Woman gets superbug with breast implant

June 16, 2012

Breast_Superbug

Mumbai, June 16: When a new mother from south Mumbai sought medical help for the significant distortion of her right breast, the term super-bug never crossed her mind. She may, however, be the most telling example of poor infection-control in Indian hospitals and the ensuing threat to patients undergoing surgeries.

The 30-year-old, who had undergone a breast implant surgery in 2009, was found to be suffering from an MRSA infection. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is one of the most potent superbugs or bacteria resistant to antibiotics. A few years back, the medical journal Lancet carried a series of controversial articles stating that newer superbugs such as NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase 1) had emerged from India.

The young mother's right breast was not only more than double the size of the left, it was also lumpy and painful. An evaluation revealed that she first experienced firmness in her breast six months after the surgery, but she thought it was a result of her pregnancy. But the firmness worsened after she delivered her baby and started breast-feeding.

It was only when the doctors did an MRI scan did they realize that there was an infection in the lining (capsule) of the implant. "The MRI scan showed she was suffering from capsular contracture," said Dr Mohan Thomas, consultant cosmetic surgeon at Breach Candy Hospital. "She had undergone the cosmetic surgery in another hospital. By the time she came to us, the capsule (implant lining) of her right breast was about 12mm in size," he said, adding a normal lining does not go beyond 2mm in thickness.

The body reacts to any implant by forming a protective lining around it. This is referred to as the "capsule" or "tissue capsule" and is formed by one's own tissue. In some women, however, the capsule shrinks, squeezing the implant, referred to as capsular contracture. The tighter the capsule becomes, the firmer the breast feels.

It was only after her surgery that the reason for the capsular contracture was found. "While doing the surgery, a large amount of pus and fluid kept oozing out of her breast. We had to remove layers and layers of the capsule. After the surgery, we sent the fluid for examination and it turned out to be MRSA," said Dr Thomas. What surprised doctors was that clinical tests showed no signs of the infection, but only the fluid filled in the capsules showed the presence of the pathogens.

"If this pathogen had spread across the body, it could have killed the person. But in this woman's case, her capsule had taken the whole burden of this pathogen," said Dr Thomas. Worse, he said, she could have passed on the infection to her child since she was breast-feeding. After both her implants were removed, the doctors kept her in hospital until they were satisfied that she was free of infection.

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News Network
January 8,2020

Meerut, Jan 8: Hangman Pawan Jallad, who officials say is being considered to carry out the execution of the four Nirbhaya gangrape case convicts, on Tuesday said he is ready for the job which will send out a strong message in the society.

He said executing those who were involved in the horrific crime will bring "great relief" to him, Nirbhaya's parents and everybody else.

Earlier in the day, a Delhi court issued death warrants against all the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case and ordered that they are hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail.

The death warrant, also known as a black warrant, addressed to the office of the Tihar jail chief, was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora against Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

"I do not have any information regarding the execution, nobody has spoken to me yet. If anyone approaches me, I am ready to do the job. Earlier, I was asked to be ready for the execution on December 16," Pawan Jallad told reporters here.

"Those who were involved in this brutal incident must be hanged, which will send out a strong message in the society," he said.

"Hanging the Nirbhaya gangrape case convicts will certainly bring great relief to me, her parents and everybody else," he added.

Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old paramedic student, was gang-raped and brutalised on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012, inside a moving bus in south Delhi by the four men, along with two others, before being dumped on the road.

She died on December 29, 2012, at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Of the six persons convicted, one allegedly committed suicide in jail and another, a juvenile, was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term.

When contacted, Jail Superintendent of Meerut prison V P Pandey said he has not yet received any letter from Tihar authorities.

"Last month, we had received a letter asking us to keep Pawan Jallad ready but there is no fresh communication. The Delhi court warrants were issued this evening, maybe we will get the letter for sending him by tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said.

The gangrape of 23-year-old, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya', the fearless one, sparked outrage across the country. Repulsed, people took to the streets across the country, demanding justice for her and better safety measures for women.

The case led to toughening of India's rape laws.

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News Networkwork
May 14,2020

Bengaluru, May 14: ABB India has posted a profit after tax of Rs 66 crore during the first quarter (January to March) due to lower volumes including service revenue and unfavourable mix.

In Q1 CY19, it had reported a profit after tax of Rs 89 crore. ABB India follows calendar year as its fiscal year.

The company reported a profit including exceptional items and before tax of Rs 87 crore. The resultant under-absorption and mark-to-market impact due to forex volatility were partly offset by refund incomes and a one-time gain on sale of solar business during the quarter.

Revenues for the first quarter stood at Rs 1,522 crore, impacted by lower sales, non-receipt of delivery clearance, lower service revenue in the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact primarily occurred in March, the company said in a statement.

ABB India said it continues to maintain a stable cash position of Rs 1,464 crore as on March 31 in a market where cash collection continues to be a challenge.

Besides, despite many activities coming to a standstill in March, the quarter was marked by commissioning for a mining major at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh, electrical and automation systems for a cement major and port and electrics, drives and automation for a leading mill in Bangladesh.

Terminal installation and commissioning for LPG, power management electrical control system for a leading refinery and commissioning of two units of a power plant in Kerala are some of the other projects where ABB's involvement ensured continuity and safe operations, it said.

On a global scale, the impact of COVID-19, as well as the fall in oil prices, has significantly impacted the short-term outlook. The global economy is expected to contract in 2020 after a rapid deterioration in outlook driven by the pandemic.

Despite unprecedented stimuli by governments and central banks around the world and initial signs of recovering economic activity in China, macro-indicators point to a global recession of uncertain duration as many countries continue to face restrictions with anticipated long-term economic consequences, said ABB India.

While the company is taking prompt action to adapt its operations and cost base to safeguard profitability, it expects the results in the coming quarter to be impacted due to the loss of volumes.

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News Network
April 21,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 21: Not just in China, but in Kerala also robot is now playing a key role in the health workers' fight against COVID-19, thanks to the innovative spirit of a group of young minds and the support of the state Health Department.

Named "Nightingale-19", the robot is deployed to provide food and medicines among patients at the district coronavirus centre in Ancharakandi in Kannur district where a large number of cases have been reported.

The special display facility, attached to it, also allows patients to communicate with health workers and their relatives if necessary, the health minister's office here said.

Designed by the students of Chemberi Vimal Jyothi Engineering College with the support of the Health Department, the remote control-operated robot can carry food and water for at least six persons at a stretch.

Also Read: Pandemic Podcast: How the lockdown is affecting women

The machine, which can travel up to one kilometre, distributes food, water and medicine in each room, a department statement said.

The robot would be disinfected after each use, it said.

Health Minister K K Shailaja inaugurated the new venture from here recently through the robot's video facility, the statement added.

Robots have been put to use in other parts of the country to help in the health workers' fight against COVID- 19.

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