Annapoorana Medical College and Hospitals

From Laboratory Precision to Clinical Excellence

The Department of Microbiology, Annapoorana Medical College & Hospitals, Salem, proudly announces the successful graduation of the first batch of Postgraduate students (M.D. Microbiology)—a significant academic milestone reflecting the department’s growth, academic rigor, and commitment to excellence in medical education.

The M.D. Microbiology programme is conducted in accordance with National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations and is structured on the principles of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME). The curriculum is designed to provide comprehensive training in diagnostic microbiology, laboratory quality systems, emerging technologies, and molecular diagnostics, complemented by structured clinical postings in hospital wards and intensive care units.

This integrated training model equips postgraduate students with critical competencies in infectious disease evaluation, clinico-microbiological correlation, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control (IPC), and hospital epidemiology. Through interdisciplinary learning, continuous formative and summative assessments, and extensive hands-on exposure, the programme ensures the development of competent, ethical, and practice-ready clinical microbiologists capable of addressing contemporary healthcare challenges.

The department strongly encourages postgraduate students to engage in national and international academic conferences, certified workshops, and structured hands-on training programs to enhance their theoretical knowledge, advance their technical proficiency in laboratory-based methodologies, and remains aligned with evolving standards and innovations in clinical microbiology.

Postgraduate Research &Presentations:

Department of Microbiology, AMCH,

Introduction

Welcome to the Department of Microbiology, AMCH, a comprehensive multidisciplinary academic and diagnostic unit encompassing:Bacteriology | Mycobacteriology | Virology | Parasitology | Mycology | Immunology | Serology | Molecular Biology | Infection Control & Antimicrobial Stewardship

The department has evolved steadily over the years and is presently supported by experienced faculty, skilled technical personnel, and dedicated non-teaching staff. It offers excellent opportunities for research in infectious diseases, with consistent scholarly output. Between 2011 and 2025, the department has published 24 research articles in reputed national and international journals.

The department currently caters to MBBS students, M.D. Microbiology postgraduates, and B.Sc. MLT & other Allied health students.

During the II MBBS phase, teaching is integrated with diagnostics and research exposure, fostering early academic curiosity and scientific thinking among undergraduate students.

AMCH is equipped with a state-of-the-art Skill Laboratory, providing a safe and structured environment for training both medical and paramedical personnel.

Laboratory Strengths & Accreditations

The Central Microbiology Laboratory is equipped with international-standard diagnostic platforms, emphasizing quality assurance, automation, and rapid turnaround time, including:

·         Automated Blood Culture System (BacT/ALERT)

·         ELISA Flow Stations

·         Fully functional Molecular Diagnostic Facility

The Molecular Biology Laboratory, established and strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, is NABL-accredited for RT-PCR testing of COVID-19.

NABL Accreditation: ISO 15189:2022

First Accreditation Date: 22 September 2020&Current accreditation continuing till 2028

NABL Certificate Number: MC-3708

Aim of theM.D.MicrobiologyProgramme:

The M.D. Microbiology programme is a three-year postgraduate course affiliated with The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. The aim is to train medical graduates in clinical and diagnostic microbiology and infectious diseases, with a strong emphasis on patient care, infection control, and public health relevance.

Students acquire in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical expertise across all microbiology disciplines, along with training in research methodology, enabling them to undertake fundamental and applied research. The programme also prepares graduates for academic and teaching roles in medical and allied health sciences.

Goal of the Programme

In alignment with CBME principles, the goal of postgraduate education is to produce a competent clinical microbiologist and medical educator who:

·         Recognizes and addresses community health needs

·         Practices ethically and professionally

·         Functions effectively at secondary and tertiary healthcare levels

·         Demonstrates proficiency in diagnostic microbiology

·         Contributes to infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and policy implementation

·         Knowledge transfer is facilitated through didactic lectures, integrated teaching, seminars, journal clubs, case discussions, and hands-on laboratory training.

Infrastructure&Departmental Facilities

1.      Students’ Practical Laboratory

·         Accommodates up to 75 students

·         Equipped with high-quality binocular microscopes, including dark-ground microscopy

2.      Museum

·         Curated collection of charts and models for self-directed learning

3.      Department Library

·         164 textbooks

·         Access to latest national and international journals

·         Audio-visual learning aids

4.      Demonstration / Seminar Hall

·         Seating capacity: 90

·         Fully equipped with AV facilities

5.      Research Laboratory

·         Advanced instruments supporting postgraduate and faculty research

6.      Specialty Laboratories (as per NMC norms)

·         Immunology

·         Serology

·         Aerobic Bacteriology

·         Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

·         Mycobacteriology

·         Mycology

·         Parasitology

·         Molecular Biology

7.      Faculty & Postgraduate Rooms

·         Spacious, well-ventilated, and dedicated workspaces

Publications & Research Projects

Faculty

·         21 completed research projects and 1 ongoing project

·         24 original research articles, 2 review articles, 1 case report, and 2 case series published in national and international journals

Postgraduates

·         2 dissertations completed and submitted

·         4 ongoing thesis projects

·         2 original research studies underway

·         2 original research publications by postgraduate students

Awards & Achievements – Faculty

Awards – Students

Students S. Vishambhar, U. M. Ramkrishna, and Nikhil S. Nair won the Bronze Medal at NRIC-2016 (Novel Research and Innovation Competition) held at UniversitiSains Malaysia for their project “Hand Hygiene – Need of the Hour”, under the guidance of Dr. B. Usha, Professor of Microbiology and Dean, AMCH.

Available Diagnostic Facilities

       I.            Central Clinical Microbiology Laboratory :

Provides 24×7 diagnostic services with expertise in:

·         Bacteriology

·         Virology

·         Parasitology

·         Infectious Disease Serology

·         Hepatitis & HIV

·         Mycology &Mycobacteriology

·         Media Preparation & Specimen Processing

·         The laboratory integrates culture methods, immunoassays, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and molecular diagnostics to guide evidence-based patient management.

    II.            Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory

A Biosafety Level-2 (BSL-2) laboratory, designed as per WHO and NABL guidelines, with physically segregated zones for:

·         Reagent Preparation

·         RNA Extraction

·         PCR Amplification

·         Post-PCR Analysis

·         Equipped with QuantStudio-5, Truenat, Biosafety Cabinets, Refrigerated Centrifuges, and supported by trained NABL-certified personnel.

III.            Quality Control & Assurance

·         Enrolled in External Quality Assurance Schemes (EQAS) by CMC Vellore for bacteriology, serology, and virology

·         Participates in Inter-Laboratory Quality Control (ILQC) for molecular diagnostics

·         Robust internal quality control systems ensuring accuracy, reliability, and patient safety

Department of Microbiology Publications till December 2025:

Faculties Publication:

I.            Faculties Original Research Publication:

1. Balasundaram, Usha&Natarajan, Shanmuga. (2016). Does structured educational intervention programme lead to sustainable knowledge improvement on infection control practices among under graduate medical students?. Infection, Disease & Health. 21. 125. 10.1016/j.idh.2016.09.042
2. N. ShanmugaVadivoo, K. Sujatha, N.V.K.Sridevi, R. Sharda, M. Niranjana.Ten year study of fungal keratitis at a Tertiary care centre, National journal of Basic medical sciences, Oct-Dec 2012, Volume - III, Issue- 2,149-153.
3. ShanmugaVadivooNatarajan, Sridevi V.K Nemani, , K. Sujatha, Rewa D Sharda , M. Niranjana, M. Bhavani Analysis on frequency of Imipenem resistant gram negative bacilli at a tertiary care centre. Online journal of biosciences and informatics, vol: 5, issue 3, 2013.page 537-548.
4. N. ShanmugaVadivoo, M. Niranjana, Rewa D Sharda, K. Sujatha, M.Bavani.Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a Tertiary Care Centre – a Retrospective and Prospective study. IJSRR 2013, 3(1), 79- 88.
5. Vadivoo NS, Santharam P, Sudha K, Kalaiselvi G, Padmavathi B, Usha B, Kumar A, Jaiswalnk. Dynamic bacterial profile of endotracheal aspirates and its sensitivity pattern –a cause of concern. ijcrr. 2014; 6(10): 112-119. 
6. Dr.N.ShanmugaVadivoo M.D, Sharda.D. Rewa  ,Kolukula .Sujatha  , MahalingamNiranjana ,BavaniManivannan&Nemani.V.KSridevi  .Antibiogram Analysis and Altering Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Multidrug ResistantPathogens . GJMR(2014) Volume 14 Issue 4.Page 23-33
7. Dr. N. ShanmugaVadivoo, Dr. B. Usha& Dr. B. K Padmavathi-Assessment of Clinician’s Knowledge and Perception on Antimicrobial Resistance a Primary Strategy for Antimicrobial  Resistance Control- Global journal of Medical research .GJMR Volume 15(2015) Issue 4 Page 9-14
8. ShanmugaVadivooNatarajan, G. Kalaiselvi, B. Usha and B.K. Padmavathi .Periodic Surveillance of Systemic Infection Antibiogram a Necessity – A Retrospective and Prospective Study Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(12): 277-290
9. Natarajan, Shanmuga&Dhanasekar, Usha. (2016). Trends in antibiotic resistance pattern against ESKAPE pathogens from tertiary care teaching institute – South India. Infection, Disease & Health. 21. 142-143. 10.1016/j.idh.2016.09.118
10. N ShanmugaVadivoo, B Usha. ESKAPE pathogens: Trends in antibiotic resistance pattern.MedPulse International Journal of Microbiology. September 2018;7(3): 26-32. https://www.medpulse.in/Microbiology.
11. Vadivoo NS, Usha B, Sudha K. Study to assess quality of antimicrobial use by point prevalence survey at a tertiary care centre.Indian J Microbiol Res.2019;6(3):245-252.
12. Kalaiselvi G, Shanmugavadivoo N, Padmavathi B. K, Usha B.CHANGING PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILES BY UROPATHOGENS – A STUDY IN INDIA. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 2015;Vol- 4, Issue 65, Page: 11342-11351
13. BhavaniManivannan, Deepak Gowda, PradeepBulagonda,AbhishekRao, SaiSuguna, ShanmugaVadivooNatarajan. Surveillance, Auditing and Feedback (SAF) approach can reduce Surgical Site Infection (SSI) to an extremely low level – Towards Zero SSI.Surgical infections,Volume-19,Number-3, 2018
14. Sudha Krishnan, PriyaSantharam , N. Shanmugavadivoo and B. Usha. Prevalence of Non-Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli and their Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tamilnadu, India. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(2): 2751-2758
15. PriyaSantharam, Sudha K, Shanmugavadivoo N, Usha B, Padmavathi B K.Active Surveillance Of Endo-Tracheal Aspirates From Mechanically Ventilated Patients In Intensive Care Unit At A Tertiary Care Center.National journal of Basic medical sciences, Volume 8, Issue 3, January - March 2018
16. ShanmugaSundaramRajamani, Sudha Krishnan, Shankar Radhakrishnan. Efficacy of dark field microscopy and igm-elisa in the detection of leptospirosis Volume 3 Issue65 Pages3542-3546
17. VigneshKannaBalaji, K. Sudha, B. Usha  Rectal Carriage of CarbapenemaseProducingEnterobacteriaceae in Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital. ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 06 (2019)
18. Sunil Indernath, R.IndraPriyadharsini, M. Manikkanan, S VinodBabu  Prevalence and phenotypic characterization of ESBL producing E.coli and Klebsiella among the fecal isolates of normal population, Indian Journal of Microbiology Research, January-March, 2018;5(1):52-56
19. Rajkumar S, Shanmugam S., Prabhurajan R and Thirunavukkarasu P. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Acinetobacterbaumannii from a major diagnostic laboratory in Coimbatore city South India. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 8, Issue,7, pp.18347-18351,July 2017
20. RajanPrabhurajan, R. Mary Esther Selvam, KesavaramPadmavathy. Lower incidence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella Typhi in blood cultures of pediatric patients with typhoid fever in South India. Drug Invention Today | Vol 14 • Issue 6 • 2020
21. RajanPrabhurajan, KesavaramPadmavathy, R. Mary Esther Selvam, JayamathiGovindaraj. Antibacterial efficacy of methanol extract of mango kernel against blood culture isolates of Salmonella Typhi. Drug Invention Today | Vol 14 • Issue 5 • 2020
22. Sunil Indernath,Sudha K, Shanmugavadivoo N.,Usha B.,VinodBabu SA prospective study on the quantification of anti-HBs antibody titers of vaccinated health care workers in a tertiary care teaching hospital by using automated enzyme linked fluorescent assay.International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health 2023Jan;10(1):250-253http://www.ijcmph.com

23.  ShanmugaVadivoo, N., Sudha, K., &Usha, B. (2024). Assessment of Smartphone Medical Applications as a Self-Directed Learning Tool for Medical Students and Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship—A KAP Survey. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 11; 1, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1177/23821205241235014

24.  Sudha K,Shanmugavadivoo N, Indernath S. Prevalence of mupirocin resistance in methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at tertiary care teaching hospital, Tamil Nadu. IP Int J Med Microbiol Trop Dis 2024; 10(2):120-122.

II.            REVIEW ARTICLE

1. B.Usha, N. Shanmugavadivoo, K.Sudha.Pandora’s box – Another Novel Coronavirus. National Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. 2020: Volume 10 ; Issue 3 ;97-106.
2. N.Shanmugavadivoo, B.Usha, K.Sudha. A comprehensive review of current microbiological detection methods of SARS CoV-2. IndianJMicrobiol Res 2020;7(2):1-12

III.            Case Reports & Case series:

1.      ShanmugaVadivooNatarajan, N. SasiRekha, Rewa D. Sharda, NiranjanaMahalingamColletotrichum keratitis: A Rare but Definite Clinical Entity. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2013 Jul, Vol-7(7): 1430-1433. PMCID: PMC3749653.

2.      Natarajan SV, Usha B. Rhino-Orbital COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis- A Case Report. IP Int J Med Microbiol Trop Dis 2021; 7(4):304-307. 

3.      Vadivoo N S,Usha B, SudhK.Cutaneous Diphtheria: An Overlooked Skin and Soft Tissue Infection – A Case Series from India.JASPI. 2025; 3(4)19-25 DOI: 10.62541/jaspi107

Post Graduates Publication:

Post Graduates Original Research Publication:

1.      BlessinaPaulin T, G. Vijayarani, G. Sasikala, N. ShanmugaVadivoo, K. Sudha, B. Usha . Prescribing trends of WHO recommended AWaRe group of antibiotics at a Tertiary care teaching centre. International Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol 15, Issue 2, April - June, 2025 .2531-2535

2. Vijayarani G, Paulin BT, Sudha K, Vadivoo NS, Sasikala G, Usha B. Antibiotic usage in surgical prophylaxis: a prospective observational study in the surgical wards of a tertiary care hospital. Int J Res Med Sci 2025; 13:4049-53.  

Department of Microbiology Completed &Ongoing Research Projects List:

CompletedPost Graduate Dissertation projects

1.      Antibiotic susceptibility pattern & Molecular analysis of Mec A and Panton Valentine toxin genes among the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from a tertiary care hospital.(Principle Investigator –Dr.Banusri)

2.      Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Carbapenem Resistance Mechanism in Klebsiella Species from Various Clinical Samples(Principle Investigator –Dr.Shirleymaryan)

Completed Post Graduate – Short Research projects

3.      Phenotypic & Genotypic detection of Amp C beta lactamase producing Gram negative clinical isolates in a tertiary care hospital.(Principle Investigator –Dr.Banusri)

4.      Qualitative Detection of Biofilm Production from Chronic Wound Infections (Principle Investigator –Dr.Shirleymaryan)

Ongoing Post Graduate -Dissertation projects

1.      Molecular Detection of RSV, Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 Co-Infections in Patients with Respiratory Tract Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital(Principle Investigator –Dr.Sabarinathan)

2.      Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical Specimens from a Tertiary Care Centre in South India with Special Reference to Carbapenemase Detection(Principle Investigator –Dr.Soundarya.G)