4 research outputs found
Characterizing near-surface salinity variability in the northern Bay of Bengal and its potential drivers during extreme freshening years of the 2011–2019 period
No full textSelection between aztreonam and cephalosporins for treatment of infections with pseudomonads needs more caution
No full textBhoj R Singh Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, IndiaIn the recently published study1 to evaluate the use of aztreonam as an active empiric therapy against subsequent culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, empiric therapy failure using aztreonam is reported more common than on using β-lactam antibiotics in patients suffering P. aeruginosa infection. Though the study is interesting and revealing important findings regarding antibiotic use for treatment of P. aeruginosa infection, it should be accepted with caution as suggested by the authors1 repeatedly due to limited number of cases. In our observations on P. aeruginosa (95) and other pseudomonads (40) isolates from veterinary clinical cases we found that instead of generalizing the lesser efficacy of aztreonam in-depth studies are required. Although insignificant, aztreonam inhibited more numbers of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing (57) P. aeruginosa strains (56.1%) than most of the β-lactams including cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and piperacillin (53.3%). However, on non-ESBL producing (37) strains aztreonam inhibited 42.1% isolates, much less than cefepime (68%), ceftriaxone (50%) and piperacillin + tazobactam (61.1%). Therefore, it is suggested to use the two classes of antibiotics (aztreonam and β-lactams) judiciously based on antibiotic stewardship principle1 instead of following some general rule for infections with pseudomonads. Authors’ reply Michael Hogan,1 Mary Barna Bridgeman,1 Gee Hee Min,1 Deepali Dixit,1 Patrick J Bridgeman,1 Navaneeth Narayanan1,21Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA We appreciate the author of this letter reading our article with such great interest. We believe, however, in this response that here is limited application to the context and overall content of our clinical study of human patients. First, the data cited n this response are from veterinary clinical cases. Though general principles of understanding of antibiotic sensitivity testing and resistance mechanisms apply regardless of species, there are major differences that impede reasonable comparisons between the assertions in this letter and findings of our original study. View the original paper by Hogan and colleague
A sustained ocean observing system in the Indian Ocean for climate related scientific knowledge and societal needs
No full textThe Indian Ocean is warming faster than any of the global oceans and its climate is uniquely driven by the presence of a landmass at low latitudes, which causes monsoonal winds and reversing currents. The food, water, and energy security in the Indian Ocean rim countries and islands are intrinsically tied to its climate, with marine environmental goods and services, as well as trade within the basin, underpinning their economies. Hence, there are a range of societal needs for Indian Ocean observation arising from the influence of regional phenomena and climate change on, for instance, marine ecosystems, monsoon rains, and sea-level. The Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS), is a sustained observing system that monitors basin-scale ocean-atmosphere conditions, while providing flexibility in terms of emerging technologies and scientific and societal needs, and a framework for more regional and coastal monitoring. This paper reviews the societal and scientific motivations, current status, and future directions of IndOOS, while also discussing the need for enhanced coastal, shelf, and regional observations. The challenges of sustainability and implementation are also addressed, including capacity building, best practices, and integration of resources. The utility of IndOOS ultimately depends on the identification of, and engagement with, end-users and decision-makers and on the practical accessibility and transparency of data for a range of products and for decision-making processes. Therefore we highlight current progress, issues and challenges related to end user engagement with IndOOS, as well as the needs of the data assimilation and modeling communities. Knowledge of the status of the Indian Ocean climate and ecosystems and predictability of its future, depends on a wide range of socio-economic and environmental data, a significant part of which is provided by IndOOS
