İnfektif endokarditin epidemiyolojik, klinik ve prognostik sonuçları: 90 atağın retrospektif kohortu

To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic features, as well as the prognosis and long- term outcome of patients with infective endocarditis. Methods: The clinical records and follow-up data of 90 endocarditis episodes in 86 patients diagnosed with definite and possible infec- tive endocarditis according to the modified Duke criteria in a tertiary university hospital, between 1998 and 2016, were reviewed. Results: Fifty-six patients were male (65.1%), and the mean age was 49.9 ± 14.3. Native valve endocarditis constituted 62.2% of the cases, while the remaining patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis. The aortic (34.4%) and mitral (24.4%) valves were infected more frequently. Streptococci (27.7%) and staphylococci (24.4%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Embolic complications (35.5%) were the leading cause of morbidity, followed by valve insufficiency (28.8%) and heart failure (21.1%). Valve replacement surgery was performed in 28 patients (31%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 15.1% (n = 13). Chronic renal failure (P = .042) and degenerative valves (P = .036) were significantly associated with mortality. Among 43 of the 73 cases available for telephonic survey, 36 (83.7%) patients were alive and without disease, with a median follow-up of 52.9 (4-163) months. Twenty-five (69.4%) of these patients were younger than 55 years, and 24 (66.6%) had native valve endocarditis. Conclusion: Underlying cardiac conditions and chronic renal failure increase mortality in infective endocarditis, regardless of the patho- gen. Long-term survival seems promising in cases with native valve endocarditis and in younger patients with low rates of comorbidities.İnfektif endokardit tanısıyla izlenen hastaların epidemiyolojik, klinik, mikrobiyolojik, ekokardiyografik özellikleri, prognozu ve uzun dönem sonuçlarını değerlendirmek. Yöntemler: 1998 ve 2016 yılları arasında bir üniversite hastanesinde modifiye Duke kriterlerine göre kesin ve olası infektif endokardit tanısı konan 86 hastanın 90 endokardit atağının klinik kayıtları ve takip verileri retrospektif olarak incelendi. Bulgular: Çalışmamızda hastaların 56’sı (%65,1) erkek ve ortalama yaş 49,9 ± 14,3 idi. Doğal kapak endokarditi olguların %62,2’sini oluştururken, diğerlerinde protez kapak mevcuttu. En sık aort (%34,4) ve mitral (% 24,4) kapak tutulumu saptandı. Etken olarak strep- tokoklar (%27,7) ve stafilokoklar (%24,4) en sık izole edilen mikroorganizmalardı. Tüm komplikasyonlar içinde embolik komplikasyonlar (%35,5) ilk sırada yer almış, bunu kapak yetmezlikleri (%28,8) ve kalp yetmezliği (%21,1) izlemiştir. Hastaların 28’ine (%31) kapak replasman operasyonu yapılmış ve tüm hastalar içinde 13 hasta (%15,1) hastane takibinde kaybedilmiştir. Mortalite kronik böbrek yetmezliği (P = ,042) ve dejeneratif kapak hastalarında (P = ,036) istatistiksel olarak daha anlamlı bulundu. Taburculuk sonrası prognoz ve uzun dönem sonuçlar değerlendirildiğinde sağ kalan 73 hastanın 43’üne ulaşılabilmiş ve bu hastalardan 36’sının (%83,7) ortalama 52,9 ay (4-163) hayatta ve genel durumlarının iyi olduğu, 25 hastanın (%69,4) <55 yaş, 24’ünün (%66,6) doğal kapak endokarditi tanısıyla izlenmiş olduğu görülmüştür. Sonuç: İnfektif endokardit hastalarında altta yatan kalp hastalıkları ve kronik böbrek yetmezliği patojenden bağımsız olarak mortalit- eyi arttırmaktadır. Doğal kapak endokarditi ve komorbiditeleri daha az olan genç yaş hastalarda ise uzun dönem sağkalım umut verici görünmektedir

Heterologous booster COVID-19 vaccination elicited potent immune responses in HCWs

The objective of our study was to evaluate the antibody responses of health care workers (HCWs) who were vaccinated with booster dose BNT162b2 6 months after 2 doses of the CoronoVac vaccine. The study included 318 HCWs vaccinated with inactive CoronaVac SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in 2 doses. Anti-spike/RBD IgG levels were measured immediately before and 1 month after the booster dose. In the sixth month after CoronaVac vaccination, the median of antibody levels of 1212.02 AU/ML, while it was 9283 AU/mL after BNT162b2 vaccination. IgG antibody titers of over 1050 AU/mL (which is equivalent to 1:80 dilution in the plaque reduction neutralization test) were detected in HCWs 15.09% and 97.8%, respectively. Our results showed that antibody titers increased 8-fold after the booster dose. We believe that the administration of the mRNA vaccine as a booster dose can provide more effective protection against COVID-19 infection, especially in individuals with risk factors.IU-Cerrahpaşa Scientific Research Projects Uni

Waning immunity to inactive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthcare workers: Booster required

Aims Despite high vaccination rates, increasing case numbers continue to be reported with the identification of new variants of concern, and the issue of durability of the vaccine-induced immune response remains hot topic. Real-life data regarding time-dependent immunogenicity of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are scarce. We aimed to investigate the changes in the antibody at the different times after the second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine. Methods The study included 175 HCWs vaccinated with inactive CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in two doses. Anti-spike/RBD IgG levels were measured first, third, and sixth months after the second dose. Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (IgG II Quant test, Abbott, USA), which is 100% compatible with plaque reduction neutralization test, was used. Results Mean age of the participants was 38 +/- 11.23 years (range between 22 and 66) of whom 119 (63.9%) were female, and 56 (32%) were male. Dramatic reductions were demonstrated in median antibody levels particularly in the infection-naive group, comprising 138 HCWs compared to those with prior history of COVID-19 infection (n = 37) (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, blood groups, BMI, and comorbid diseases. Conclusions While antibody positivity remained above 90% in the 6th month after two doses of inactivated vaccine in HCWs, the median titers of neutralizing antibodies decreased rapidly. The decrease was more rapid and significant in those with no history of prior COVID-19 infection. In this critical phase of the pandemic, where we are facing the dominance of the Omicron variant after Delta, booster doses have become vital.IU-Cerrahpasa Scientific Research Projects Uni

Reducing blood culture contaminations by use of hair nets and face masks

We have read the article by Sanders et al. with great interest. We appreciate the authors for their stewardship to decrease blood culture contamination rate. We would like to address the etiological distribution before and after the addition of hair nets and masks in the study. We would expect oral streptococci to decrease proportionally by using masks, but this rate did not decrease (4.7% versus 6.3%). We think that if a control group was formed in which face masks and hair nets were not used during the intervention 2 and 3 phase, similar low contamination rates would have been obtained. Strict hand hygiene, proper use of gloves, proper skin antisepsis, and nonpalpation of the disinfected area are crucial to prevent contamination. In conclusion, skin contamination constitutes a significant proportion of false culture positivity rates and is still a major problem. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Bu gerçekten bir erizipel mi?

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma is characterized by red-brown plaques or nodules on the skin, may mimic skin and soft tissue infections and is usually related with high mortality. A case that was followed up as complicated erysipelas due to similar clinical findings but diagnosed as primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma with histopathological examination has been presented in this report. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 4(4): 168-169Primer kutanöz anaplastik büyük hücreli lenfoma, deride kırmızı-kahverengi plaklar veya nodüllerle karakterize olup deri-yumuşak doku enfeksiyonlarını taklit edebilmekte ve genellikle yüksek oranda mortaliteyle seyretmektedir. Bu yazıda benzeşen klinik bulguları nedeniyle komplike erizipel ön tanısıyla izlenen ancak histopatolojik inceleme ile primer kutanöz anaplastik büyük hücreli lenfoma tanısı konulan bir olgu sunulmuştur

Evaluation of Various Risk Factors for the Emergence of Resistance to Fluoroquinolones

The continuing emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones together with the widespread use is of great concern. To identify the risk factors associated with fluoroquinolone resistant gram-negative bacilli (GNB) infection, a prospective, unmatched, case-control study during a 16-month-period from November 2002 to March 2004 was conducted. A hundred and thirty patients, from whom fluoroquinolone resistant GNB were isolated, were compared with 50 control patients, from whom fluoroquinolone susceptible GNB were isolated. Potential risk factors were obtained through review of inpatient medical records and evaluated by statistical methods. Risk factors that were significantly associated with fluoroquinolone resistant GNB infection included presence of advanced age (p= 0.009), male sex (p< 0.001; OR 3.927; 95% CI 1.970-7.829), underlying malignancy (p= 0.026; OR 2.809; 95% CI 1.102-7.157), lower urinary system pathology (p= 0.009; OR 8.909; 95% CI 1.163-68.269), prior surgical operation (p= 0.012; OR 2.406; 95% CI 1.200-4.828), prior use of fluoroquinolones (p< 0.001; OR 7.563; 95% CI 3.015-18.970), attendence to urology clinics (p= 0.003; OR 3.039; 95% CI 1.432-6.451), urinary catheterization (p= 0.004; OR 2.649; 95% CI 1.356-5.174), extendedspectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella spp. as infecting pathogen (p= 0.001; OR 6.000; 95% CI 1.756-20.501) and the resistance to other antibiotics than carbapenems (p< 0.05). In multivariate analysis, male gender (p= 0.008; OR 0.337; %95 CI 0.151-0.749), history of quinolone usage (p= 0.001; OR 0.170; %95 CI 0.059-0.494) and ESBL positive E. coli or Klebsiella spp. as responsible microorganisms (p= 0.038; OR 0.239; %95 CI 0.062-0.921) were identified as independent risk factors for quinolone resistance

A prospective pharmacovigilance study in the infectious diseases unit of a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: The frequency, causality, severity, preventability and risk factors of ADRs (adverse drug reactions) in infectious disease units are not well defined in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the ADRs encountered in an infectious disease unit of a tertiary teaching hospital. Methodology: The patients who were admitted to the infectious disease unit of a tertiary teaching hospital longer than 24 hours between January and December of 2016 were followed prospectively. Patients were observed and questioned for any sign of ADRs. The proportion of ADRs and patient characteristics were investigated. Causality was evaluated by the Naranjo algorithm, severity was determined using the Hartwig classification, and preventability was assessed using the Schumock and Thornton scale. Results: 210 patients were admitted to the unit during the study period, of whom 44 patients (20.9%) experienced 51 ADRs. 5.9% of ADRs were found to be serious according to the Hartwig severity classification. In addition, 88.1% of ADRs were not preventable. The most frequently detected ADR was skin and subcutaneous tissue reactions (33.3%), and systemic antimicrobials were the most common type of drugs that caused an ADR. Prolonged hospitalization (p < 0.001) and usage of an increased number of drugs (p < 0.001) were found to be significant risk factors for ADR development. Conclusions: Prolonged hospital stay and polypharmacy are significant risk factors that increase the incidence of ADRs in infectious disease units. The likelihood of unavoidable ADRs should arouse the attention of clinicians when prescribing antimicrobials

COVID-19 and Plasmodium ovale Malaria: A Rare Case of Co-Infection

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major health problem worldwide. Timely diagnosis of co-infections mimicking COVID-19, such as malaria, might be challenging particularly in non-endemic areas. We report the first case of COVID-19 and Plasmodium ovale malaria co-infection from our region aiming to highligt the importance of travel history and prophylaxis in malaria management in the context of pandemic. The galloping sound can sometimes be a harbinger of zebra besides the horse