final visit. Anatomical success was seen in 18/29 eyes (62%). Corneal involvement was high at 24/29 eyes (82.75%). Conclusion: Enterococcus is not an uncommon organism in the setting of endophthalmitis after open globe injury. Resistance to vancomycin is rare. Multidrug resistance pattern is restricted to E. faecalis . Visual outcome is poor despite early and appropriate therapy due to inherent organism virulence.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates in delayed post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis. A retrospective review of 33 consecutive patients with culture proven delayed post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis was done from January 2006 to March 2013. There were 22 bacterial and eleven fungal cases. Common isolates were Streptococci (seven cases), coagulase-negative staphylococci (five), Gram-negative bacilli (seven), Nocardia (two), Aspergillus (five), Candida (five). Gram-positive cocci were most susceptible to vancomycin and gatifloxacin (91.7%). Gram-negative isolates were most susceptible to ofloxacin (85.7%). Fungi being slow growing organisms are an important cause of delayed post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis.
To screen polymorphisms in complement factor-H (CFH), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and APOE genes as potential risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Indian patients.One hundred patients with AMD and 120 normal control subjects were screened for the polymorphisms by restriction digestion and resequencing. Five intragenic SNPs in CFH were screened to generate haplotype data in cases and controls. The data were analyzed in conjunction with data from other populations based on genotype and haplotype frequencies, and odds ratios were computed to estimate the risk of AMD in the different genotypes.Significant association was noted with the CFH variant (Tyr402His) among AMD cases (P = 1.19 x 10(-7)). Individuals homozygous for the mutant genotype CC had a significantly higher risk (P < 0.0001) of AMD (OR = 11.52; 95% CI 5.05-26.28) than those carrying a single copy of the C allele (OR = 1.51; 95% CI 0.82-2.80), after adjusting for age, gender, and diabetes. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis at the CFH locus indicated the C-G-T-C-A-G to be a risk haplotype (P = 0.0003). No significant differences were observed in the genotype frequencies of APOE polymorphisms among patients and control subjects (P = 0.76). The carriers of epsilon4 allele had a reduced risk (P = 0.03) of AMD (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.91). TLR4 did not exhibit any association with AMD.The CFH polymorphism Tyr402His appears indicative of AMD pathogenesis. Diabetes, age, and gender in the presence of the homozygous "CC" genotype in CFH carry an increased risk of AMD. Hence this polymorphism could be used as a potential marker for predictive testing across continents.
A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was developed and evaluated. The LAMP assay specifically amplified only CMV DNA, and no cross-reactivity with the DNA of herpes simplex virus type 1, varicella-zoster virus, adenovirus, Aspergillus flavus, or Staphylococcus aureus was observed. The sequences of the LAMP assay-positive CMV products were perfectly (100%) matched with the CMV sequence deposited in the GenBank database. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was found to be 10 copies/microl of CMV DNA. Vitreous samples from 40 patients with suspected retinitis were subjected to LAMP and real-time PCR for the detection of CMV. Of 40 patients with suspected viral retinitis, 10 tested positive for CMV by the real-time PCR and LAMP assays. A 100% concordance was observed between the results of the two methods. The LAMP assay is a rapid, highly specific, and sensitive method for the diagnosis of retinitis caused by CMV.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LOC387715 (rs10490924), HTRA1 (rs11200638), and CFH (rs1061170) genes have been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The present study was undertaken to determine the involvement of the LOC387715 and HTRA1 in an AMD cohort from India.The coding region of LOC387715 (exon 1) and the promoter of HTRA1 were screened by resequencing in AMD cases and normal controls. Odds ratios were calculated to assess the risk of individual genotypes. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype frequencies were estimated with Haploview software. Population attributable risk (PAR %) for the associated SNPs and their combined effects were calculated.Resequencing revealed seven different SNPs in these genes, of which significant associations were noted with the risk alleles of rs10490924 (T allele; P = 5.34 x 10(-12)) in LOC387715, and rs11200638 (A allele; P = 4.32 x 10(-12)) and rs2672598 (C allele; P = 3.39 x 10(-11)) in HTRA1 among the cases. Correspondingly, the homozygous risk genotypes TT, AA, and CC in these SNPs exhibited higher disease odds and PAR %. rs10490924 and rs11200638 were in tight LD (D', 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.93). G-C-T-A-C was the risk haplotype (P = 8.04 x 10(-15)), whereas the G-C-G-G-T haplotype was protective (P = 2.01 x 10(-4)). The combined effect of the CFH (CC) and LOC387715 (TT) risk genotypes exhibited a PAR of 93.7% (OR, 73.89; 95% CI, 8.69-628.13).The present data provided an independent validation of the association of LOC387715 and HTRA1 SNPs, along with their risk estimates among Indian patients with AMD. These associations underscore their significant involvement in AMD susceptibility, which may be useful for predictive testing.