Journal of Microbiology and Related Research

Diphtheria is an acute disease caused by exotoxin-producing Corynebacterium. Globallydiphtheria is showing a declining trend due to Childhood Vaccination to door in villages and urban areas. Our India is contributed majorly to it and the global burden of diphtheria is from India. Diphtheria is a potentially fatal infection mostly caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains and occasionally by toxigenic C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis strains.

The global prevalence of obesity is increasing and recognized as a potential risk factor for viral infections including Coronavirus Disease-19. Morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 are higher in obesity which is considered a constant state of low-grade inflammatory milieu. Emerging data revealed a fatal connection of obesity with COVID-19 however the underlying mechanism is unclear. Leptin, a non-glycosylated peptide hormone derived from white adipose tissue that assists in metabolism, homeostasis, neuroendocrine, and other physiological functions. Additionally, leptin, as an adipocytokine has pro-inflammatory properties and acts as a connecting link between obesity and host immune responses thus, proliferates the secretion of C-reactive protein (CRP), IFN-γ, TNF-α IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2. This paper aims to address the paramount role of leptin as a potential mediator of inflammation that could exaggerate and worsen the prognosis of COVID-19 in obese individuals. Furthermore, the disproportionate efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in obese individuals is also highlighted.

A non-experimental descriptive study to assess the knowledge and practice about the use of central line associated bloodstream infection care bundle (CLABSI) to prevent central line associated bloodstream infection, among staff nurses working in selected hospitals, Hyderabad, with a view to develop an information booklet with the objectives To assess the knowledge and practice regarding CLABSI bundle,to find out correlation between knowledge and practice among staff nurses, to find out association between knowledge and practice among staff nurses with their selected demographic variables, to develop information booklet on CLABSI bundle for staff nurses. Research design selected for the present study was non experimental descriptive research design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the staff nurses and an observational CLABSI bundle checklist was used to assess the practice score of the CLABSI bundle practices.Purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of sample. Total sample size for the study was 60. Majority of the staff nurses had below average knowledge on CLABSI bundles that is 45(75%) having below average knowledge, whereas 15 (25%) demonstrated average knowledge. The result of the study is majority of the staff nurses had below average practice to CLABSI bundle that is 48 (80%) scored below average practice scores. 11(18.6%) staff nurses were in average practice scores, whereas 1(1.7%) staff nurse scored above average practice scores. The study shows that there is moderately positive correlation between knowledge and practice among staff nurses, (r=0.4). The study shows that there is no significant association between knowledge and practice regarding CLABSI bundle among staff nurses with selected demographic variables. An information booklet was provided to all intensive care nurses, regarding knowledge and practice of CLABSI bundle and advised to implement CLABSI bundle checklist wherever needed in order to prevent central line associated bloodstream infection.