Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital (FAAMCH) is the fifth medical college of Assam based in Barpeta. The college has been named after former President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. The classes were formally inaugurated in August 2012 by then health minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, after it received the permission from the Medical Council of India even though the hospital section was inaugurated on 11 February 2011.It is affiliated with Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati. The college has a current intake of 125 undergraduate students per year and 42 postgraduate students per year. The college also runs various paramedical diploma courses.
INTRODUCTION: Acinetobacter baumannii has been termed as an emerging pathogen which is involved in nosocomial infections mostly seen in Intensive Care Units (ICU). It has the ability to develop resistance to antibiotics which makes it difficult to treat. OBJECTIVES: To calculate the burden of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from different clinical samples and also to determine drug resistance patterns METHODOLOGY: Clinical samples from January 2023 to December 2023 were processed and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were identified by their colony morphology and biochemical reactions. The drug resistance patterns of these isolates were detected using different approved antibiotics by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test as per the CLSI guidelines. RESULTS:1418 samples were culture positive for Gram negative bacteria out of which 296 (20.87%) constituted of Acinetobacter isolates. Of these, 252 (85.14%) belonged to ICU patients. Rest 44 (14.86%) non-ICU cases were from gynaecology, surgery and otorhinolaryngology wards. The antibiotic susceptibility testing of the Acinetobacter isolates showed multidrug resistant patterns with resistance to 3rd & 4th generation cephalosporins, quinolones, penicillin, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, macrolides. CONCLUSION: Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant pathogen in ICU patients with multidrug isolates increasing progressively due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics. This stresses upon the rational use of antibiotics and strict infection control practices as the need of the hour to control its progress. Keywords: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Antibiotic susceptibility, ICU
OBJECTIVE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important pathogens and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to investigate the burden of MRSA and their resistance to different antistaphylococcal antibiotics. MATERIAL & METHODS: A hospital-based study was carried out for a period of 2 years (January 2023 – December 2024) in the Microbiology department of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India where MRSA strains were isolated from various clinical specimens and drug resistance patterns analysed. RESULTS: 1261 Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from various clinical samples. Of 1261 isolates, 981 (77.80%) were found to be methicillin-resistant. Maximum isolation of MRSA was from pus (48.42%), followed by blood (32.82%), urine (6.32%), high vaginal swab (5.20%), wound swab (3.46%), sputum (1.12%), aural swab (1.12%), endotracheal tube (0.81%), pleural fluid (0.51%), soft tissue (0.51%), synovial fluid (0.41%), central line catheter (0.30%), peritoneal fluid (0.10%), ascitic fluid (0.10%) and CSF (0.41%). In MRSA isolates, 14.67% showed constitutive resistance, 2.54% showed inducible MLSB resistance and 42.91% showed MS phenotype. None of the MRSA isolates was found to be sensitive to penicillin. CONCLUSION: Standard monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of MRSA and infection control practices are essential in order to control their spread in the hospital setting and the community. Keywords: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, hospital infections, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern
Orthodontic anchorage control during space closure is critical to prevent unwanted tooth movement, prolong treatment and maintain facial aesthetics. This randomised controlled trial compared mini-implant versus conventional molar anchorage (transpalatal arch) in 40 premolar extraction patients for bilateral canine retraction over 3 months. Mini-implants significantly reduced anchorage loss (0.42±0.31 mm versus 2.18±0.67 mm, p<0.001) compared to conventional anchorage. Canine retraction rates were superior with mini-implants (1.24±0.28 mm/month versus 0.89±0.22 mm/month, p<0.001). Mini-implant anchorage provides superior preservation and faster canine retraction, establishing it as the preferred choice for maximum anchorage needs.
OBJECTIVE:To identify the risk factors for intrapartum stillbirth and examine whether these are different from that of antepartum stillbirth, and investigate the survival probabilities of fetuses by gestational age in high-risk pregnancies. METHODS:We conducted a secondary data analysis of a hospital-based cohort study from India, including 9774 singleton pregnancies from 13 hospitals across six states. We conducted modified Poisson regression analysis to assess associations between potential risk factors and intrapartum stillbirth. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to explore survival probabilities of fetuses among pregnant women who had anemia and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) compared with those who did not have these problems. RESULTS:There were 167 intrapartum stillbirths and 9607 live births; representing an incidence of 17.1 per 1000 total births (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.6-19.9). Risk factors identified were illiteracy (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.33-4.38), age > 34 years (aRR: 3.17, 1.41-7.36), <4 antenatal check-ups (aRR: 1.90, 1.27-2.87), <100 days of iron and folic acid supplementation (aRR: 9.10, 4.15-21.05), other HDP (aRR: 2.48, 1.36-4.25), severe anemia (aRR: 3.33, 1.82-6.63), preterm birth (aRR: 3.25, 2.26-4.69) and <10th percentile birth weight-for-gestational age (aRR: 1.57, 1.14-2.17). These were similar to the risk factors for antepartum stillbirths. Survival probabilities for fetuses among women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and severe anemia decreased from 34 weeks' and 30 weeks' gestation, respectively. CONCLUSION:In this high-risk hospital cohort of pregnant women undergoing labor induction or augmentation, risk factors for intrapartum stillbirth overlapped substantially with those for antepartum stillbirth, although the antepartum analysis was underpowered. Targeted monitoring of women with severe anemia and HDP from 30 weeks may reduce intrapartum stillbirth risk in similar settings.
Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains a common medical emergency with significant morbidity. Early identification of patients requiring blood transfusion is critical for appropriate triage and resource utilisation. The Glasgow–Blatchford Score (GBS) is a validated pre-endoscopic risk stratification tool used to predict clinical intervention in UGIB. Objectives: To evaluate the association between Glasgow–Blatchford Score and blood transfusion requirement in patients presenting with UGIB. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included adult patients presenting with UGIB. GlasgowBlatchford Score was calculated at admission using standard criteria. Blood transfusion requirement during hospitalisation was the primary outcome. Statistical analysis included categorical association testing, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression. Results: Higher Glasgow–Blatchford Scores were significantly associated with increased blood transfusion requirement. Mean GBS was significantly higher in transfused patients. ROC analysis demonstrated good discriminative ability of GBS for predicting transfusion. Conclusion: Glasgow–Blatchford Score is a robust predictor of blood transfusion requirement in upper gastrointestinal bleeding and remains a useful bedside tool for early risk stratification and triage.
