J. Kottahachchi | University of Sri Jayewardenepura (original) (raw)

Papers by J. Kottahachchi

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, Sep 18, 2023

Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp caused by Trichophyton and Microspor... more Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp caused by Trichophyton and Microsporum species. It presents as one or more rounded scaly patches of the scalp which expand, forming typical lesions with brittle or fragile hair. The study was conducted to detect the proportion of patients with tinea capitis, compare tinea capitis in diabetic and non-diabetic patients and identify any associated factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out enrolling diabetic and non-diabetic patients who attended the dermatology clinic in Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka from January to June 2021. Skin samples from infected sites were processed for direct microscopy and culture, followed by examination of a tease mount and slide culture to identify the microorganisms. Of the 112 (56 diabetic and 56 non-diabetic) patients attending the clinic, fungal growth was observed in 9 (8.0%), of which 5 (55.6%) were dermatophytes with 3 of the 5 identifying as Trichophyton sp and Trichophyton verrucosum. Diabetic patients were more prone to infection when compared with non-diabetic patients (P=0.022). Sharing combs, association with overcrowded places and less frequency of bathing were risk factors for tinea capitis.

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, Apr 1, 2024

Introduction: Enterobacterales is a large family of Gram-negative bacilli including many pathogen... more Introduction: Enterobacterales is a large family of Gram-negative bacilli including many pathogens. Carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CPEs) have emerged as a global threat. This study was conducted to detect carbapenemase production by Enterobacterales isolates from clinical specimens and to correlate the occurrence of CPE with age, gender, and duration of hospital stay of the patients included in the study. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using 120 consecutive, nonrepetitive clinical isolates identified as Enterobacterales by the microbiology laboratories of Colombo South Teaching Hospital and Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. The demographic data of the patients was gathered and used to analyse the correlation with CPE occurrence. All isolates were identified up to species level using API 20E kits. Screening for detection of carbapenemase was carried out using meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem disks. The Modified Hodge Test (MHT), which is one of the suggested procedures to determine carbapenemase production, was performed to identify carbapenemase producing isolates. Results: Of the120 isolates, 14 (11.7%) were resistant to at least one of the carbapenems tested. MHT detected carbapenemase production in ten (8.3%) isolates. The majority of these isolates were Klebsiella sp. (6; 60.0%). Of carbapenemase producing isolates, six were from urine specimens (60%). Eight (80.0%) of the CPE harbouring patients were males and eight (80.0%) were aged above 50 years. The mean duration of hospital stay of the patients was 7.2 days (±SD 5.65days).

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, Dec 19, 2023

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology

The Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery, 2013

The College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, 2012

Sri Lanka college of paediatricians, 2018

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2022

Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVC) are frequently used in modern health care systems. H... more Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVC) are frequently used in modern health care systems. However, CVCs are likely to get colonised with microorganisms, resulting in catheterrelated blood stream infections (CRBSI). This study investigated microorganisms causing CRBSI and CVC colonisation, their antibiotic resistance, and factors associated with CRBSI in patients in the intensive care units (ICU) at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH) and Apeksha hospital, Sri Lanka. Methods: The study included 300 adult patients in ICUs with a CVC in-situ for >48 hours. Blood taken through the CVC, peripheral blood and CVC tips were cultured. Microorganisms were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Demographic factors were recorded. Results: Seventeen patients (13.1%) developed CRBSI. The CRBSI rate was 13.3 per 1,000 catheter days in CNTH while it was 10 (5.9%) cases and 5.2 per 1,000 catheter days in Apeksha hospital. In CNTH, CVC colonisation was detected in 35 (26.9%). Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) were the leading cause of both CRBSI (41%) and colonisation (58%). In Apeksha hospital, Klebsiella sp. (5/10) were the predominant pathogens that caused CRBSI. Eighty-nine CVCs (52.3%) were colonised by CoNS (58%). In CNTH, CRBSI was detected more in males (14/17) (p<0.05). The majority of microorganisms that caused CRBSI and CVC colonisation in both hospitals showed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: The CRBSI rates and the incidences were higher in CNTH. CoNS was the most common cause of CRBSI in CNTH and Gram negative bacteria in Apeksha hospital. CVC colonisation with CoNS was common in both hospitals. Antibiotic resistance was high among bacteria causing CRBSI and colonisation.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the knowledge on transmission and prevention of H1N1 influenza a... more Objective: Our aim was to assess the knowledge on transmission and prevention of H1N1 influenza among health care workers who play a fundamental role in the community. Methods: We selected Colombo South Teaching Hospital as the study setting to conduct a descriptive cross sectional study. The expected proportion of adequate knowledge was taken as 50% and at 0.05 precision with a non-respondent rate of 10% a study sample of 406 nurses was obtained. A self-administered questionnaire aided in seeking information on socio-demographic details, knowledge and attitude regarding H1N1. Significance level was set at p < 0.05 and tested using Chi-square. Results: Majority knew nasal secretions 338(83.3%) and infective saliva 308(75.9%) as modes of transmission of H1N1 and their mean score was 8.37(S.D±1.53) out of 10. Higher percentages of the study sample knew about hand hygiene 375(92.4%), facial masks 391(96.3%), and patient isolation 344(84.5%) as effective means of prevention. A propor...

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016

Pooled susceptibility data of urine culture isolates with a colony count of ≥10 5 CFU/ml from sam... more Pooled susceptibility data of urine culture isolates with a colony count of ≥10 5 CFU/ml from samples of non-catheterised patients received in 2014 were analysed using WHONET 5.6 software. Results: The majority of the isolates (3975/4979:79.8%) were Gram negative enteric organisms, commonly known as coliforms. The other bacterial isolates identified were Enterococcus spp. (254), Pseudomonas spp. (194), coagulase negative staphylococci (59), Staphylococcus aureus (36), Acinetobacter spp. (35) and Group B β-haemolytic streptococci (18). The coliforms isolated from adults attending outpatient clinics (n=277) had 55.2% susceptibility to cephalexin and cephradine, 54% to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, 65.1% to nitrofurantoin, 18

Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2015

Introduction: Approximately, 33% patients with diabetes are afflicted with onychomycosis. In the ... more Introduction: Approximately, 33% patients with diabetes are afflicted with onychomycosis. In the past, nondermatophyte molds have been regarded as opportunistic pathogens; recently, Aspergillus species are considered as emerging pathogens of toenail infections. In Sri Lanka, the prevalence of Aspergillus species in onychomycosis among diabetics is not well documented. Objective: To determine the proportion of Aspergillus onychomycosis, risk factors and knowledge among diabetics. Materials and Methods: This was descriptive cross-sectional study. Three hundred diabetic patients were included. Clinical examinations of patients' toenails were performed by a clinical microbiologist. Laboratory identification was done, and pathogens were identified to the species level by morpho-physiological methods. All inferential statistics were tested at P < 0.05. Results: Among clinically suspected patients, 85% (255/300) were mycologically confirmed to have onychomycosis. Aspergillus species were most commonly isolated n = 180 (71%) followed by dermatophytes, yeasts, and other molds n = 75 (29%). Of the patients having Aspergillus onychomycosis, 149 (83%) were in the > age group. In men, Aspergillus onycomycosis was seen in 82%. Among patients who had Aspergillus nail infection, 114 (63%) had diabetes for a period of > years. Among patients who were engaged in agricultural activities, 77% were confirmed to have 1 2 1 2 Aspergillus species: An emerging pathogen in onychomycosis among dia...

Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2013

Effective hand hygiene is essential for reducing healthcare associated infections. However, compl... more Effective hand hygiene is essential for reducing healthcare associated infections. However, compliance of healthcare workers to hand hygiene guidelines are reportedly poor. It is important therefore to instill adequate knowledge and good attitudes and practices at the time of primary training of the healthcare workers. This study was done to identify gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices to improve existing training programs and enhance good practices and working ethics in the future. A self-administered questionnaire based cross sectional study was done to compare the knowledge, attitudes, practices and satisfaction (KAPS) of facilities between final year medical and nursing students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Participants had moderate knowledge (77%) but attitudes, practices and satisfaction of facilities of all the participants was overall poor (<50%). However the nursing students had better knowledge (p=0.023), attitudes (p<0.001), practices (p<0.001) and satisfaction of facilities (p<0.001) compared with the medical students. The knowledge, attitudes, practices and satisfaction of facilities of medical and nursing students are unsatisfactory. The study shows the need for further improvement of the existing hand hygiene training programs to address the gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices. Further, there is a need to improve the facilities available for hand hygiene and make them readily accessible for students at their training centers to enable them to engage in good practices which will be beneficial for them as doctors and nurses in the future.

Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2014

Study design A descriptive cross sectional study conducted over a period of one year. Selection a... more Study design A descriptive cross sectional study conducted over a period of one year. Selection and distribution of participants Three hundred and eighty fi ve type 2 diabetic patients,

Faculty of Allied Health Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2021