A Prospective Study of Etiology of Childhood Acute Bacterial Meningitis, Turkey

Vaccines to prevent bacterial meningitis in this region must provide reliable protection against serogroup W-135

In Vitro Activity Of Tigecycline Against Brucella Spp.

Objectives: There are no published data regarding efficacy of tigecycline in brucellosis and in vitro data are scarce. We compared the in vitro activity of tigecycline to that of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampicin, tetracycline, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin against Brucella spp. Study Design: In vitro activities of tigecycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampicin, tetracycline, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin were evaluated against 96 strains of Brucella spp. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by the E-test method. Results: Tigecycline had low MIC(50) and MIC(90) values against all Brucella isolates; the highest MIC observed was 0.19 mu g/mL. Conclusion: Tigecycline had low MICs against Brucella spp. including tetracycline-resistant isolates and its use in therapy should be confirmed by clinical studies.Wo

Evaluation Of A Chromogenic Medium For Rapid Detection Of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Salmonella Spp.

Background & objectives: Salmonella spp. resistant to second- and third-generation cephalosporins and related antibiotics by production of various extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are on the rise in Turkey. Early detection of ESBL producing Salmonella is important to institute appropriate treatment in time. In this study rapid detection of ESBL production among clinical isolates of Salmonella was evaluated using double-disk synergy test in a new chromogenic medium. The colour of the medium changes from red to yellow with bacterial growth and red circular inhibition zones are produced around disks containing antibacterials. Methods: A total of 182 clinical isolates of Salmonella were evaluated in this study. The presence of ESBLs in clinical isolates was determined by double-disk synergy test using Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar and Quicolor E&S agar plates. Results: Six isolates were shown to harbour ESBL enzymes with double disk synergy test by Mueller Hinton agar. The same results were obtained using Quicolor E&S agar after 4-6 h by changing its colour in response to the metabolic activity of growing bacteria. Interpretation & conclusion: Our findings showed that with this new medium, the results can be evaluated rapidly within 4-6 h and the enhancement of inhibition zones can be easily detected with the colour changes thus enabling the treating physician to institute the right treatment regimen immediately.Wo

In vitro susceptibility of respiratory isolates of streptococcus pneumoniae and streptococcus pyogenes to telithromycin and 11 other antimicrobial agents: Turkish results of E-Baskett-II Surveillance Study

WOS: 000246531100001PubMed ID: 17427547In respiratory tract infections, therapy is often empirical and there is a need for local data on the rate of resistance to available antimicrobials. In this multicentre study which is a part of the international e-BASKETT-II surveillance study, respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=260) and Streptococcus pyogenes (n=312) collected between September 2002 and June 2003 from 18 hospitals in Turkey were tested against penicillin G, amoxicillin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, telithromycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin and vancomycin. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined with disk diffusion method and confirmed with broth dilution method following the CLSI guidelines. Isolates which were resistant to erythromycin were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. In S.pneumoniae 11.5% of the isolates were highly and 22.7% were intermediately resistant to penicillin. Rate of resistance to erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin was 17.3%, and 21.5% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline. Resistance to levofloxacin and vancomycin was not observed and only one isolate was found intermediately resistant (MIC=2 mu g/mL) to telithromycin. Genotypes in erythromycin-resistant isolates were ermB (77.8%), mefA (17.8%) and ermB+mefA (2.2%). S.pyogenes isolates were uniformly susceptible to beta-lactams and vancomycin, and only one isolate was intermediately resistant to levofloxacin. Macrolide resistance was observed in 1.3% of the isolates and three out of these harboured the mefA gene. One isolate with an MIC of 4 mu g/mL for telithromycin had ermB gene. Telithromycin has demonstrated a good in vitro activity against macrolide-resistant respiratory tract isolates. As a result, e-BASKETT-II surveillance study has been one of the most extensive in vitro studies comparing telithromycin to available antimicrobial agents for respiratory tract infections in Turkey

Macrolide Resistance Determinants in Erythromycin-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Turkey

To determine the major molecular mechanisms of macrolide resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Turkey, we examined a total of 151 isolates collected from different regions of Turkey. Overall, 40 (26.4%) isolates were resistant to erythromycin. The most common mechanism (38/40) was target site modification due to erm (B) genes. Only two isolates hat-bored the mef(A)/(E) efflux gene. A clonal spread of resistant strains could not be demonstrated by BOX-polymerase chain reaction. The results from this study have shown that the erm (B) gene is predominant in Turkish S. pneumoniae isolates, as in isolates from the rest of the world, and a clonal dissemination is not responsible for this resistance profile

Effect of Shift Working on Depression Prevalence and Sexual Life of Female Nurses: A Correlational Study in Turkey

Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of nurses' way of working on depression indications and their sexual lives (N = 163).Methods:The study had a correlational design. The present study was conducted with the participation of 163 women nurses who met the criteria for participation in the research in Turkey. The questionnaire included three psychometrically tested scales: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as the participant information form.Results:The study found that the total mean score of BDI of nurses who worked in shifts was higher than that of those who worked only in daytime (p .05) were significantly lower than that of those who worked only in daytime.Conclusion:Nurses who worked night shifts had higher rates of depression (based on the BDI) and higher rates of sexual dysfunction