Which Micro-Organisms are Transferred by Healthcare Personnel Between Hospital and Home?

Introduction: The most important factor in the spread of hospital infections is the hands of healthcare personnel. The aim of ths study was to determine which micro-organisms are transferred from home to hospital, and which from hospital to home, by the hands of healthcare personnel. Material and Methods: The sample universe of this research was the healthcare personnel in a tertiary level public hospital. A total of 10 doctors and 53 nurses, selected at random according to the clinics where they worked, were included. The study data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, the study participants completed a personal information form. In the second stage, samples were taken from the right and left hands of the healthcare personnel on entering and leaving the hospital. The samples were isolated and seeded in culture media. Bacteria identification and antibiotic sensitivity were determined using a BD Phoenix 100 automated system. Results: According to the samples taken, there was determined to be greater bacteria production on the hands of the healthcare personnel when entering the hospital. The greatest production was in the least washed area of the right hand (93.7% on entry, 74.6% on exit). Nurses and those working in surgical clinics were seen to have greater bacteria production on both entry to and exit from the hospital compared to other healthcare workers. The bacteria most produced were MSSE, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus strains, Streptococcus strains and MRSE. In the examination of antibiotic sensitivity, the antibiotics to which the produced bacteria were most sensitive were amikacin, ciprofloxacin, daptomycin, gentamicin levoflaxocin, teicoplanin, linezolid teicoplanin, trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. Conclusion: The study results showed that just as healthcare personnel transferred some micro-organisms from home to hospital on their hands, they also transferred some bacteria to home on leaving the hospital. This is of great importance in respect of the spread of hospital infections. With the necessary precautions taken to prevent the transfer of micro-organisms to or from hospital, the prevalence of hospital infections will decrease. Keywords: Healthcare personnel, Micro-organisms, Antibiotic resistance, Hand DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/110-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

The Predictors of Pneumonia in Children with COVID-19

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence of pneumonia and blood parameters in cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to examine their predictive characteristics in terms of pneumonia. We reviewed the file records of 151 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by the real time-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test in nasopharyngeal swabs. The patients were divided into two groups based on direct chest X-ray and computed tomography results in [Group 1 (n:41), with pneumonia findings, and Group 2 (n:110), with no pneumonia findings]. The groups’ demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings were compared. Pulmonary involvement was determined in 41 (27.1%) of the 151 patients. The [body mass index (BMI) Z-score], red blood cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, passive leg raise, and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with pneumonia than those without pneumonia in our study. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, BMI Z-score, MPV, and RDW were found to be independent risk factors of pneumonia in patients. The current study showed higher levels of blood parameters in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) presenting with pneumonia than those without pneumonia. We suggest that BMI-Z score and MPV value may assist in predicting pulmonary involvement in patients with COVID-19

Yağlıdere Çayı (Giresun) Sediment Kalitesinin Belirlenmesi

Sucul ekosistemlerde sediment endüstriyel ve tarımsal deşarjlar, evsel atıklar, atık su arıtma tesisleri ve yağmur gibi doğa olayları sonrasında çeşitli kirleticiler tarafından sıklıkla kirletilmektedir. Bu etkilerinden dolayı sucul ekosistem ve insan sağlığını korumak için sediment kalitelerinin geliştirilmeye ihtiyacı vardır. Bu çalışmada Yağlıdere Çayı'ndan 5 istasyondan toplanan sediment örneklerinde bazı metallerin (As, Se, Ag, Cd, Na, K) pH, elektriksel iletkenlik, (%) su içeriği ve (%) organik madde miktarı analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler ile yerkabuğundaki iz element miktarlarından faydalanılarak Jeoakümülasyon İndeks değeri tahmin edilmiş ve örneklerin çoğunda antropojenik etkinin varlığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, çalışma alanında K, Na, As ve Se'nin baskın olarak biriktiği gözlemlenmiştir. Bu metaller Yağlıdere Çayı'nda olumsuz etkiye sahip ve çevresel risk yaratabilir.Sediments in aquatic systems are often contaminated by various pollutants originating from the sources such as industrial and agricultural discharges, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and storm water. These effects lead to the need to develop sediment quality objectives regarding the protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, the sediment samples were collected from five sampling sites and then analyzed in order to identify the concentrations of certain metals (As, Se, Ag, Cd, Na, and K), the levels of pH, conductivity, water content (%) and organic matter (%) in the Yağlıdere Stream. Finally, Geo-accumulation index values calculated based on the estimations regarding the background trace element concentrations suggested the anthropogenic influences in most of the samples. In conclusion, it was observed that K, Na, As, and Se dominantly accumulated in the study area. These metals may have a negative impact on the research area and create an environmental risk

Determining the Sediment Quality of Yağlıdere Stream (Giresun)

Sediments in aquatic systems are often contaminated by various pollutants originating from the sources such as industrial and agricultural discharges, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and storm water. These effects lead to the need to develop sediment quality objectives regarding the protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, the sediment samples were collected from five sampling sites and then analyzed in order to identify the concentrations of certain metals (As, Se, Ag, Cd, Na, and K), the levels of pH, conductivity, water content (%) and organic matter (%) in the Yağlıdere Stream. Finally, Geo-accumulation index values calculated based on the estimations regarding the background trace element concentrations suggested the anthropogenic influences in most of the samples. In conclusion, it was observed that K, Na, As, and Se dominantly accumulated in the study area. These metals may have a negative impact on the research area and create an environmental risk

Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococci Isolated From Various Clinical Specimens of Inpatients in Intensive Care Units: A 4-year Evaluation

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in methicillin resistance and antibiotic susceptibility of staphylococcal strains isolated from various clinical samples of patients hospitalized in intensive care units over the years. Materials and Methods: A total of 5144 staphylococcal strains isolated from various clinical specimens of inpatients in intensive care units in a university health practice and research hospital medical microbiology laboratory between January 2018 and December 2021 were (96.51%) included in the study. Bacteria identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using conventional methods and an automated systems. Results: Of the total 5144 staphylococci strains, 4503 were identified as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (87.54%) and 641 as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (12.46%). Of these strains, 1451 (28.21%) were isolated from anesthesiology and reanimation intensive care unit, and 4573 (88.90%) from blood samples. The most dramatic increase in both S. aureus and CNS in 2021 occurred in levofloxacin (S. aureus 100%; CNS 99.45%) and ciprofloxacin (S. aureus 100%; CNS 98.54%). While a high rate of resistance to fusidic acid (96.51%) was observed in CNSs, the resistance, which was over 65% in S. aureus strains, decreased significantly (5.40%) in 2021. The lowest antibiotic resistance was in daptomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin in both bacterial groups. Methicillin resistance, which was 62.31% in 2018 in S. aureus strains, decreased to 33.10% in 2021, while it decreased from 86.68% to 75.06% in CNSs. The rate of resistance to all the examined antibiotics were found to be significantly higher in CNSs. Conclusion: To prevent the development of resistance, antimicrobial resistance profiles should be determined through effective surveillance studies, and each hospital should establish its own antibiotic use policy. Additionally, it is important to ensure the rational use of antibiotics and to take effective infection control measures

Investigation of long-term bisphenol A exposure on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Hematological parameters, biochemical indicator, antioxidant activity, and histopathological examination

As an industrial synthetic chemical, bisphenol A (BPA) has the potential to have physiologically and histologically adverse effects on aquatic organisms. BPA causes the reproductive disrupting of all vertebrates due to its degradation on endocrine system. Therefore, the effect of BPA on fish with high economic value is an important issue. This study focused weekly on long-term BPA exposure on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Hematological, biochemical, antioxidant activity and histopathological examinations were performed on O. mykiss exposed to 1000 mu g/L BPA concentration. Mortality was observed in the BPA group during the first three weeks. As a result of hematological studies, leukocyte count and hemoglobin in the BPA group were significantly higher in the first three weeks compared to the control group. Plasma cortisol level as a biochemical indicator showed a similar trend to leukocyte and hemoglobin. There was no significant difference between BPA and control groups in terms of superoxide dismutase and catalase. However, glutathione peroxidase activity in the BPA group was significantly lower than in the control group for four weeks. At the end of the study, many alterations were observed histologically in the gill tissues. While more intense hyperplasia and epithelial lifting were observed in the tissues in the BPA group compared to the control group, vacuolization, necrosis and hypertrophy were observed infrequently. In conclusion, this study argues that BPA causes negative effects on O. mykiss in terms of fish welfare and future study should be focused on its environmental adaptation with color preference patterns

Synthesis, Molecular Docking, Dynamics, Quantum-Chemical Computation, and Antimicrobial Activity Studies of Some New Benzimidazole–Thiadiazole Hybrids

In this study, some new compounds, which are 2-aminothiadiazole derivatives linked by a phenyl bridge to the 2-position of the benzimidazole ring, were designed and synthesized as antimicrobial agents. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The antifungal activities of the synthesized compounds were tested on Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis. Compound 5f is more active against C. albicans and C. glabrata than standard fluconazole and varicanazole. Compounds were also evaluated for their counteracting activity against Gram-positive Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-negative Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 5c and 5h had minimum inhibitory concentrations against E. faecalis close to that of the standard azithromycin. Molecular docking studies were performed against Candida species’ 14-α demethylase enzyme. 5f was the most active compound against Candida species, which gave the highest docking interaction energy. The stabilities of compounds 5c and 5f with CYP51 were tested using 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. According to the theoretical ADME calculations, the profiles of the compounds are suitable in terms of limiting rules. HOMO–LUMO analysis showed that 5h is chemically more reactive (represented with the lower ΔE = 3.432 eV) than the other molecules, which is compatible with the highest antibacterial activity result.</p