Background: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) varies widely from region to region in India. Objective: To study the pattern of STIs and the profile of STI patients with HIV co-infection. Materials and Methods: A retrospective record-based case study of patients attending STI clinic, JNMC, Aligarh, from May 2008 to May 2013 was carried out. Results: A total of 4876 patients attended the STI clinic, out of whom 2764 (56.7%) had proven STI. STIs were more common in men, with a male (2201): female (563) ratio of 3.90:1. Their age ranged from 16 years to 55 years (mean age = 26.38 years) with the maximum number of patients in the age group of 16-25 years. Genital scabies 1466 (53.0%) constituted the most common STI followed by genital warts with 588 (21.2%) of patients. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection was noted in 36 (1.3%) of all STI cases.

Introduction: In the early nineties, infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients without previous healthcare exposure were reported. The continued evolution of MRSA is illustrated by the infections caused by community acquired MRSA and the majority of these infections are nonlife-threatening infections of the skin and soft tissues. We carried out the retrospective study of bacterial isolates obtained from pus specimens of community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections in our set up with special reference to MRSA. Materials and Methods: The isolation rate of various organisms isolated from pus specimens was recorded for the years 2007 to 2012. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. aureus strains (MRSA and MSSA) were also reviewed. Results: 47.48% of the total pus samples received from patients with a clinical diagnosis of community acquired SSTI during the period of 6 years, that is, from 2007 to 2012, showed culture positivity. Mixed organisms were isolated from five samples. 30.21% of them were S. aureus strains out of which 23.80% demonstrated the presence of methicillin resistance (MRSA). All the MRSA strains (100%) screened from clinical specimens were resistant to penicillin, cephalexin and cefazolin; 40% to erythromycin, clindamycin and amikacin; 80% to gentamicin; 90% to ofloxacin. The isolation rate of MRSA is far outnumbered by that of MSSA that remains fairly sensitive to the first line drugs against S. aureus. Conclusion: Abscesses are the most common clinical presentation caused by CA-MRSA in this study and we recommend that physicians should consider obtaining cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility tests in all such patients.

Background: The Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and CURB-65 predict outcomes in community acquired pneumonia but have limitations. Materials and Methods: The study evaluated if procalcitonin in community-acquired pneumonia provides prognostic information with the PSI and CURB-65 in sickle cell adult patients. Twenty sickle cell positive adult patients with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia were scored using PSI and CRUB-65, and measured procalcitonin levels. Results: They were 12 female 60% and 8 males 40%with mean of age 46.0 ΁ 10.26 and were stratified with PSI, CRUB65 and sampled for procalcitonin level for PSI class I (3) patients 15%, class II (10) patients 50%,class III (3) patients 15%, class IV( one) patient 5% & class V (3) patients 15% with mean of 2.55 ΁ 1.276 were CRUB65 0 (2) patients 10% 1 (11) patients 55% two (3) patients 15%, three (4) patients 20%with mean of 1.45 ΁ 0.94 proclacitonin >0.25 (8) patients 40% and >0.50 are (12) patients 60% with mean of 1.098 ΁ 1.346. Conclusion: Procalcitonin levels on admission predict severity of community-acquired pneumonia in sickle cell patients with a similar prognostic accuracy as PSI and CRUB65 and use of procalcitonin as an adjunct to existing rules may offer additional prognostic information in high risk patients as sickle cell positive patients, further studies must address whether adding PCT to risk scores can increase their safe implementation in clinical practice. This was the scope for patients with sickle cell.