Swine flu lab inaugurated

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

A swine flu lab (H1N1 PCR), installed in the microbiology department of Dayanand Medical Hospital (DMC), was formally inaugurated by the secretary of the DMCH Managing Society, Prem Kumar Gupta.

According to Dr Deepinder Chhina, Professor and head of microbiology, the department had recently started the test for invasive fungal infections.

The DMCH is among the first few private institutes in the region to have the facility of (1-3)-ß- D glucan assay test.

Invasive fungal infections have increased significantly in the past decades due to broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy and invasive medical devices.

These infections are also a significant cause of health problems in immune-compromised patients.

A delay in their diagnosis results in delay of initiation of antifungal therapy. So, timely initiation of antifungals is a critical component affecting the outcome.

According to Dr Chhina, this test will help in the early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections, such as candidemia and aspergillosis.