Hematological Manifestations in Brucellosis Cases in Turkey

The hematological findings of 233 patients with brucellosis are presented and the possible pathologies discussed. Anemia was present in 128 patients (55%), leukopenia in 49 (21%) and thrombocytopenia in 59 (26%). Bone marrow aspirates of 18 patients (8%) with pancytopenia were examined. The bone marrow was hypercellular in 15 and normocellular in 3 patients. Granulomatous lesions were detected in 12 cases (67%), and slight to moderate cytophagocytosis of erythrocytes, granulocytes and platelets existed in all patients. Blood cell counts reverted to normal within 2-3 weeks of initiating chemotherapy with recovery from the disease.</p

Cutaneous manifestations of anthrax in Eastern Anatolia: a review of 39 cases.

Anthrax is essentially a disease of grazing herbivorous animals. The most common form of the disease is cutaneous anthrax, which accounts for 95% of all cases. We report here 39 cutaneous anthrax cases in humans that were seen in Eastern Anatolia over a six-year period. The clinical presentation was malignant edema in 16 of the cases (41%) and malignant pustule in 23 (59%). A secondary bacterial infection was present in 13 patients (33.3%) in the vicinity of the lesions. The agent was observed using Gram-stained smears in 25 patients (64%), and Bacillus anthracis was isolated from 15 patients (38.5%). All of the patients were treated with penicillin G or penicillin procaine, except one patient who had a penicillin allergy. One patient with cervical edema (2.5%) died as a result of laryngeal edema and sepsis syndrome. In conclusion, we found that the appearance of the skin lesion of cutaneous anthrax may vary, and this fact, combined with the rarity of this disease, which contributes to a general lack of experience among medical personnel, may make diagnosis difficult in nonagricultural settings</p

Use of the Brucella IgM and IgG flow assays in the serodiagnosis of human brucellosis in an area endemic for brucellosis

The clinical utility of two complementary tests for brucellosis, the Brucella IgM and IgG flow assays, was evaluated in a hospital in eastern Turkey. The results show that the flow assays are convenient diagnostic tests for use in endemic areas. A positive result in the flow assays was obtained in 91% and 97% of the admission sera from adult and pediatric patients with brucellosis, respectively, and the sensitivity at admission was 100% for culture-confirmed brucellosis. The assay system performed equally well in diagnosing patients at different stages of illness including patients with acute, subacute, or chronic disease and with relapse. The results of the flow assays correlated well with those of a serum agglutination test at a cut-off > or =1:160. The agreement was 92%. Application of the flow assays on serum samples collected during a village survey for brucellosis after an outbreak demonstrated their diagnostic potential as field test

Investigation of 1377C/T Polymorphism of the Toll-Like Receptor 3 Among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

The immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been clarified yet. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are a receptor family that initiates immunity with exogenous-endogenous ligands and plays a role in the pathogenesis of infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of TLR 3 1377C/T (rs3775290) polymorphism and its role in patients with CHB. We included 50 healthy individuals as control group and 73 active and 43 inactive hepatitis B patients. All DNA samples were isolated from blood samples. For the detection of TLR 3 1377C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism, restriction fragment length polymorphism was used. A statistically significant difference was determined in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels of CHB patients with the CC, CT, and TT genotypes (p = 0.013). The highest levels of HBV DNA were detected in individuals with TT genotypes. Additionally, the frequency of CC genotype was higher in the active CHB patients compared with that of the inactive CHB patients (p = 0.044). No statistically significant difference in TLR 3 1377C/T polymorphism was detected between healthy controls and the hepatitis B patients (p = 0.342). In conclusion, HBV DNA level was higher in the individuals with TT genotype, and CC genotype was more frequent in the active CHB patients. These results suggest a possible association between CHB and TLR 3 gene (1377C/T) polymorphism.Wo

Metallobeta-Lactamase Enzymes and Antibiotic Susceptibilities in Strains of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Intensive Care Units in Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of metallobeta-lactamase (MBL) enzyme in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenem (imipenem or/and meropenem) in seven regions of Turkey and to assess the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of drugs used in treatment such as colistin, aztreonam, polymyxin B and rifampin. Overall 186 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) strains resistant to carbapenem from 8 provinces (Ankara, Konya, Antalya, Istanbul, izmir, Diyarbakir, Van and Trabzon) representing 7 different geographical regions of Turkey were included in the study. Material and Methods: The presence of MBL in P.aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenem was investigated by combined disk methods with imipenem and EDTA absorbed imipenem disk. The MBL positivity was determined in the strains. Additionally, susceptibility to aztreonam, colistin, polymyxin B, and rifampin was established by the E-test method. Results: MBL enzyme positivity was detected in 58 out of 186 strains (31.2%). There was statistically significant difference between regions in terms of MBL positivity, with the highest rates in Antalya (52%), and Istanbul (50%) and the lowest in Diyarbakir (6%). Aztreonam sensitivity was detected in 134 (72%) strains; 155 (83.3%) were sensitive to colistin and 148 (79.6%) to polymixine. No strain (0%) was sensitive to rifampin. Conclusion: In conclusion, the overall mean rate of MBL positivity was 31.2%, which is quite high. Therefore, it will be beneficial to confirm the MBL positivity of strains with molecular methods, to review regional antibiotic surveillance data at certain intervals and to share the obtained data with relevant institutions in order to prevent the regional spread of these strains. Thus, it is essential to record and monitor systematically the antibiotic surveillance data

Metallobeta-Lactamase Enzymes and Antibiotic Susceptibilities in Strains of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Intensive Care Units in Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of metallobeta-lactamase (MBL) enzyme in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenem (imipenem or/and meropenem) in seven regions of Turkey and to assess the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of drugs used in treatment such as colistin, aztreonam, polymyxin B and rifampin. Overall 186 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) strains resistant to carbapenem from 8 provinces (Ankara, Konya, Antalya, Istanbul, izmir, Diyarbakir, Van and Trabzon) representing 7 different geographical regions of Turkey were included in the study. Material and Methods: The presence of MBL in P.aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenem was investigated by combined disk methods with imipenem and EDTA absorbed imipenem disk. The MBL positivity was determined in the strains. Additionally, susceptibility to aztreonam, colistin, polymyxin B, and rifampin was established by the E-test method. Results: MBL enzyme positivity was detected in 58 out of 186 strains (31.2%). There was statistically significant difference between regions in terms of MBL positivity, with the highest rates in Antalya (52%), and Istanbul (50%) and the lowest in Diyarbakir (6%). Aztreonam sensitivity was detected in 134 (72%) strains; 155 (83.3%) were sensitive to colistin and 148 (79.6%) to polymixine. No strain (0%) was sensitive to rifampin. Conclusion: In conclusion, the overall mean rate of MBL positivity was 31.2%, which is quite high. Therefore, it will be beneficial to confirm the MBL positivity of strains with molecular methods, to review regional antibiotic surveillance data at certain intervals and to share the obtained data with relevant institutions in order to prevent the regional spread of these strains. Thus, it is essential to record and monitor systematically the antibiotic surveillance data

Evaluation of Antibiotic Susceptibilities and VISA-VRSA Rates Among MRSA Strains Isolated from Hospitalized Patients in Intensive Care Units of Hospitals in Seven Provinces of Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine whether vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin intermediate susceptible S.aureus (VISA) strains were present among methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from patients hospitalised at intensive care units (ICU) of hospitals located at different regions of Turkey and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, quinupristin-dalfopristin and daptomycin, which are alternative drugs for the treatment of MRSA infections. A total of 260 MRSA clinical strains (isolated from 113 lower respiratory tract, 90 blood, 24 wound, 17 catheter, 13 nasal swabs, two urine and one CSF sample) were collected from nine health-care centers in eight provinces [Ankara (n=52), Konya (n=49), Antalya (n=40), Istanbul (n=7), Izmir (37), Diyarbakir (n=15), Van (n=12), Trabzon (n=48)] selected as representatives of the seven different geographical regions of Turkey. Methicillin resistance was determined by cefoxitin disk diffusion in the hospitals where the strains were isolated and confirmed by oxacillin salt agar screening at the Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency. Screening for VISA and VRSA was conducted using the agar screening test and E-test. Susceptibility of the MRSA strains to other antibiotics was also determined by E-test method. None of the 260 MRSA strains were determined to be VRSA or VISA. All were susceptible to teicoplanin and linezolid, and susceptibility rates to daptomycin, tigecycline and quinupristin-dalfopristin were 99.6%, 96.9%, and 95%, respectively. Absence of VISA and VRSA among the MRSA strains surveyed currently seemed hopeful, however, continuous surveillance is necessary. In order to prevent the development of VISA and VRSA strains the use of linezolid, tigecycline, quinupristin-dalfopristin and daptomycin should be encouraged as alternative agents of treatment of MRSA infections

Six-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infection rates in 727 intensive care units of 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific Regions: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings

Short-term peripheral venous catheter-related bloodstream infection (PVCR-BSI) rates have not been systematically studied in resource-limited countries, and data on their incidence by number of device days are not available. Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013, to May 31, 2019, in 727 intensive care units (ICUs), by members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. For this research, we applied definition and criteria of the CDC NHSN, methodology of the INICC, and software named INICC Surveillance Online System. We followed 149,609 ICU patients for 731,135 bed days and 743,508 short-term peripheral venous catheter (PVC) days. We identified 1,789 PVCR-BSIs for an overall rate of 2.41 per 1,000 PVC days. Mortality in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 6.67%, and mortality was 18% in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. The length of stay of patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.83 days, and the length of stay was 9.85 days in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. Among these infections, the microorganism profile showed 58% gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (16%), Klebsiella spp (11%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6%), Enterobacter spp (4%), and others (20%) including Serratia marcescens. Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant gram-positive bacteria (12%). PVCR-BSI rates in INICC ICUs were much higher than rates published from industrialized countries. Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of PVCR-BSIs in resource-limited countries