Name: Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada (MedBound Handle: @hbdoctor)
Birth Place: Narnaul, India
Academic Qualification: MD
Languages you speak/write: Hindi, English
What do you do?
I am a practicing neonatologist in Illinois state, USA.
When or how did you get hooked to Microbiology? Was it love at the first sight or was it a 'chronic infection'?
I got hooked to microbiology right at the outset of my 2nd part of MBBS when they started teaching this subject. Looking at the slides through microscope and identifying ova and bugs in various samples was appealing enough. However, I must thank our teachers - particularly Dr Mrs. Narang, Dr. Deepak Narang, Dr. Padmakar Tripathi and Ramnani who made the subject very appealing to us. And then Microbiology textbook by Ananthanarayan and Paniker was a joy to read.
BACTERIA: Name 2-3 bacteria that you just love (in terms of professional affinity, teaching/handling/dealing with)? And why?
1. Diplococci, because of their shapes and they just stand apart.
2. Spirochetes: Its cryptic nature and the way mankind also wishes to deal it with cryptically
3. Listeria monocytogenes: the 'refrigerated' bug that causes havoc on pregnanct women and newborn babies.
The pathogenesis of which bacterium mesmerizes you? Or makes you hate so?
Mycobacterium leprae: An obtuse bacterium that refuses to go away.
VIRUSES: Name 2-3 viruses that you just love ( in terms of professional affinity, teaching/handling/dealing with)? And why?
1. Ebola
2. Varicella
3. Rubella virus: "Rubella parties" were specially devised by mankind to embrace this bugger!!
The pathogenesis of which viruses mesmerizes you? Or makes you hate so?
Parvovirus B19: the way it causes Fifth Disease to hemolytic anemia to arthritis.
PARASITES: Name 2-3 parasites that you just love ( in terms of professional affinity, teaching/handling/dealing with)? And why?
1. Entamoeba histolytica: A protozoan species that is so widely distributed if hygienic precautions are not observed.
2. Fasciola hepatica (Liver fluke)
3. Tenia solium: This tapework tells humans: You eat meat or uncooked meat and I follow you until your brain.
The pathogenesis of which parasite(s) mesmerizes you or makes it an enigma? Or makes you hate so?
Guinea worm disease caused by Dracunculus medinensis. The way the larvae develop in subcutaneus tissue to gain then entry into water shows ther evolutionary necessity.
MYCOLOGY: Name 2-3 fungi or related that you just love ( in terms of professional affinity, teaching/handling/dealing with)? And why?
Candida albicans
The pathogenesis of which fungi/related mesmerizes you or makes it an enigma? Or makes you hate so?
Aseptic meningitis caused by amoeba. To be more precise: Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri
What is your least favorite topic(s) in Microbiology?
None, however, I am more into bacterilogy than virology.
Who do you idolize in Microbiology? It could be a human or a bug. And why?
Leeuwenhoek Gerhard-Henrik Armauer Hansen who discovered the leprosy bacterium.
What is your comment when told that armadillos are hosts to Mycobacterium leprae!!
just as crazy as when you think bats harbor rabies viruses.
Has dealing with bugs made you too obsessed with handwashing and dealing with surfaces, etc.?
If you have microbiology in your blood, then you think of bugs all the time. Moreover, since I work with preemies and sick babies in the NICU, hence infection prevention is a big deal for us. We are used to do frequent handwashing.
Best/memorable moment?
When I aced my final exam in Microbiology.
If given a choice, what alternate career would you have opted for?
Public health
Finally, a Quote you relate to.
Related to micro: Bugs are ubiquitous
What else would you like to tell about yourself?
Microbiology/immunology is an essential component of medical practice.
(MedSight/BugPhilia/Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada)
