The epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, radiology, microbiology, treatment, and prognosis of echinococcosis: Results of NENEHATUN study

Aim: Echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus species, is an important zoonotic disease causing major health problems in humans and animals. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory parameters, radiological, serological, pathological, and treatment protocols of followed-up cases of hydatidosis. Methods: A total of 550 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst disease were included in this study. Patients who were positive for one or more of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or indirect hemagglutination test, pathological results, or radiological findings were examined. The data analyzed were collected from nine centers between 2008 and 2020. Records were examined retrospectively. Results: Among the patients, 292 (53.1%) were women and 258 (46.9%) were men. The patients' mean age was 44.4 +/- 17.4 years. A history of living in rural areas was recorded in 57.4% of the patients. A total of 435 (79.1%) patients were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain in 277 (50.4%), listlessness in 244 (44.4%), and cough in 140 (25.5%) patients. Hepatomegaly was found in 147 (26.7%), and decreased breath sounds were observed in 124 (22.5%) patients. Radiological examination was performed in all cases and serological methods were also applied to 428 (77.8%) patients. The most frequently applied serological test was IHA (37.8%). A single cyst has been found in 66% patients. Hepatic involvement occurred in 327 (59.4%), pulmonary involvement was found in 128 (23.3%), whereas both of them were recorded in 43 (7.8%) patients. Splenic involvement was only detected in nine (1.6%) patients. Echinococcus granulosus (72.5%) was most frequently detected. Cyst diameters of 56.9% of the patients were in the range of 5-10 cm. A total of 414 (75.2%) patients received albendazole as an antiparasitic. Mortality was noted in nine (1.6%) patients. Conclusion: Echinococcosis is an important public health problem in Turkey. It can affect the social, economic, and political structures of the community. Public education and awareness are extremely important

Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with favipiravir: early results from the Ege University cohort, Turkey

Background/aim: The aim of this descriptive article is to share the experience in Ege University, Turkey with favipiravir in the treatment of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Materials and methods: This retrospective descriptive study included patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who presented with or developed severe pneumonia. Results: Forty patients who completed a full course (at least 5 days) of favipiravir were included in the study. At baseline, 30 (75%) patients required treatment for respiratory distress. Thirty-three patients (82.5%) were discharged from the hospital with full recovery, 6 patients (15%) died and 1 case (2.5%) was still at the intensive care unit (ICU) when this paper was written. Conclusion: This study provides relevant information for the treatment of COVID-19, suggesting that favipiravir was associated with significant clinical and laboratory improvements in the majority of the patients, is a safe drug with no serious side effects and would merit further investigation

ALLOJENİK HEMATOPOETİK KÖK HÜCRE NAKLİ SONRASI CMV PNÖMONİSİ: OLGU SUNUMU

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, especially pneumonia, after allogeneic stem cell transplantation are frequent infections with high mortality and morbidity. In this report, a 45 year-old male patient with allogeneic stem cell transplantation due to primary myelofibrosis plus Graft versus Host Disease was presented. Our patient died because of CMV pneumonia one year after the transplantation, in spite of prophylactic and intravenous gancyclovir treatment. Although prophylactic treatment decreases the frequency of CMV infections after hematopoetic stem cell transplantations, CMV reactivation at the late phase due to immune reconstitution should be kept in mindAllojenik kök hücre nakli sonrası başta pnömoni olmak üzere sitomegalovirüs (CMV) infeksiyonları sık görülmekte olup önemli bir mortalite ve morbidite sebebidir. Bu yazıda primer myelofibrozis tanısı nedeniyle allojenik kök hücre nakli yapılan ve sonrasında "Graft versus Host Disease" gelişen 45 yaşında bir erkek hasta sunulmaktadır. Hasta, kök hücre naklinden sonra aralıklı proflaktik tedavi ile birlikte intravenöz gansiklovir almasına rağmen CMV pnömonisi nedeniyle nakilden bir yıl sonra kaybedilmiştir. Profilaktik tedavinin hematopoetik kök hücre nakli sonrasında CMV infeksiyonlarının sıklığını azalttığı bilinmekle beraber özellikle CMV reaktivasyonunun bağışıklık sisteminin yeniden yapılanmasına bağlı geç dönemde de görülebileceği akılda tutulmalıdı

Difficult Diagnosis Easy Treatment: Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is a chronic, suppurative disease caused by gram-positive anaerobic bacteria from the Actinomycetaceae family. Actinomyces israelii is the most commonly encountered cause of actinomycosis. Other Actinomyces species responsible for actinomycosis are A. odontolyticus, A. meyeri, A. naeslundii, and A. viscosus. Based on the site of involvement, the four most common forms are cervicofascial, abdominal, thoracic and pelvic actinomycosis. Purulent matter, sputum, vaginal discharge, fistulae content or tissue biopsy specimens are generally used to diagnose actinomycosis. However, it is very difficult to identify Actinomyces in these samples due to other filamentous and anaerobic bacteria. In this study, we evaluated actinomycosis cases who were followed up in Ege University Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic between 2011 and 2016, retrospectively. Cases were evaluated in terms of age, gender, form of application, symptoms, underlying diseases, location of infection, diagnosis, and treatment. Six patients [five women; mean age 52.16 ± 21.21 (min 20-max 83)] were included into this study. Two patients had pelvic, two had cervicofascial, one had skin involvement and one had pulmonary, skin and brain actinomycosis. As a result, actinomycosis is a rare and serious disease. Unless considered in differential diagnosis, appropriate treatment may be delayed. This cohort is one of the largest series reported in Turkey. Being aware of risk factors and clinical forms as well as being skeptical are important fordiagnosis and treatment