Bilge Hapcioglu, Yildiz Yegenoglu, Rian Disci, Zayre Erturan and Hande Kaymakcalan

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis in children of elementary school age and to examine the socio-demographic attributes that may be effective in correlation of both mycoses. 3,390 female and 3,768 male children between ages 6–14 have been examined in seven schools. Skin scrapings and nail samples were taken from 13 students who were suspected to have tinea pedis and from 49 students who were suspected to have onychomycosis. According to direct microscopy (10–15% KOH+calcofluor white) and culturel examination (Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium) 11 students were diagnosed as tinea pedis and 24 were diagnosed as onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated in 3 students with tinea pedis whose culture was positive and five Candida albicans, five Candida glabrata and one Candida tropicalis cases were isolated from 11 samples with onychomycosis. Tinea pedis prevalence has been found to be 3.3%0. Differences between onychomycosis prevalence based on age have been found to be significant (p<0.001). In conclusion, it has been determined that the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis among children is low. Candida spp. was isolated from all of the 14 samples diagnosed as onychomycosis. Our study shows similar results with previous studies done in Turkey and that Trichophyton rubrum continues to be the most isolated agent

Oral Candida colonization of human immunodeficiency virus infected subjects in Turkey and its relation with viral load and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count

The association of asymptomatic oral Candida colonization with the markers of immunodeficiency and HIV is not clear yet. In addition, the prevalence of different Candida species colonizing the oral cavity of HIV-infected patients in Turkey remains unknown. To evaluate these subjects, oral rinse samples were taken from 64 HIV-positive individuals who have come to the department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty for viral load and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count measurement. The specimens were plated quantitatively on CHROMagar Candida. Oral Candida colonization was detected in 53 (82.8%) patients. The species isolated most frequently from carriers was Candida albicans (83%), followed by Candida glabrata (22.6%) and Candida dubliniensis (11.3%). More than one Candida spp. was isolated from 16 (30%) colonized patients. The status of yeast carriage and Candida load was not associated with the number of CD4(+) cells or the viral load. Similarly, there was no statistical relation between the use of protease inhibitors, age, gender, smoking and the oral carriage of Candida. Other factors, which may be responsible for the high oral carriage of Candida spp. in this patient group, need to be researched

In vitro activity of linezolid against multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

Information in the literature regarding the activity of linezolid against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is scarce. We therefore tested the in vitro activity of this drug against 39 MDR M. tuberculosis strains isolated from clinical specimens using the Bactec (R) 460 TB system. All strains were inhibited by <= 8 mg/L (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); MIC50 = 4 mg/L, MIC50 = 8 mg/L). Although the MIC values are higher than in other studies, based on proposed breakpoints all strains were found to be susceptible to linezolid. Further investigations to prove its usefulness in the treatment of MDR tuberculosis should be carried out. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

The antifungal susceptibilities of oral Candida spp isolates from HIV-infected patients

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most common HIV related oral lesion. Most patients are infected with a strain originally present as a commensal of the oral cavity. The resistance of Candida isolates to antifungal drugs is important due to morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to investigate the antifungal susceptibility profiles of oral Candida spp which were isolated from HIV-infected patients. In vitro susceptibility tests were performed using the broth microdilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). A total of 67 oral Candida isolates from colonized HIV-infected patients, which were previously isolated and identified were included in this study. MIC ranges were 0.12 - 4.0, 0.12 - 16, 0.03 - 1.0, 0.03 - 1.0, and 0.03 - 0.25 mu g/ml for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and voriconazole, respectively. All isolates were fully susceptible to voriconazole. Sixty five (97%) of all isolates were determined fully susceptible to amphotericin B, 66 (98.5%) to fluconazole, 64 (95.5%) to ketoconazole and 50 (88%) to itraconazole. No resistance was detected to fluconazole and voriconazole in oral Candida strains isolated from colonized Turkish HIV positive patients. Antifungal resistance was detected in 8.96% (6 strains) of all isolates tested

Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria from hospital waters in Turkey

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in hot and cold water distribution systems. With molecular typing methods it was shown that water can be the source of colonization and infection with NTM. The aim of our study was the investigation of NTM in hot and cold water samples taken from various departments of two hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. Totally, 160 water samples were examined. The temperature, pH, and free chlorine levels of water samples were measured between 10-41 degrees C, 6.78-7.98 and <0.3-0.5mg/L, respectively. NTM were detected in 33 (20.6%) samples. Totally 20 (60.6%), 10 (30.3%) and 3 (9.1%) isolates were identified as Mycobacterium lentiflavum, Mycobacterium gordonae, and Mycobacterium peregrinum, respectively. M. lentiflavum, which was the most frequently isolated NTM, is characterized by multiple resistance to antimycobacterial drugs. Although no infections with this mycobacterium were reported from our country so far, preventive measures may be considered in patients under immunosuppression. Because no significant correlations were found among the presence of NTM or species distribution and water temperature, pH or free chlorine levels, other factors need to be investigated