Important contribution by Microbiology department of Baroda Medical College and Sayaji Hospital in the testing of mucormycosis and corona

Accurately tested more than 2 lakh samples of Corona in the last one and a half years, more than 285 samples of mucormycosis have been accurately tested

The epidemic of micro-fungal mucormycosis is now on the rise as a side effect of corona. The Department of Micro Biology of Baroda Medical College and its affiliated laboratory are making a very important life-saving contribution in diagnosing this disease through accurate testing of fungi.

Samples of suspected mucor patients are sent to this department for examination by the ear, nose and throat department of Sayaji Hospital. So far the department has examined approximately 285 samples and given an accurate report which has greatly helped in determining the effective treatment of the patients.

Under the guidance of the dean of this department of medical college, Dr. Tanuja Javadekar, Medical Superintendent of Sayaji Hospital Dr. Ranjan Aiyer and under the leadership of an Associate Professor, it has been working tirelessly day and night for the last one and a half years to meet the challenge of the epidemic. Administrative Nodal Officer of Corona Treatment Dr. O.B. Belim is working to maintain coordination with the help of this department.

The department and the laboratory have accurately tested more than 2 lakh covid samples during the above period. About 1500 RTPCRs comes daily of testing so the doctors and staff of this department have worked tirelessly to give report of the samples within 24 hours and within 8 hours in case of emergency. In addition, the department is now providing competent services despite the increase in workload due to testing of Mucor samples.

In addition, routine testing of other infectious disease samples continues along with CRP test indicating the extent of covid effect in the patient and the effectiveness of treatment is also handled by this department.

Thus, this department has been functioning since the time of establishment of the Medical College. Here Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Tutor, M.D. Resident physicians studying microbiology, lab technicians, data entry operators and class four servants faithfully serve as a team. The team says they has been working continuously for the last one and a half years amidst very high load and based on their lab report the patient's disease and the direction of treatment, the effect of the treatment and the decision to change it is decided. They are proud to be contributing as much as they can to the lives of thousands of people.

All tests of bacteriology and virology are performed in this section as a routine. Samples related to diseases like dengue, chicken pox, jaundice, typhoid are tested by bacterial culture. Fungus cultures are now being investigated for mucus infestation and covid is being virologically tested.

The Covid sample is being tested here from March 2020. Necessary equipment was already here and with the help of which the swine flu sample was being tested. After that with the allocation of the required kit, the work of testing the samples of covid started here. Initially there were 2 machines, now there are 5 to 6 machines. About 90 samples were tested daily when the swine flu epidemic broke out. In front of it about 1500 samples of covid had to be tested in peak time. For which a separate department and staff work day and night.

Safe operation is ensured among the necessary bio-safety measures following the global standards to protect the staff from infection. Arrangements of N 95 masks, PPE kit, hand gloves, hand stery lisation like necessary safety measures are there in the department.

This department provides training to the staff of 12 government and private institutions in Central Gujarat about RTPCR sample testing as per ICMR guidelines. Necessary certification of their arrangements is completed and as a result testing of RTPCR samples in these institutions has become much easier.

The Department of Micro Biology, along with other departments of the Medical College and Sayaji Hospital, is making a dedicated contribution to the protection of people's lives in the challenges of covid and mucormycosis diseases. The dedicated services of Corona Warriors of this department deserves a salute.