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Papers by Prakash Ghimire

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2013

We report on the changing epidemiology of two important flaviviruses in Nepal: Japanese encephali... more We report on the changing epidemiology of two important flaviviruses in Nepal: Japanese encephalitis (JE) and dengue viruses. Morbidity and mortality in Nepal is in the thousands since JE was introduced in 1978. Nepal launched an extensive laboratory-based JE surveillance in 2004. Nepal experienced a remarkable reduction in disease burden after mass immunizations from 2005 to 2010, when 2,040 JE infections and 205 JE-related deaths were confirmed. With its emergence in 2006, dengue has become a significant challenge in the country, highlighted by a sudden outbreak in 2010 that resulted in 359 confirmed dengue infections. Currently, both viruses cocirculate in Nepal. Here, we document the remarkable expansion of dengue in Nepal, which urgently requires national surveillance to refine the burden and make recommendations regarding control and prevention programs. We believe that the use of existing JE surveillance network for integrated dengue surveillance may represent the most appropriate alternative.

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 2015

International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research, 2013

J Biol. Sci., 23: 44, 2004

Antibacterial activity of actinomycetes isolated from Lobuche area (5000-5300 meter in height) an... more Antibacterial activity of actinomycetes isolated from Lobuche area (5000-5300 meter in height) and Lukla area (2660 meter in height) in Khumbu region has been studied. A total of 106 actinomycetes were subjected to primary screening by perpendicular streak method ...

The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Feb 1, 2009

The Journal of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 2004

Page 1. Biogas Pilot Programme (BPP) DLF/MAF and SNV-Lao PDR Final Report on Biogas Users' S... more Page 1. Biogas Pilot Programme (BPP) DLF/MAF and SNV-Lao PDR Final Report on Biogas Users' Survey - 2007 Prepared by: Prakash C. Ghimire Asia Biogas Programme Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) February 2007 Page 2. 2 Table of Contents ...

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, Jul 1, 2008

In Nepal, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are considerable health problems. This study aimed to asses... more In Nepal, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are considerable health problems. This study aimed to assess the trends of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence in blood donors over the last 6 years nationwide and in the urbanized setting of Kathmandu Valley. This was a retrospective study conducted among Nepalese blood donors through the years 2001/2002-2006/2007. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV antibodies using third generation ELISA tests. The donors' information was collected via the donor record register through their respective Blood Transfusion Services. The software, Winpepi ver 3.8 was used for statistical analysis. The overall seroprevalence rates of HBV and HCV in a nationwide analysis were observed to be 0.82 and 0.47%, respectively, and at Central Blood Transfusion Service (CBTS), Kathmandu, the rates were 0.92 and 0.71%, respectively. The seroprevalence of HBV was significantly higher than the seroprevalence of HCV, both nationwide and at CBTS (P < 0.05). An overall significantly decreasing trend was observed in HBV and HCV seroprevalence both nationwide and at CBTS, Kathmandu, over the last 6 years (P < 0.05). Though the overall trend was significantly decreasing, the test for departure from a linear trend also showed a statistically significant result (P < 0.05).

Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 2001

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Jun 1, 2008

JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association

Besides Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a number of other Mycobacterium species are also occasional h... more Besides Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a number of other Mycobacterium species are also occasional human pathogens. Tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium kansasii is particularly prevalent in AIDS patients as compared to the normal population. A cross-sectional study was carried out during January 2004 to August 2005 in 100 HIV-infected persons visiting Tribhuvan University, Teaching Hospital, and about a dozen of HIV/AIDS care centers of Kathmandu with the objectives to characterize the different mycobacterial species in HIV/AIDS patients. Three sputum specimens from each person were used to investigate tuberculosis by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, culture and identification tests. Among the 100 HIV-infected cases, 66 (66%) were males and 34 (34%) were females. Sixty percent of the cases were in the age group of 21-30 years. Mycobacteria were detected in 23 (23%) HIV cases of which 15 (65.2%) were in the age group of 21-30 years ; 17(74%) were males and 6 (26 %) were females. Among 23 co-infected cases, 22 were culture positive for mycobacteria. Among these, the predominant one was Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), 9 (41%), followed by M. tuberculosis, 6 (27%), M .kansasii, 4 (18%), M. fortuitum, 2 (10%) and M. chelonae 1 (4%). Significant relationship was established between smoking/alcoholism and the subsequent development of tuberculosis (chi(2)=7.24, p<0.05 for smoking habit and chi(2)=4.39, p<0.05 for alcoholism). Fourteen (61%) co-infected cases presented with weight loss and cough whereas diarrhea was presented only by those patients with atypical mycobacterial co-infection, which was as high as 5 (56%) in patients with MAC co-infection. This study demonstrated the predominance of atypical mycobacteria, mainly MAC, in HIV/AIDS cases and most of them were from sputum smear-negative cases.

Kathmandu University Medical Journal

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

ABSTRACT Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a Tertiary care Chil... more ABSTRACT Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a Tertiary care Children Hospital in Central Nepal S. Thapa1, P. Ghimire1, S.P. Manandhar1 and P.B. Thapa2 1 Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu Nepal 2 Kanti Childrens' Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal Nosocomial infection is a major problem in the world today. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains shows a particular ability to spread in hospitals and is one of the greatest challenges for modern antimicrobial therapy in many countries, particularly because of the multidrug resistance. The present study was carried out with the aim to find out the prevalence of MRSA infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in pediatric patients attending a tertiary-care referral hospital located in Central Nepal. Various clinical samples collected from patients were inoculated to Mannitol Salt Agar and incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. Identification of Staphylococcus aureus was confirmed by Gram positive cocci in clusters, mannitol fermenting colonies, catalase positivity, coagulase positivity and DNase positivity. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was also performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Interpretation criteria were those of the national committee for clinical laboratory standards. Of the total 210 clinical samples, S. aureus was isolated in 30.95 % (n=65) cases. Among the S. aureus isolates, 29.23 % (n=19) were found to be methicillin resistant. More than sixty eight percent isolates of MRSA were from inpatient departments while 31.57 % were from outdoor patients. All isolates of MRSA showed resistant to ampicillin and cloxacillin. More than 90 % of MRSA were found to be resistant to cotrimoxazole, while less than 50% of MRSA were resistant to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. However, none of the MRSA strains were resistant to vancomycin. Vancomycin seems to be the only antimicrobial agent which showed 100% sensitivity and so may be used as the drug of choice for treating multidrug resistant MRSA infections. However, regular monitoring of vancomycin sensitivity should be carried out. To reduce the prevalence of MRSA, the regular surveillance of hospital acquired infection including monitoring of antimicrobial (especially vancomycin and other newer glycopeptides) susceptibility pattern of MRSA and formulation of definite antimicrobial policy may be helpful. Keywords: Central Nepal; MRSA; resistant

We studied predisposing factors of enteric parasitic infections in school children [n=340 (Boys: ... more We studied predisposing factors of enteric parasitic infections in school children [n=340 (Boys: 177 and Girls: 163)] in a rural area in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Fecal samples were examined by formal-ether concentration technique. A total of 71.2% children had parasite. Altogether nine types of parasites were recovered; Trichuris trichiura was the commonest one followed by hookworm and others. A structured questionnaire regarding various predisposing factors was used. No significant differences in the infection rate between the sexes, age groups (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; or = 10 years, 11-14 years and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or = 15 years) and family sizes (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; or = 5 and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or = 6) were observed (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05). The positive rates were significantly low in children with the history of taking antihelminthic drugs in the past six months (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05). A marginally higher positive rate was found among Dalits children compared to Tibeto-Burmans and Indo-Aryans (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05) and children from farming family (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05). No difference in the infection rate was found in children having different types of toilet facility: open-field defecation, pit latrine and modern toilet at their houses (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05). Slightly higher positive rate was associated with drinking water from Kuwa (shallow well) compared to natural spout, piped water and Khola (river) (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.05). Children were infected despite of their awareness regarding the safe water and geophagy.

Tuberculosis is itself a major Public health problem in Nepal and the emergence HIV further compl... more Tuberculosis is itself a major Public health problem in Nepal and the emergence HIV further complicated the issue. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between January 2004 and August 2005, with a general objective to determine the Tuberculosis co-infection status in HIV/AIDS cases of Nepal. Altogether 100 HIV infected persons visiting different Voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCT) and HIV/AIDS care centers located in Kathmandu valley were enrolled in the study. Investigation of tuberculosis was done by standard method prescribed by WHO using sputum specimen. Among 100 HIV infected cases, 66 (66.0%) were males and 34 (34.0%) were females. Majority of the HIV cases were in the age group 21-30 (60.0%) followed by 31-40 (31.0%). Tuberculosis was detected in 23 cases with highest prevalence in the age group 21-30 years (65.2%). No significant relationship could be established between gender and TB (c2 = 0.83, p > 0.01).Significant relationship was established be...