Ajanta Sharma

Acremonium strictum: Report of a Rare Emerging Agent of Cutaneous Hyalohyphomycosis with Review of Literatures

We present a case of cutaneous hyalohyphomycosis due to Acremonium strictum in an immunocompetent individual along with an overview of fungal infections caused by A. strictum. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of hyphae in microscopic examination of cutaneous biopsy and discharge, positive culture for A. strictum and sequencing of the isolate at reference centre. The infection resolved with itraconazole and terbinafine. Cutaneous or subcutaneous infections of A. strictum have rarely been reported. Fungemia or disseminated infection often with fatal outcome in immunocompromised patients was the most common presentation of A. strictum infection found in the literatures. The studies also reveal worldwide variation in the treatment regime and outcome of the treatment.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia isolates from pityriasis versicolor lesions

249 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology | March-April 2017 | Vol 83 | Issue 2 4. Elman S, Hynan LS, Gabriel V, Mayo MJ. The 5‐D itch scale: A new measure of pruritus. Br J Dermatol 2010;162:587‐93. 5. Mettang T, Pauli‐Magnus C, Alscher DM. Uraemic pruritus – New perspectives and insights from recent trials. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002;17:1558‐63. 6. Ko MJ, Yang JY, Wu HY, Hu FC, Chen SI, Tsai PJ, et al. Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for patients with refractory uraemic pruritus: A randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 2011;165:633‐9.

Clinico-mycological profile of onychomycosis in Assam, India

Onychomycosis (OM) is the infection of nails caused by dermatophyte fungi, non‐dermatophyte fungi or yeast which represents about 30% of cutaneous mycotic infections. It is the most common nail disease and accounts for approximately 50% of all onychopathies. It affects approximately 5% of population worldwide. It may reach up to 20% in high risk populations like miners and sportsmen etc. Various studies have reported the incidence to vary from 0.5%-5% in the general population in India. Various factors like increasing age, immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus, family history, peripheral vascular disease, and disorders related to the skin such as hyperhidrosis, psoriasis, onychogryphosis, nail trauma, occupation and climate influence the etiology, progression and treatment outcome of OM.

Prevalence and epidemiological correlates of bacterial vaginosis among nonpregnant females at a tertiary care center in Assam, India

Purpose: Bacterial vaginosis is the most common type of vaginal infection among women of reproductive age and accounted for at least one-third of all vulvovaginal infections. The main aim of this prospective study was to determine the risk factors that may be associated with the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis among the reproductive age group females in Assam. Materials and Methods: A total of two hundred married, nonpregnant females in the reproductive age group who complained of one or more symptoms suggesting lower genital tract infection were enrolled in this study. Detailed history of the patients was taken. Three high vaginal swabs were obtained after informed consent of the patients. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed on the basis of Amsels clinical criteria and Nugents Gram stain scoring method. Data was statistically analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: Our study found prevalence of bacterial vaginosis to be 51.5% (103/200) by Amsels criteria and 49% (98/200) by Nugents criteria respectively. Significant association was found between bacterial vaginosis and age, socioeconomic status, parity and contraceptives. However, no significant association was found between duration of marriage and stage of the menstrual cycle. Conclusion: A relatively higher prevalence rate of bacterial vaginosis was found in the population under study, which may be attributed to factors like low socioeconomic status and unhygienic practices. Barrier contraception was found to be an effective method for prevention of transmission of bacterial vaginosis. However, more studies may be needed to confirm and evaluate the causes of these associations, so that a preventive strategy can be planned.