10 research outputs found
Traumatic lung pathologies confused with COVID-19
While the COVID-19 pandemic affected the whole world, lung radiologic imaging has become widely used for diagnosis. Ground glass opacity is the most detected radiologic findings in pulmonary tomography. However, in the first 6-8 hours of CT scans of patients admitted to the hospital with injuries affecting the chest cavity, single or multiple patchy and/or diffuse ground-glass parenchymal infiltrates can be seen usually. Due to these appearances, it is necessary to eliminate COVID-19 in cases with a lung contusion. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients who presented with pulmonary trauma and were suspected of COVID-19 due to lung images. Between the March 2020 and December 2020 pandemic period, patients who applied to our hospital in emergency services due to trauma and who were discharged or hospitalized in COVID services or followed in intensive care units because COVID-19 could not be excluded due to lung tomography findings were included in the study. It was evaluated retrospectively with laboratory tests and thoracic CTs in patients over 18 years old. Fourteen cases were included in the study, seven of them were males (50%), with a mean age of 45 (19-74). The COVID-19 PCR result was negative for all patients except one patient (case 11) with lymphopenia. Peripherally located ground-glass opacity (GGO) (92.9%), subpleural line (85.7%), air bronchogram (64.3%), pleural thickening (64.3%), atelectasis (% 64.3), consolidation (50%), ground glass mixed consolidation (42.9%) was detected in chest CT cases. Eleven cases (78.6%) were hospitalized to the COVID service or intensive care unit. Thoracic CT images of patients with lung trauma may be confused with COVID-19. It is appropriate to evaluate the cases together with epidemiological data, clinical and laboratory findings. Lymphopenia may help physicians to consider the diagnosis of COVID-19 in trauma patients. [Med-Science 2022; 11(2.000): 712-6
Aspergillus And Nocardia Coinfection In A Patient With Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
In this report, we present a rare case of Aspergillus and Nocardia coinfection in a patient who underwent extensive immunosuppressive treatment due to graft versus host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We would like to emphasize the effect of targeted treatment on patient survival, and importance of collaboration between clinicians and laboratory professionals in providing early diagnosis even in rare infections.WoSScopu
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among Health Care Workers, Turkey
We investigated 9 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (1 fatal, 2 asymptomatic) among health care workers in Turkey. Needlestick injuries were reported for 4 workers. Eight received ribavirin. In addition to standard precautions, airborne infection isolation precautions are essential during aerosol-generating procedures. For postexposure prophylaxis and therapy, ribavirin should be given
Molecular characterization of HIV-1 in HBV +/- HDV/HCV co-infected HIV-1 positive patients in Turkey
Molecular characterization of HIV-1 in HBV +/- HDV/HCV co-infected HIV-1 positive patients in Turkey
Monitoring Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus RNA shedding in body secretions and serological status in hospitalised patients, Turkey, 2015
Introduction: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne
disease in Africa, Asia, the Balkan peninsula, the south-east of Europe
and the Middle East, with mortality rates of 3-30\%. Transmission can
also occur through contact with infected animals or humans. Aim: This
observational, prospective case series aimed to investigate detectable
viral genomic RNA in whole-body fluids and antibody dynamics in
consecutive daily samples of patients diagnosed with CCHF until
discharge from hospital. Methods: We tested 18 patients and 824 swabs
and sera with RT-PCR and 125 serum samples serologically. Results: The
longest duration until clearance of viral RNA was 18 days from serum
collection and 18, 15, 13, 19 and 17 days, respectively, from nasal,
oral, genital (urethral or vaginal) and faecal swab, and urine. In seven
patients, viral load decreased in serum at the same time as it increased
in urine or persisted at the same logarithmic values. Despite clearance
in serum, viral RNA was detected in faeces and genital swabs in two and
three patients, respectively. Viral clearance from body fluids occurred
earlier than from serum in eight patients on ribavirin treatment. The
shortest seroconversion time was 3 days after symptom onset for IgM and
IgG. Seroconversion of IgG occurred until Day 14 of symptoms.
Conclusion: We report persistence of viral RNA in urine, faeces and
genital swabs despite serum clearance. This may indicate a need for
extending isolation precautions, re-evaluating discharge criteria and
transmission risk after discharge, and considering oral swabs as a less
invasive diagnostic alternative
Awareness Of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation Among Physicians Administering Immunosuppressive Treatment And Related Clinical Practices
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge levels of all physicians administering immunosuppressive treatment concerning hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, and draw attention to the importance of the subject through evaluation. Methods: The study was carried out by infectious diseases and clinical microbiology specialists in 37 health centers, and it was performed in Turkey between January and March 2017. All specialists providing a written consent and working in the departments of Medical Oncology, Hematology, Dermatology and Venereology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology of each study center were included in the study. Results: A total of 430 physicians participated in the study. Their mean age was 39.87 +/- 7.42 years, and 47.9% of them were males. During their career, 39.3% of these physicians had encountered patients developing HBV reactivation while receiving immunosuppressive treatment. The rate of encountering patients who died due to HBV reactivation was 6.5%. 97% of physicians who participated, considered the risk of HBV reactivation to be important. 70.2% of physicians stated that guidelines related to HBV reactivation and antiviral treatment for these patients were discussed in the congresses they participated, regarding their specialties. The rate of performing hepatitis screening among physicians whose patients developed HBV reactivation was statistically significantly higher than those physicians who had no patients with HBV reactivation (p<0.05). Physicians who used the guidelines related to HBV reactivation in their specialties performed screening for the HBV infection much more often than physicians who did not use the guidelines (p=0.002). Conclusions: According to the results obtained in our study, the rates of conducting screening and awareness of HBV reactivation among physicians administering immunosuppressive treatment were higher compared with similar studies; however, their awareness that HBV DNA and anti-HBc should be utilized much more frequently among the serological tests they use for screening of HBV infection, should be increased.WoSScopu