Microbiology

The Department of Microbiology is well equipped to diagnose most of the infectious diseases prevalent in society. It offers diagnostic services to the hospital and also carries out bacteriological analysis of water, operation theatre sterility checks, in house disinfectant testing and hospital environmental surveillance. The diagnostic laboratory is well equipped with automated Bact-Alert system for blood culture, turbidometry, walk-in incubator and walk-in cooler and biosafety cabinets.

There is also state-of-the-art equipment like enhanced chemiluminescence immuno assay for serodiagnosis of HIV, hepatitis markers and other infectious diseases. The first HOD was Dr. Gopalakrishnan.

Contact Information

Email id:
microbiology@psgimsr.ac.in
Helpline:

+91 9952149911

The department, headed by Dr Appalaraju, participates in the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), and has an Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) for HIV conducted by the Government of India. Basic molecular biology equipment like thermocycler, gel documentation system and refrigerated centrifuge are available for research purposes.

The department, which has been upgraded as a postgraduate training centre in 2001, also offers MD in microbiology. Its diagnostic wing is a regular participant in external quality control programmes.

Special Clinical / Diagnostic services

Infectious diseases continue to be the most common ailment for which an individual visits a hospital.The department of Microbiology identifies the microbial organism responsible for the ailment and also puts up antibiotic susceptibility test to facilitate rational choice of antibiotic by the physicians.Infectious diseases may be trivial such as common cold for which a laboratory diagnosis is not sought, or serious, for which a laboratory diagnosis is pertinent. Some of the major infectious diseases for which a laboratory diagnosis is sought are Tuberculosis, Cholera, Typhoid, AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Dengue, Urinary Tract Infections, Endocarditis, Rheumatic fever, scrub typhus, etc to name a few. For these infectious the best diagnostic method is available in our laboratory, namely- culture/ serology/ molecular methods.Our clinical laboratory is accredited by the NABL for performing these tests.

During the course of MBBS a student of Microbiology, learns the basics of every infectious disease as to its pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and specific prevention with vaccinations.

Apart from routine culture and sensitivity of bacteria and fungi and serological tests for diagnosis of infectious diseases, the laboratory has the following facilities also

																										Molecular Diagnosis by PCR – Diagnosis of Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HIV and TB is problematic in some patients in whom this disease is strongly suspected but the routine diagnostic tests are negative. IN such cases PCR is used as the diagnostic tool. Viral loads for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are also done to facilitate treatment.
TB – Has a state of the art laboratory for diagnosis of TB which includes safe work environment (negative pressure) for Health Care Workers also.Earlier detection of TB by automated culture and detection system (MGIT) and drug sensitivity is being done.
Anaerobic Culture – Some bacteria producing serious infections are anaerobic in nature, such as gas gangrene, deep abscesses and septic abortion.Such infections though rare are a challenge for treating physicians.An Automated Facility for providing anaerobic atmosphere for cultivation and isolation of anaerobic bacteria are available.

Awards

																										Dr.B.Appalaraju, Dr.A.Michael & Dr.K.Kannan was awarded Dr.S.R.Sengupta – Dr.A.M.Saoji Memorial prize for best paper in Immunololgy for the paper titled “Chicken antibodies as an alternative source for mammalian antibodies for sero grouping of _ haemolytic Streptococcal isolates” presented at IAMM National conference at J.N.Medical College Belgaum – 2000.
Dr.S.Parvathi won the best paper award for the oral paper presentation titled “Activity of Linezolid on gram positive cocci with special reference to MRSA” presented at VII National Conference Hospital Infection Society of India, CMC, Vellore, Jan 9-11, 2003.
Paper titled “Multilocus genotyping of Cryptosporidium sp. Isolates from human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals in south India” Winter symposium on Infectious diseases, CMC Vellore 2004 by Dr.M.Dheepa won the best paper award.
The publication of Dr.J.Jayalakshmi, Dr.B.Appalaraju and Ms.Usha titled “Cellphones As-Reservoirs of Nosocomical Pathogens” in J Assoc Physician India 2008;56:(05) 388-389 has been selected for first prize for Dr.J.C Patel and Dr.BC Mehta best paper award.
Dr.Anila A Mathews was awarded the JSB gold medal on 30.09.09  for the Best thesis of the year 2008.
Dr.Sowmya N was awarded the JSB gold medal on 30.09.11 for the Best thesis of the year 2010.
Dr.Sowmya N was awarded the gold medal for University first in the M.D.University examinations in Microbiology by The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University for the year 2010.
“Qualitative immuno Enzymatic Determination of Dengue viral IgM Antibodies in Coimbatore city” was undertaken and completed by Dr.S.Gnanapoongothai and Dr.Venkatapathy. The same was presented in the state conference held at Trichy and was adjudged as the best presentation.
Dr.Anila A Mathews was awarded the First prize in the Quiz conducted at the workshop “Petri plate to PCR at JSS Medical College, Mysore – October, 2012.
Dr.J.Jayalakshmi won the Best Motivator Award on Teachers day September, 2014
Dr.S.Santhosh Gandhi, won prize on PSG ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY   for  research poster presentation  – November 2014
Dr.Anisha Elizabeth Jacob, won prize on PSG ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY for research   poster presentation – November 2014
Dr.B.Appalaraju won the Teachers Excellence award on Teachers Day – September 2015
Dr.S.Parvathi won the “Woman Achievers award”for the year 2015 from PSG Institutions
Dr.S.Parvathi won the Faimer Fellowship award – 2015
Dr.M.Mohamadiya Rizwana   won  I prize PSG ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY for  Research poster  presentation  November 2015
Dr.Sneha  May Kurian- won I prize  in a quiz conducted by Department of Respiratory medicine, PSG Hospitals on World TB Day-2016
Dr.P.Thenmozhi won the II prize in a quiz conducted by Department of Respiratory medicine, PSG Hospitals on World TB Day-2016
Dr.Sneha May Kurian  – won II prize  in quiz conducted at Microcon 2016, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Dr.M.Parimalam won the I prize for the Clinical audit on Clinical Audit day – November 2016
Dr.Geethanjali won the II prize for the clinical audit on Clinical audit day – November 2016
Dr.D.Lavanya won the III prize for the PSG ANNUAL RESEARCH DAY   for Research poster presentation  November 2015
Dr.M.Mohamadiya Rizana was awarded the gold medal for securing University first in the M.D examination in Microbiology by The Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University for the year 2016.

									
															

Facilities

Real time PCR
Vitek 2 Automated system
Bactec and Bact/Alert automated incubation system
Enhanced Chemiluminescence Vitros
Automated anaerobic gas filling system for anaerobic culture
Lyophiliser
Biosafety Cabinets
Deep freezer (-80° C) (Thermo scientific, USA) – to preserve biological materials
Fluorescent microscope