Study by CMC doctors identifies rare bacteria

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | SHWETA TRIPATHI

PublishedDec 16, 2018, 2:39 am IST

The study also determined the association of mortality rate with hypermucoviscous strains are determined.

A rare strain of hypervirulent bacteria that can cause blindness, meningitis and other severe infections (Representational image)

Chennai: Doctors at the department of clinical microbiology, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, have identified a rare strain of hypervirulent bacteria that can cause blindness, meningitis and other severe infections.

The study by doctors was published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India revealed that the bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, led to high mortality rate affecting 27 out of 86 patients treated at the hospital.

Carbapenem is a class of highly effective antibiotic agents used to treat high-risk bacterial infections. Infections caused by carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae, isolated from various sources, are increasing and associated with high mortality rates.

However, there is limited data on the prevalence of these strains among carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae from invasive infections in India and its association with mortality. The study investigated the prevalence of highly infectious strains amongst carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from blood culture. The study also determined the association of mortality rate with hypermucoviscous strains are determined.

String test was performed to detect hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae that resulted in mortality rate of 84.2 percent. String test, aids prediction of disease severity, and is independently associated with increased mortality in invasive carbapenem resistant K.pneumoniae health care-acquired infections. The bacteria usually occur in patients who have a weak defense system such as diabetes, liver cirrhosis and meningitis. Authors of the study said that it is important to monitor prevalence of carbapenem resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae among invasive isolates especially in places with a high prevalence of infections such as hospitals.

Activist plans to take TN government to court for not following compulsory ID cards order
He says that wearing identity badges, will lead people to the right officials and in a way, decrease corruption in the government offices.

Published: 16th December 2018 04:36 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Despite a government as well as a Madras High Court order that calls for all government employees in the State to wear identity cards during their working hours, the same is not being adhered to, alleges M Valli Narayanan, a resident of Erode, who filed the public interest litigation (PIL) at the Madras High Court and got the order recently. The activist is now planning to file a contempt petition regarding the same.

Speaking to Express, Narayanan said, “A letter to the chief secretary of the government on November 20, demanding for the July 16 orders of the Madras High Court to be implemented, did not yield any response. They all have been tossed to the wind.”

The letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, cited instances of district collectorate premises and also in the Thingalur sub-registrar office, where Narayanan alleged that the government officials never wore an identity card of any form. He says that wearing identity badges, will lead people to the right officials and in a way, decrease corruption in the government offices.

On June 26, the High Court took up a suo motu public interest litigation petition on the basis of a letter written by Narayanan, to then Chief Justice Indira Banerjee. The judge issued the order on July 16 based on the letter filed by the activist.


The government during its submission to the High court, said all the government employees are being provided with computerised identity cards that contain all the details including their photographs.

Arrangements in full swing for Vaikunta Ekadasi

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is making elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi scheduled for December 18 and 19.

Published: 15th December 2018 05:21 AM |

By Express News Service

TIRUMALA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is making elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi scheduled for December 18 and 19.TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal has said that micro-level planning with regard to meeting the requirements of the pilgrims had been done. Temporary sheds have been erected around the Mada Streets, Alwar Tank and Narayanagiri Gardens with defined entry and exit gates.

The EO along with Tirumala JEO KS Srinivasa Raju and CVSO Gopinath Jatti inspected the ongoing works in four mada streets and Narayanagiri gardens on Friday.Speaking to mediapersons, JEO Srinivasa Raju said that after Garuda Seva among the major religious events in Tirumala temple, pilgrims throng in large numbers on this auspicious day of Vaikunta Ekadasi to have Uttara Dwara Darshan. “We had provided darshan to nearly 1.7 lakh pilgrims on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi in 2017,” he added.



He said pilgrims would be allowed to enter the compartments of Vaikuntam Queue Complex (VQC) 2 through MBC 26 gate from 10 am onwards on December 17, a day before Vaikunta Ekadasi. After the compartments of VQC 2 and then VQC 1 get filled, the pilgrims will be allowed to enter into the sheds constructed in Narayanagiri Gardens to wait before darshan.


If all compartments of Vaikuntam and sheds in Narayanagiri Gardens gets filled, the sheds put up in the four mada streets would be thrown open for the waiting pilgrims. Arrangements were made for nearly 40,000 pilgrims in the temporary sheds.

The JEO said Srivari Seva volunteers will ensure continuous supply of food and water to devotees. He said over two lakh devotees are expected to have Uttara Dwara Darshan during these two days. Continuous announcements through radio and broadcasting will be given about the entry points in different languages for the benefit of pilgrims, he added.

Srinivasa Raju said Sarva Darshan would begin on December 18 by 5.30 am and lasts up to midnight of December 19 with a break of less than an hour for Naivedyam.He called upon the staff to provide best services to pilgrims. A training programme was held for the employees at SVETA building in Tirupati on Friday evening.

CE Chandrasekhar Reddy, FACAO Balaji, GM Sesha Reddy, CAO Sesha Sailendra, Health Officer Dr. Shermista, Annaprasadam special officer Venugopal and others were present.

Half-yearly question papers leaked on WhatsApp

Pon Vasanth B.A.

MADURAI, DECEMBER 17, 2018 00:00 IST

Question papers for the ongoing common half-yearly examinations for State board and matriculation schools across Tamil Nadu for various classes, particularly Class XII, are allegedly being leaked through mobile messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

When a security breach was reported last week at a government-aided school in Devakottai, Sivaganga district — one of the designated custodian points for storing question papers — officials claimed the leak was plugged.

Enquiries with officials from the School Education Department (SED) revealed they were unsure about the source of the widespread leaks and no action, like postponing the exams or modifying question papers, had been taken.

A student of Class XII from a matriculation school in Madurai city said he and his classmates received entire question papers for Mathematics and Computer Science examinations that happened last week on WhatsApp.

Another student of Class XII from a different matriculation school in Madurai said: “We are not receiving all question papers at once. The papers are leaked just a day or two before a particular exam.”

A teacher running a tuition centre in the city claimed that the leak happened for Class X and XI as well. “Most of my students had the question papers in advance,” he said.

Acknowledging that a breach was reported in N.S.M.V.P.S Higher Secondary School in Devakottai, A. Palumuthu, Chief Educational Officer (CEO), Sivaganga, said no physical copies of question papers, however, were leaked. He said further investigations were being held by the police. “We have asked all custodian points to install surveillance cameras and ensure round-the-clock security,” he added.

Case registered

T. Jayachandran, Superintendent of Police, Sivaganga, said that a case had been registered and few students were being enquired. “We recovered the physical copies that were taken out. Our enquiry so far had shown that nobody took pictures. Circulation of papers on WhatApp, particularly for other subjects, cannot be related to this incident,” he said. M.K.C. Subashini, CEO, Madurai, said senior officials from the SED had been informed about the alleged leaks and a decision on postponement or modification of question papers must be taken at the State-level.

V.C. Rameswara Murugan, Director of School Education, could not be reached for a comment.

We have asked all custodian points to install surveillance cameras and ensure round-the-clock security

A. Palumuthu

Infant dies after hot sambar spills on her

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 17, 2018 00:00 IST

A 18-month-old girl died of burns on Sunday morning after hot sambar fell on her at her house on Stringer Street in Esplanade police station limits on Saturday.

According to the police, around 10 a.m on Saturday, the vessel with the hot sambar was kept on the floor of the kitchen.

“Bhumika was playing and by mistake, she tripped on the vessel. The sambar fell on her and she sustained burns on her stomach, back and other parts,” the policeman said.

She was rushed to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, and doctors informed the parents that she had sustained 51% burns.

Around 8 a.m. on Sunday, the girl died. A case has been registered, and further investigation is on.

Bhumika is the youngest daughter of Murugan, 30, and Surya, 25. “They are part of a joint family and food is cooked for nearly seven people,” said the police.

Vellore trust sanctions aid to 971 students

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 17, 2018 00:00 IST

VIT chancellor wants the district to be a model in education

As many as 971 students received financial assistance of Rs. 53 lakh for pursuing their higher education, in Vellore on Saturday. The financial assistance has been extended to them by Universal Higher Education Trust.

The trust has been extending financial assistance to poor young men and women since 2012 for pursuing higher education.

Speaking at the function held at the Vellore Institute of Technology, G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of VIT, said the trust was working towards making Vellore district a model in offering higher education in the country.

Mr. Viswanathan said the trust had been helping thousands of poor students to help them pursue their college education.

Two-thirds of those who received the aid were women and that it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that women complete their education.

Placements look up

Pointing to the remarkable improvement in higher education in the State, Mr. Viswanathan said through the Placement Cell of VIT, 108 students had secured jobs in Bank of America.

Mr. Viswanathan stressed on the need for initiatives by the government to ensure that every single youth received quality higher education.

S.V. Balasubramaniam, Chairman of Bannari Amman Group of Companies, said the country should pay more attention to technical education.

Only 10% of people in India received higher education and this number should increase, he said.

Mylswamy Annadurai in race for Madurai Kamaraj varsity V-C post

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 17, 2018 00:00 IST


196 candidates include eminent scientists


Mylswamy Annadurai, former director of Indian Space Research Organisation, is one of the 196 candidates who have applied for the post of Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University.

The list, which The Hindu has accessed, includes eminent scientists, whose applications were overlooked despite their credentials for the post for other State universities.

Scholars and eminent professors from other parts of the country and abroad have applied. A professor of Indian origin employed in Malaysia features on the list. Professors from Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh have applied.

The university has been without a Vice-Chancellor after P.P. Chellathurai was removed from the post following a court ruling in June. He was appointed by Governor-Chancellor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in May 2017 despite protests from the teachers’ associations. Prior to his appointment, the university was without a V-C for over two years.

Mired in controversy

Even the constitution of the V-C search panel, both before his appointment and following his removal from office, had been mired in controversy and legal wrangles.

The last date for applying was Friday.

The search panel released the list on Saturday.

The search panel includes Anna University former Vice-Chancellor M. Anandakrishnan and former IGNOU V-C Nageshwar Rao and D.K. Oza, former Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute.

The panel was reconstituted on November 30 and it has three months’ time to submit its panel of names to the Governor-Chancellor Banwarilal Purohit.