Evaluation of clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects in hydatid disease: analysis of an 8-year experience

Background & Objective: Echinococcosis is still a common health problem. The aim of this study was to discuss our 8-year data in terms of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cystic Echinococcosis.Methods: A total of 178 patients who had hydatid cyst were analyzed retrospectively from the hospital records. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was based on clinical-serological and radiological findings. Treatment response was evaluated with clinical, radiological and serological findings.Results: A total of 178 medical records were evaluated; the male:female ratio was 0.73 and mean age 44.6±16.9 years. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (94, 52.8%). The mean cyst size was 9.5±3.9 cm. Eosinophilia was significantly higher in patients with complicated cyst (35.3%) (p=0.002). The average duration of hospitalization in surgical patients was shorter than non-surgical patients (p=0.026). There was no significant correlation between the preference of scolicidal agent (hypertonic saline, H2O2, povidone iodine) and recurrence in patients who underwent surgery (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the patients who underwent radical and conservative surgery in terms of complication and recurrence (p=0.077, p=0.557). No significant difference was found between percutaneous and surgical treatment in terms of complication and recurrence (p=0.264, p=0.276).Conclusion: Even though considerable progress has been made, uncertainties remain in the diagnosis and treatment of Echinococcosis. Hence, standardized diagnostic and treatment procedures should be established with well-designed studies.Keywords: Echinococcosis, hydatid cyst, diagnosis, treatment

Evaluation of clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects in hydatid disease: analysis of an 8-year experience

Background & Objective: Echinococcosis is still a common health problem. The aim of this study was to discuss our 8-year data in terms of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cystic Echinococcosis. Methods: A total of 178 patients who had hydatid cyst were analyzed retrospectively from the hospital records. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was based on clinical-serological and radiological findings. Treatment response was evaluated with clinical, radiological and serological findings. Results: A total of 178 medical records were evaluated; the male:female ratio was 0.73 and mean age 44.6\ub116.9 years. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (94, 52.8%). The mean cyst size was 9.5\ub13.9 cm. Eosinophilia was significantly higher in patients with complicated cyst (35.3%) (p=0.002). The average duration of hospitalization in surgical patients was shorter than non-surgical patients (p=0.026). There was no significant correlation between the preference of scolicidal agent (hypertonic saline, H2O2, povidone iodine) and recurrence in patients who underwent surgery (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the patients who underwent radical and conservative surgery in terms of complication and recurrence (p=0.077, p=0.557). No significant difference was found between percutaneous and surgical treatment in terms of complication and recurrence (p=0.264, p=0.276). Conclusion: Even though considerable progress has been made, uncertainties remain in the diagnosis and treatment of Echinococcosis. Hence, standardized diagnostic and treatment procedures should be established with well-designed studies

Middle east respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Coronavirüsler zarflı, tek zincirli pozitif RNA virüsleri olup, genellikle üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarına sebep olurlar. 2012 yılıda Arap Yarımadası’nda ciddi akut solunum yetmezliği ile seyreden hastalarda yeni bir coronavirüs türü izole edilmiştir. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) olarak adlandırılmıştır. Asemptomatik hastalıktan, ağır pnömoni, çoklu organ yetmezliği ve ölüme kadar ilerleyebilen çeşitli klinik şekillere sebep olabilir. Patojene özgül bir tedavi bulunmamaktadır. MERS-CoV ile enfekte olan hastalarda enfeksiyon kontrol önlemlerinin uygulanması virüsün yayılımının önlenmesi açısından önemli bir yer tutar.Coronaviruses are enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses and usually cause upper respiratory tract infection in humans. In 2012, a novel coronavirus was found to cause cases of severe acute respiratory infection in Arabian Peninsula. This novel virüs has been defined as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Clinical presentation of MERS-CoV infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia, multi-organ failure resulting in death. There’s no pathogen specific antiviral therapy for MERS-CoV. Therapy strategy is based on supportive approach and prevention of complications. It is very important to implement infection prevention and control procedures to decrease the the risk of spread of virus

Middle east respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Coronavirüsler zarflı, tek zincirli pozitif RNA virüsleri olup, genellikle üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarına sebep olurlar. 2012 yılıda Arap Yarımadası’nda ciddi akut solunum yetmezliği ile seyreden hastalarda yeni bir coronavirüs türü izole edilmiştir. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) olarak adlandırılmıştır. Asemptomatik hastalıktan, ağır pnömoni, çoklu organ yetmezliği ve ölüme kadar ilerleyebilen çeşitli klinik şekillere sebep olabilir. Patojene özgül bir tedavi bulunmamaktadır. MERS-CoV ile enfekte olan hastalarda enfeksiyon kontrol önlemlerinin uygulanması virüsün yayılımının önlenmesi açısından önemli bir yer tutar.Coronaviruses are enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses and usually cause upper respiratory tract infection in humans. In 2012, a novel coronavirus was found to cause cases of severe acute respiratory infection in Arabian Peninsula. This novel virüs has been defined as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Clinical presentation of MERS-CoV infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia, multi-organ failure resulting in death. There’s no pathogen specific antiviral therapy for MERS-CoV. Therapy strategy is based on supportive approach and prevention of complications. It is very important to implement infection prevention and control procedures to decrease the the risk of spread of virus

A Case of Healthcare Associated Pneumonia Caused by Chryseobacterium indologenes in an Immunocompetent Patient

Chryseobacterium indologenes is nonmotile, oxidase, and indole positive Gram-negative aerobic bacilli which is widely found in plants, soil, foodstuffs, and water. It can colonize hospital environment due to ability to survive in chlorine-treated water supplies. Chryseobacteria can also colonize patients via contaminated medical devices such as respirators, intubation tubes, humidifiers, intravascular catheters, and prosthetic valves. Immune suppression, comorbidities, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and extreme age are other important risk factors for Chryseobacterium infections. We report a case of an 82-year-old male admitted to our hospital with the complaint of altered mental status with history of trauma, and recent orthopedic and neurosurgery operations. He was transferred to neurosurgery intensive care unit due to respiratory failure. Urine culture yielded extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) (+). E. coli and C. indologenes were isolated from transtracheal aspirate. He was treated with ertapenem, and levofloxacin and discharged with full recovery

Living with HIV during COVID-19: knowledge and worry about COVID-19, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, and HIV health outcomes

The COVID-19 pandemic has been profound impacts on mental and physical health of individuals with chronic diseases. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV. We aimed to assess the association between COVID-19-related knowledge and worry, HIV-related health practices and outcomes, and adherence to precautions related to COVID-19, and possible associations of these factors with HIV treatment outcomes (ART adherence and viral load). A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 among 291 PLWH at two large university hospital HIV clinics in Izmir, Turkey. Additionally, the most recent HIV-RNA load, CD4 count was recorded using medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of self-reported adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, ART adherence and undetectable viral load. COVID-19-related worry, COVID-19-related knowledge, and ART adherence were significant predictors of adherence to COVID-19-related precautions. Furthermore, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions was a significant predictor of both ART adherence and undetectable viral load. Findings provide a unique aspect of the interrelations of COVID and living with HIV. Since health behaviors and outcomes for COVID-19 and HIV seem to be interrelated, treatment practices and interventions that address these simultaneously may enhance their efficacy