Indian Journal Watch
6 November 2026
Peer-reviewed microbiology, infectious disease, AMR and infection-control papers from India and South Asia, published or added to PubMed from 4 to 5 November 2026.
Lead articles
Environmental surveillance · Polio, typhoid & AMR · BMC Infectious Diseases
Environmental surveillance for Sabin polioviruses, Salmonella, and antimicrobial resistance genes in an urban setting in southern India
BMC Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1186/s12879-026-14114-8 · PubMed 42983309
- What
- A study from the Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, evaluating simultaneous environmental detection of Sabin polioviruses, Salmonella Typhi and antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) genes in urban sewage, drinking water and food, comparing the Bag Mediated Filtration System (BMFS) with the WHO 2-phase method.
- Design
- Sewage from the 10-12 main channels in Vellore was collected by BMFS and the WHO 2-phase method for Sabin polioviruses 1 and 3 (February-July 2018; extended BMFS sampling until February 2020). Real-time PCR detected Sabin polioviruses, S. Typhi and other Salmonella; four multiplex conventional PCRs screened for AMR genes. Public and hospital sewage, community drinking water and food were also tested.
- Key findings
- Of 138 paired sewage samples, 13.8% (19/138) were Sabin-positive by BMFS versus 8.7% (12/138) by the WHO 2-phase method (p = 0.18). Among 342 BMFS sewage samples, S. Typhi was detected in 14.6% (50/342) by singleplex and 8.1% (22/270) by multiplex qPCR; hospital sewage positivity was 16.3% (43/264) and 12.8% (23/180) respectively. S. Typhi was found in 1.6% (2/124) of drinking-water samples and not in food. Of 210 community sewage samples tested for AMR, more than 90% were positive for CTX-M1, VIM, KPC and qnrS.
- Limitations
- The abstract reports that the BMFS-WHO difference for Sabin detection was not statistically significant; sampling was limited to one urban setting.
- Relevance to India
- The work supports amalgamating polio environmental surveillance with S. Typhi and AMR-gene monitoring in Indian cities as a multi-target public-health platform.
Mycology · Fungal keratitis · Current Medical Mycology
Clinical, mycological, and antifungal susceptibility testing of causative agents of fungal keratitis from North India
Current Medical Mycology · doi:10.22034/cmm.2025.345456.1692 · PubMed 42984741
- What
- A four-year laboratory and clinical series from the Advanced Eye Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh, describing the aetiological spectrum, clinical associations and antifungal susceptibility of fungal keratitis (FK) in North India.
- Design
- Suspected FK cases from January 2020 to December 2023 were assessed by KOH microscopy and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Preserved isolates underwent CLSI M38-A2 broth microdilution against voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, luliconazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B, natamycin and terbinafine.
- Key findings
- Of 2,891 suspected cases, 677 were positive by microscopy or culture; 470 were culture-positive. Punjab accounted for 39.29% of cases, followed by Haryana (26.14%), Uttar Pradesh (14.33%) and Himachal Pradesh (14.03%). Aspergillus spp. comprised 42.12% (198/470) of culture-positive isolates, Fusarium spp. 36.80% (173/470) and dematiaceous fungi 15.10% (71/470). Vegetative trauma was the leading associated factor. Median MIC of voriconazole was 0.25 µg/ml for Aspergillus spp. and 0.5 µg/ml for Fusarium spp. and dematiaceous fungi.
- Limitations
- The series is from a single tertiary centre; the abstract does not report clinical outcomes by regimen.
- Relevance to India
- FK remains an important cause of monocular blindness in agrarian North India; the spectrum and MIC data inform local empirical antifungal choices pending culture.
More from the journals
Tuberculosis & mycobacteria
- Indian Society of Organ Transplantation: 36 consensus statements on latent TB in kidney transplantation; IGRA preferred over TST given BCG confounding, with Cy-Tb as an alternative; isoniazid-based regimens preferred because rifampicin reduces calcineurin-inhibitor exposure.Transplant Infectious Disease · PubMed 42984390
AMR, IPC & healthcare-associated infection
- Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali GIMS, Uttarakhand: among 96 culture-positive orthopaedic inpatients, E. coli (29.2%) and S. aureus (20.8%) predominated; MDR in 43.8%, independently associated with prior antibiotics (aOR 3.12) and prior hospitalisation (aOR 2.73).Cureus · PubMed 42985343
- IBSD Manipur: STEC (stx2; serotype O17/O77:H18, ST370991) isolated from local curd linked to a 15-person diarrhoeal outbreak; resistant to ampicillin, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, with blaTEM-1B, tet(B) and sul2.BMC Microbiology · PubMed 42983318
- BSAC Antimicrobial Stewardship Disparities Programme across six centres (including Pakistan): baseline-to-end improvements against 17 AMS/IPC/laboratory standards mapped to structures, guidance, education and surveillance.JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance · PubMed 42985342
- Manipal School of Life Sciences: 293 distinct ARGs and 351 VAGs across 3,963 complete NCBI E. coli genomes (2006-2025); weighted regression showed a 0.00292 percentage-point yearly rise in genomic ARG proportion.BioMed Research International · PubMed 42984212
Vector-borne & parasitic diseases
- Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar: severe P. vivax malaria with vasopressor-requiring shock, profound thrombocytopenia, jaundice, coagulation activation and transient cardiopulmonary abnormalities.Clinical Case Reports · PubMed 42984803
- North Bengal Medical College: subcutaneous filariasis diagnosed by high-resolution ultrasonography showing the filarial dance sign, with confirmation by aspiration cytology.Tropical Doctor · PubMed 42985809
- Ajanta Hospital, Lucknow: surgical reconstruction of massive filarial scrotal elephantiasis using uninvolved perineal skin for scrotal coverage and spared inner prepuce for penile shaft cover.Tropical Doctor · PubMed 42985738
- Qualitative study of 12 stakeholders on GIS implementation for leprosy elimination in Pakistan: facilitators included multi-disease rollout and offline tools; barriers included limited local GIS capacity and hybrid digital-manual workflows.PLoS ONE · PubMed 42986886
Virology
- AIIMS New Delhi: stabilised clade C HIV-1 Env from paediatric elite-neutraliser AIIMS_330 elicited strong autologous neutralising responses in rabbits (ferritin-NP and SOSIP.664 superior to NFL.664); 5.1 Å cryo-EM mapped bnAb 44m to the N332-V3 supersite.Frontiers in Immunology · PubMed 42984752
- Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet: narrative review of dengue innate sensing (RLR, TLR, cGAS-STING) and links to programmed cell death and immune evasion.Immunity, Inflammation and Disease · PubMed 42985975
- ICAR-NIVEDI, Bengaluru: in silico docking and molecular dynamics of Kyasanur forest disease virus envelope with tick receptors; strongest modelled interactions with HSP70 and C-type lectins of Dermacentor silvarum (ΔG −45.24 ± 1.28 kcal/mol).BMC Microbiology · PubMed 42983281
Mycology
- P D Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai: MucorGenius® pan-Mucorales real-time PCR on 27 specimens showed sensitivity 76.47% and specificity 100% versus proven/probable mucormycosis by EORTC/MSGERC criteria.Current Medical Mycology · PubMed 42984804
- CMC Ludhiana: subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Parathyridaria percutanea in a 62-year-old diabetic woman, identified by molecular sequencing after non-sporulating culture; resolved after excision plus short-course itraconazole.Current Medical Mycology · PubMed 42984881
- Shantilal Shanghvi Eye Institute, Mumbai: fungal keratitis after dust exposure caused by Podospora bulbillosa (Oxford Nanopore sequencing); healed with 5% natamycin.Current Medical Mycology · PubMed 42984765
Outbreaks & public health
- Kabul University of Medical Sciences: cross-sectional KAP survey of 384 parents at Maiwand Hospital; 79.4% excellent knowledge of polio vaccination and 89.1% positive attitudes, with moderate cultural beliefs most common (49.0%).Patient Preference and Adherence · PubMed 42985695
- Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru: sequential PCV13-PPSV23 in 132 vaccine-naïve adults with type 2 diabetes raised functional OPA titres against all 24 tested serotypes; >90% achieved ≥4-fold rises for several shared PCV13 serotypes.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis · PubMed 42983066
Other
- ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi: novel Autographivirales phage PhPV1.2 against biofilm-forming Vibrio parahaemolyticus from a Puthuvype tidal pool; latent period 105 min, burst size 60 pfu, stable to 76 °C and pH 5-11.BMC Microbiology · PubMed 42983633
- Jagannath University, Dhaka: AlphaFold modelling and in silico AMP screening against A. baumannii BauE siderophore transporter; Temporin-1CEc, Tachyplesin-1 and P7A3 ranked highest by docking (no wet-lab validation).J Biomol Struct Dyn · PubMed 42986043
Items are summaries of published abstracts and are not clinical advice. Readers should consult the original article. Figures are quoted as reported in each abstract.
