Results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA between the years of 2004 and 2005 in Southeast Turkey (Diyarbakır)

Background: This study evaluates and presents the results for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV RNA obtained from sera sent to the Microbiology Laboratory of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, the largest health center in the region (Diyarbakir, Turkey), for analysis.Methods: Anti-HCV seropositivity was determined using an anti-HCV EIA and HCV RNA was detected by real time PCR. The Chi square test was used for statistical evaluation of the male and female patients for anti-HCV.Results: In the year 2004, 10640 sera were investigated for anti-HCV seropositivity and 12081 sera were investigated in the year 2005. Anti-HCV seropositivity was 3.6% for the year 2004, and 3.1% for the year 2005. Comparing results between males and females, anti-HCV positivity was found to be significantly different (P< 0.001) for the male patients in both years. HCV RNA positivity was detected by Real Time PCR method in 192 sera out of 670 (28.6%) in the year 2004 and in 206 sera out of 838 (24.6%) in the year 2005. Conclusions: Our region has a higher seropositivity for anti-HCV compared to the other regions in Turkey. For this reason, educational programs should be instituted which emphasize avoidance of high-risk lifestyles and contacts to prevent spreading of HCV in our region. Furthermore, horizontal HCV transmission routes other than blood transfusion and intravenous drug addiction should be taken into consideration epidemiologically

Correlation of high sensitive C-reactive protein and Hepatitis C Virus RNA in anti-HCV-positive sera

To determine whether the level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) secreted from liver differed according to the positivity and negativity of the HCV RNA in sera collected from individuals with HCV antibodies.Materials and methods: A total of 84 patients with clinically suspected Hepatitis C were included in this study, in which anti-HCV was detected to be positive. Eighty four anti-HCV positive samples were divided into two groups according to the HCV RNA results, as the HCV RNA positive group (Group 1, 50 samples) and the HCV RNA negative group (Group 2, 34 samples).Results: 50 of the 84 samples with anti HCV positivity were detected to be positive for HCV RNA (Group 1), whereas 30 were detected as negative (Group 2). While the hsCRP values were found to be above the normal level in 11 (22%) of the 50 sera samples in the first group, and in 3 (8,8%) of the 34 sera samples in the second group.Conclusion: Numerical comparison of the hsCRP positive samples revealed a statistically significant result in favor of group 1 (p0.05)

Evaluation of the Ehrlich-Ziehi-Neelsen (EZN) and Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test according to the BACTEC method in respiratory and nonrespiratory samples

Aim: Tuberculosis remains a significant and threatening disease, particularly in developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be detected and identified as soon as possible to ensure the prevention of the spread of the disease. For this purpose, use of fast and reliable laboratory diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity was initiated in recent years

Absence of the mecC gene in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various clinical samples: the first multi-centered study in Turkey

KARA, Murat/0000-0002-4144-2409; aydin, merve/0000-0002-1522-6083WOS: 000473414800014PubMed: 30745200Background: mecA is a predefined gene causing methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates; however, it has been shown that some methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains do not carry this gene. Recently, in isolates found to be MRSA-positive but mecA-negative, a new resistance gene called mecC, which is a homolog of mecA, has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the mecC and mecA genes in MRSA strains isolated from different geographic regions in Turkey. Methods: the sample of the study consisted of 494 MRSA strains isolated from seven geographical regions in Turkey between 2013 and 2016. the strains were obtained from 17 centers, comprising 13 university hospitals, three education and research hospitals, and one state hospital. Methicillin resistance in S. aureus strains was determined using the agar disk diffusion method with a cefoxitin disk and the agar dilution method with oxacillin. the mecC and mecA genes in MRSA strains was investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: of the MRSA strains investigated, 47.9% were isolated from intensive care units. Concerning sample type, 36.7% were detected in the respiratory tract (tracheal aspirate, sputum, etc.), 24.8% in blood, 18.7% in skin and soft tissues, 9.3% in nasal swabs, 5.4% in urine, 4.1% in ears, and 1% in sterile body fluid. Using PCR, mecC was not identified in any of the S. aureus strains isolated from different clinical microbiology laboratories. mecA gene positivity was found in 315 of the MRSA strains (63.8%). Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec ( SCCmec) type was identified in 232 strains (46.9%), of which 136 (58.7%) were type II, 75 (32.4%) were type IV, 12 (5.1%) were type Mb, six (2.5%) were type I, and three (1.3%) were type III. Conclusion: This is the first multi-centered study to investigate MRSA strains isolated from different regions in Turkey. the mecC gene was not detected in any of the MRSA strains. We believe that this study will constitute an important basis for monitoring possible future changes. (C) 2019 the Authors. Published by Elsevier Limited on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.Scientific Research and Project Unit of Erzincan Binali Yildirim University [SAG-A-240215-0121]This study was financially supported by the Scientific Research and Project Unit of Erzincan Binali Yildirim University (Project No: SAG-A-240215-0121). This research was presented as a poster in the 4th National Clinical Microbiology Congress in Antalya, Turkey, 2017

Evaluation of 2015-2016 MOTAKK HBV DNA and HCV RNA External Quality Assessment National Program Results

MOTAKK, as a national external quality control program has been launched to evaluate the molecular detection of viral infections including HBV DNA and HCV RNA in molecular microbiology diagnostic laboratories in Turkey. This program is prepared in compliance with ISO 17043:2010 (Conformity assessment general requirements for proficiency testing) standards, and aims to take the place of external quality control programs from abroad, contributing to standardization and accuracy of molecular diagnostic tests in our country. The aim of this study was to evaluate 2015 and 2016 results of the MOTAKK External Quality Control Program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA viral load. The calls were announced on the web page of MOTAKK (www.motakk.org). The quality control samples were sent to participating laboratories in 2015 and 2016. Main stocks were prepared from patients with chronic hepatitis B and C who had viral load detection with reference methods according to WHO reference materials for viral load studies to improve quality control sera. From these main stocks, samples with different viral loads were prepared from dilutions of plasma with HBV, HCV, HAV, HIV, Parvovirus B19 and CMV negative serologic markers. Quality control samples were sent to the participating laboratories along with the negative samples in the cold chain. The laboratories accomplished the related tests within 2-3 weeks and entered their results on the MOTAKK web page. These results were analysed according to ISO 13528 (Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison) and scoring reports were created by a software developed by MOTAKK and sent to participating labs. Each laboratory evaluated their own results in comparison with the other laboratory results, reassessed the tests via observing the distance from the mean result and the reference values. The number of laboratories participating in the HBV DNA and HCV RNA external quality control program was 70-73 in 2015-2016. Participants were able to comply with the program tools, registering, entering results and receiving the results reports problem. In HBV panel, 72.6-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 standard deviation (SD) in 2015-2016, respectively. In HCV panel, 70.8-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 SD in 2015-2016, respectively. A national external quality control program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA in Turkey has been prepared for the first time with this project and implemented successfully. All the data provided in the MOTAKK external quality control program final report, compensate all the data provided by the quality control program final reports from abroad; additionally, the report allows comparison of used technologies and commercial products