Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among Children in the Middle Anatolia Region of Turkey

Brucellosis is an important public-health problem in Turkey. Children may constitute 20 to 30% of all brucellosis cases in the world, especially in the endemic regions. Data on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in childhood are very limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of brucellosis among a child population. One thousand one hundred and ten subjects were included in the study. Blood samples were collected and tested with Rose Bengal (RB) and standard tube agglutination test (SAT). RB test results were positive for 6 patients, and SAT was negative for all patients. Our findings suggest that seroprevalence of brucellosis is decreasing in Middle Anatolia due to a new cattle vaccination and eradication programme which was initiated in 2009

Acute Toscana Virus Infection in an Anti-HIV Positive Patient

Sandfly fever is an infectious disease transmitted to people through sandfly bites. It usually takes three days and causes chills, high fever, headache, nausea-vomiting and myalgia. The causative agent, namely sandfly fever virus (SFV), is a member of the Bunyaviridae family, Phlebovirus genus. Toscana virus (TOSV) is a serotype of SFV, as so Sicilian and Naples viruses. Seroprevalence studies have demonstrated that SFV infections which have mild symptoms or asymptomatic, can be overcome. Studies concerning TOSV infections in Turkey are limited to a small number of regional seroprevalence surveys, blood-donor screening studies and detection of viral RNA in previously collected cerebrospinal fluid samples of suspected meningoentephalitis patients in whom no causative agents were identified. In this report from Turkey, the first acute case of TOSV infection diagnosed in a patient with HIV seropositivity, was presented. A 42-year-old male patient was admitted to Numune Research and Training Hospital Adana, Turkey with high fever, headache and malaise. The patient who lived in an area near to a forest in Istanbul, had no contact history with ticks, mosquitoes and other animals. He stated that he had had the symptoms before arriving to Adana. The patient was hospitalized due to leucopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia accompanying high fever. Serum samples were sent to National Arbovirus and Viral Zoonotic Diseases Unit of the Turkish Public Health Institute, for the detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and SFV. Western Blot test was run to confirm the presence of anti-HIV antibodies detected twice with ELISA. In the following days, the patient's fever and symptoms decreased, and thrombocyte levels increased. Although CCHF virus PCR and ELISA IgM tests as well as SFV IgM and IgG immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) tests were negative, real time reverse transcriptase PCR test yielded a positive result for TOSV. SFV IgG antibodies against Toscana and Naples viruses were found to be positive in the serum sample collected at the end of a three-week follow-up. Even though TOSV infection is usually known to have an asymptomatic clinical course, it may rarely lead to serious manifestations like meningoencephalitis. In our country where SFV is endemic, TOSV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with high fever and meningoencephalitis symptoms

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among Children in the Middle Anatolia Region of Turkey

Kuscu, Ferit/0000-0001-5662-8305; Gokce, Mehmet/0000-0002-2370-548XWOS: 000347619500003PubMed: 25895189Brucellosis is an important public-health problem in Turkey. Children may constitute 20 to 30% of all brucellosis cases in the world, especially in the endemic regions. Data on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in childhood are very limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of brucellosis among a child population. One thousand one hundred and ten subjects were included in the study. Blood samples were collected and tested with Rose Bengal (RB) and standard tube agglutination test (SAT). RB test results were positive for 6 patients, and SAT was negative for all patients. Our findings suggest that seroprevalence of brucellosis is decreasing in Middle Anatolia due to a new cattle vaccination and eradication programme which was initiated in 2009

Risk Factors for Colistin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Multicenter Study from Turkey

Yaman, Ferda/0000-0001-6847-1720; Kuscu, Ferit/0000-0001-5662-8305WOS: 000373245600004PubMed: 26166495The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and risk factors due to colistin use in patients infected with multidrug-resistant pathogens. This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in Turkey, at 5 different research and university hospitals. Cox regression analyses were performed, to determine independent predictors of AKI. From April 2012 to July 2014, a total of 216 patients aged between 18-94 years, treated with colistimethate sodium (CMS) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 60.3 +/- 20.1 years. The overall incidence of AKI was 34.3% (74/216) at any time during treatment. Concomitant use of loop diuretics, baseline creatinine level, and CMS dosage were independently associated with AKI. According to our results, patients with higher baseline creatinine levels, or patients who had to use concomitant loop diuretics may need to be monitored more closely, and dose adjustment should be done promptly. More comprehensive studies are, however, still needed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose colistin since higher doses tend to increase the risk of AKI

Potential Drug-Drug Interactions with Antimicrobials in Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Point-Prevalence Study

WOS: 000436365200003PubMed: 29924770Background: Improper use of antimicrobials can cause adverse drug events and high costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and potential drug-drug interactions associated with antimicrobials among hospitalized patients. Material/Methods: This study was conducted on the same day in 5 different hospitals in Turkey. We included patients aged (3) 18 years who received at least 1 antimicrobial drug and at least 1 of any other drug. The Micromedex (R) online drug reference system was used to control and describe the interactions. Drug interactions were classified as contraindicated, major, moderate, and minor. Results: Potential drug-drug interactions with antimicrobials were 26.4% of all interactions. Five (42%) of 12 contraindicated interactions and 61 (38%) of 159 major interactions were with antimicrobials. Quinolones, triazoles, metronidazole, linezolid, and clarithromycin accounted for 173 (25.7%) of 673 prescribed antimicrobials, but were responsible for 141 (92.1%) of 153 interactions. In multivariate analysis, number of prescribed antimicrobials (odds ratio: 2.3001, 95% CI: 1.6237-3.2582), number of prescribed drugs (odds ratio: 1.2008, 95% CI: 1.0943-1.3177), and hospitalization in the university hospital (odds ratio: 1.7798, 95% CI: 1.0035-3.1564) were independent risk factors for developing drug interactions. Conclusions: Due to risk of drug interactions, physicians should be more cautious when prescribing antimicrobials, particularly when prescribing quinolones, linezolid, azoles, metronidazole, and macrolides

Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae Infection, Turkey, 2016

In 2016, Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae was diagnosed for a man in Turkey. He had been bitten by a Hyalomma marginatum tick, from which PCR detected rickettsial DNA. Sequence analysis of the DNA identified R. sibirica mongolitimonae. Immunofluorescence assay of patient serum indicated R. conorii, which cross-reacts. PCR is recommended for rickettsiosis diagnoses

Clinical characteristics of 74 pandemic H1N1 influenza patients from Turkey Risk factors for fatality

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and certain risk factors that may be associated with fatal outcome in patients with H1N1 influenza

Telaprevir Experience From Turkey

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic hepatitis C, triple drug regimens containing a protease inhibitor, peginterferon and ribavirin were found to significantly increase sustained virologic response rates compared to dual drug regimen containing pegylated interferon and ribavirin, especially in genotype 1. OBJECTIVES: In Turkey, telaprevir has been used since March 2013. We aimed to evaluate results of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with telaprevir, peginterferon and ribavirin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 28 patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection treated with triple drug regimen containing telaprevir, in three medical centers in Turkey, retrospectively. Demographic data of patients, treatment indications, adverse events and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of 28 patients intended to treat, 25 (89.2%) patients completed the treatment. Overall, 21 (82.1%) patients had relapse and five patients were non-responder. Regarding the treatment outcomes of Telaprevir based regimen, 20/26 patients achieved sustained virological response. Pruritus, rash, dysgeusia, anorectal discomfort and anemia were main adverse effects. Blood transfusion and ribavirin dose reduction required for 7 and 11 patients, respectively. Due to several adverse effects, 10 patients were hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: Although more frequent and severe adverse effects, telaprevir has been promising for patients with treatment-experienced hepatitis C