Microbiology

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

Profile of Department

  • The department of Microbiology was started at The Oxford Medical College in 2013. The Hospital Infection Control Committee(HICC) was started in 2020 as a part of Microbiology. Diagnostic services are delivered under various sections namely-Bacteriology, Virology/Serology, Parasitology, Mycology.
  • Department of Microbiology renders support under various national programmes such as ICTC councelling and testing for HIV as per National AIDS Control Organisation(NACO) Guidelines, and Molecular testing as part of National TB Elimination Programme(NTEP).
  • The Day to day update into the governtment portals for communicable diseases under IDSP is a continuous and on-going process.
  • The Microbiology department has received the ICMR Research grants which is the FIRST ICMR FUNDED RESEARCH STUDY IN THE OXFORD MEDICAL COLLEGE.
  • Additionally RGUHS Grant was also received for a student research project guided by the faculty of Microbiology, thus making it the only department to have received medical research funds both by National and state funding agencies in this year of 2025.

The department continues to deliver quality diagnostic, HICC and academic services during the year 2025.

1. VISION:

To deliver a quality healthcare service to the community through an efficient, effective diagnostic and academic activities.

To monitor and Prevent the Health Care associated Infections in the Organization.

2. MISSION:

  • To serve the patients with reliable and accurate reports and there by contributing to providing a quality healthcare.
  • To minimize the occurrence of Healthcare Associated Infections.
  • To teach the doctors of tomorrow with interactive and innovative methods.

3. OBJECTIVES:

  • To provide a wide range of diagnostic services: Bacteriology, Virology/Serology, Parasitology, Mycology.
  • To utilize the facilities of Molecular laboratory to include newer diagnostic parameters and encourage genetic research studies.
  • To teach the MBBS student with basic concepts in infectious disease processes and to facilitate effective learning of clinical subjects.

FACULTY

SL NO FACULTY DESIGNATION
1Dr Dhanalaxmi AProfessor & HOD
2Dr Rajini MPrincipal of Allied Health Sciences and Professor of Microbiology
3Dr Vivek HProfessor
4Dr Tanushree ZAssistant Professor
5Dr AfshanAssistant Professor
6Dr Grace Mary George
7Ms.PrathikshaTutor/Demonstrator
8Mr.As-AdTutor/Demonstrator

ACHIEVEMENT

RANKS & DISTINCTIONS SECURED BY STUDENTS

1. 2nd Year MBBS CBME batch 2023-24, Exam on July-Aug 2025:

  • Distinctions - 12
  • Percentage - 91%
  • Total Students- 141
  • Pass- 128
  • Fail-13

2. Post Graduate course in Medical laboratory Technology(MSc MLT) was started with one student- Ms Sowjanya.

MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT

1. World Malaria day

The world malaria day event was organized on 25th April by department of Microbiology .A quiz on malaria topic was conducted with four rounds with active participation by many participants ,followed by memory recall which all had to guess which is what and among us was another game conducted on topic malaria. It was a successful event.

MEMORY RECALL GAME

QUIZ


2. Patient safety Day

World patient safety week was observed on 18 September 2025. The Infection Control Team conducted various awareness activities.

NSI WORKSHOP AND SKIT BY IPC TEAM


RELEASE OF IPC- HANDBOOK-

A pocket sized handbook of protocols was released for the easy use of all health care professions

HAND HYGIENE GAME FOR POST GRADUATES

INFECTION CONTROL NURSE WAS SELECTED FOR BEST NURSE AWARD AND THE IPC TEAMS SECURED 2ND PLACE FOR BEST CHAPTER IN QUALITY ADHERENCE

An awareness video was presented by ICO, Principal of AHS,HOD Microbiology and Quality Head regarding the need and importance of following IPCguidelines by every health care professional. Additionally various IPC related trainings and mock drills were done by the faculty of Microbiology alongside the IPC team.

CODE ORANGE MOCK DRILLS WERE CONDUCTED IN MARCH AND JULY 2025


3. World Anti-microbial resistance Awareness week

World Anti-microbial resistance Awareness week (WAAW) was observed from November 18-24, 2025. The WHO theme for WAAW 2025 was Act Now, Protect our present, Secure our Future. Various activities were conducted in collaboration with Department of Pharmacology constituting the AMSP committee and the Infection Prevention and Control team. Placards were displayed to create awareness about the antibiotic resistance. Doctors have taken pledge for rational use of antibiotic and have pasted on a pledge wall. Skit was done to create awareness regarding the antimicrobial resistance.

CLINICIANS PLEDGE FOR JUDIOUS ANTIBIOTICS USUAGE

PLACARDS DISPLAY FOR AQMR AWARENESS

SKIT PRESENTATION



3. World AIDS day

On Dec 2nd at 12pm dept of Microbiology celebrated world AIDS day with theme Overcoming disruption and Aids response in the hospital lobby. The event begun with a welcome speech to all the audience followed by skit on above mentioned theme .A talk on AIDS awareness to all patients and staff along with non teaching staff present were enlightened and discussed on focusing on how all needs to know there status for HIV and get tested today. The event was successful.

HOST

TALK BY HOD

SKIT PRESENTATION

DEPARTMENT PHOTOS – With volunteers from Student Council.

ANY OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENT/FACULTY

  1. NABH activities- Dr Dhanalaxmi A is contributing as chapter leader for chapter 6 on Infection Prevention and Control and member of NABH Core Committee, member of Institutional Ethics Committee, Member secretary of IPC and AMSP committees. Instructor of ECLS.
  2. Dr Rajini serves as the Principal of Allied Health Sciences and as member of Scientific Review Committee, Anti-ragging committee, Library committee Member secretary of Gender harassment committee and is the Sports convener and Course Director for ECLS.
  3. Dr Tanushree is the Member secretary of IPC involved in NABH work as member of NABH Core Committee Member of AMSP committee and Instructor of ECLS
  4. NABH accreditation- renewal assessment was successfully faced on 3 -4 May 2025. Dr Tanushree as contributed as Infection control officer.
  5. NABL accreditation- renewal assessment was successfully faced on 19 -20 July 2025. Dr Afshan contributed as Technical manager

CONTRIBUTION OF ARTICLES BY FACULTY & STUDENTS

Research Activities:

Various research studies are undertaken by the staff. A total of 6 ongoing studies-

  1. NeoDx Point of Care Testing for the Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Multidrug Resistant Mutations in Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary Samples- by Dr Dhanalaxmi A.
  2. Rapid detection of Mycobacteria through Fluorescence Microscopy, confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its Rifampicin Resistance through TrueNat. A Point of Care Test by Dr Soumya, Ms Prathiksha
  3. Knowledge Attitude & Practice of Biomedical Waste Management among Health Care Workers in hospital in South India by Dr Tanushree Z, Ms Pavithra Balakrishnan
  4. Isolation and Identification of group B Streptococci by conventional Method ,Confirmation by Real Timr PCR and Determination of AST among Pregnant Women attending a tertiary care Hospital by Dr Grace Mary George, Dr Rajini Dr Krithika
  5. A clinicomycological profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal susceptibility in a tertiary care hospital by Dr Afshan.
  6. Hand hygiene is in Your Hands: Engaging individuals to Take Responsibility for safety "in a teaching hospital. Dr Tanushree zirwar, Dr Suneetha Raghu, Miss V Mounika

Publications:

  1. Pattern Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Icu Along With Concerns In Future.Vol. 32 No. 10 (2025): Jptcp Dr Tanushree Zirwar, Dr Afshan Gulruq Rahmath, Dr Rajini M
  2. To Study The Association Of Hba1c Levels With Asymptomatic Bacteriuria In Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Dr Akshaya Raveendra Japal, Dr Tanushree Zirwar , Dr Suma Dasaraju.
  3. Study On Blood Sample Rejection As A Quality Indicator For Continual Improvement Of Laboratory Services In A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital In Bangalore Vol. 32 No. 4 (2025): Jptcp Dr. Jaya Maisnam, Dr.Abirami P, Dr.Afshan Gulruq Rahmath

R & D Projects undertaken and conferences, seminars and symposiums participated

  1. NeoDx Point of Care Testing for the Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Multidrug Resistant Mutations in Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary Samples- by Dr Dhanalaxmi A. This Study has been approved by ICMR Grants under Extra-Mural studies. Fund for the first year is received and the study has started
  2. C- Reactive protein(CRP) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR) : A combined marker to differentiate between infectious and non- infectious inflammation in hemodialysis patients.- A research study by student Dhiyashree being guided by Dr Dhnalaxmi has received RGUHS, Grant.
  3. Dr Rajini was invited as judge for poster competition during Microcon - Karnataka Chapter held in Kidwai Memorial Hospital on 8-9 March 2025.
  4. Dr Rajini and Dr Dhanalaxmi attended CME conference on One Health- Act Together for One Health, at PES University Institute of Medical Sciences & research on 19th February 2025
  5. Dr Rajini and Dr Dhanalaxmi attended the Annual conference Microcon - Karnataka Chapter held in Kidwai Memorial Hospital on 8-9 March 2025.
  6. Dr Rajini and Dr Dhanalaxmi attended IAMM-KC CME conference on Unmasking Sepsis from Early clues to expert Care at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College,Kolar on 10th October 2025