Distribution and antifungal susceptibility of candida species isolated from blood culture

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of samples exhibiting Candida growth among the blood cultures, and the antifungal susceptibility. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey from January to December, 2018 and comprised immunosuppressed patients with sepsis. Ethical approval was obtained and consent was taken from all patients. Yeast growths were typed by means of colony morphology, germ tube formation and the VITEK 2 system. Their susceptibilities tests were determined using the same automatized system. Resistance strains were also tested using the dilution method. Results: Of the 50 patients, 19(38%) were females and 31(62%) were males. The overall mean age was 60.84 ± 22.05 years. 31 (62%) of the samples were received from intensive care units, 14 (28%) from the palliative care unit, and five from other inpatients.  In our study, most common among our isolates was C. albicans, and C. parapsiosis was most common among non-albicans species. Resistance to antifungals was observed in 28% of Candida isolates. Of the total isolates, %10 were found to be naturally resistant to fluconazole, 8% to voriconazole, 4% to flucytosine, and amphotericin B. The high resistance rate for fluconazole in Candida species is noteworthy. The findings obtained through both the dilution method and the automatized system were consistent. Continuou...

Comparison of Health Care-Associated Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis Bloodstream Infections

Objective: In recent years, the prevalence of health care-associated infections (HAIs) has increased as a result of the spread of invasive procedures and immunosuppressive therapies. Blood-stream infections (BSIs) are important causes of mortality and morbidity among HAIs and enterococci are among the most common organisms responsible for these infections The most frequent two species are Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis causing BSIs due to enterococci. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate E. faecium and E. faecalis BSIs that developed in various clinics of Samsun Training and Research Hospital between January 2014 and November 2018

Derangements of vaginal and cervical canal microbiota determined with real-time PCR in women with recurrent miscarriages

Balanced vaginal microbiota and, as a continuum, cervical canal microbiota help prevent reproductive disorders, including recurrent miscarriage (RM). In a significant proportion of couples with RM, routine diagnostic workup cannot find any manageable cause, leading to a requirement for new diagnostic tools. In the present study, we determined the quantitative composition of the microbiota of the vagina and cervical canal, assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, in women with RM. It also evaluated their derangements related to the pathogenesis of RM, and thus the suitability of this test as a diagnostic tool for managing RM. Vaginal and cervical canal specimens of 25 women with RM and 25 healthy volunteers were collected. The test results revealed information about the total vaginal bacterial biomass by measuring the abundance of Lactobacillus spp.; other bacteria; and pathogens, including Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma (urealyticum + parvum), and Candida spp. Overall, the findings of this study implied the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. decreased in women with RM with an increase in the abundance of other microorganisms in accordance with the reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. due to aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal and cervical canal microbiota need to be considered during the diagnostic workup of women with RM.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a well-known reproductive disorder. Its diagnostic workup is not successful in determining the underlying problem in many cases. Hence, novel diagnostic tools based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are needed for evaluating reproductive microbiota, which are considerably reliable, to satisfy the expectations of women with RM. What do the results of this study add? Overall, the decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. was found to be related to RM, and the patterns of the presence of other microorganisms were in accordance with the reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. These findings suggested an important role of vaginal and cervical canal microbiota in the pathogenesis of RM. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Additional research is warranted to elucidate the functional impact of altered components of the microbiota of vaginal and cervical canals on the physiology of the local cervical canal and its participation in the microbiota of the endometrial cavity, especially regarding unsuccessful pregnancies as a result of the disturbed physiology of the local endometrial microenvironment. However, possible applications of real-time PCR-based tests for the screening of subclinical infections in clinical practice require the performance of further investigations in patients with RM

Effects of Ibuprofen on the physiology and outcome of rabbit endotoxic shock

Abstract Background Despite major developments in the management of septic shock, the mortality rate had progressively increased. Ibuprofen has been shown to have beneficial physiological effects when used as a treatment. However, there are conflicting results with respect to survival. This study aims to investigate the effect of ibuprofen on vital functions, various physiological parameters and survival during endotoxic shock in rabbits. Methods Twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits were randomly separated into four groups. The first group received only saline, the second was given 2 mg/kg intravenous endotoxin at t0, the third received 30 mg/kg ibuprofen 30 minutes after endotoxin administration, whilst the fourth group received ibuprofen 30 minutes before the endotoxin. Respiratory and heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and rectal temperature were recorded. Complete blood counts were performed and thromboxane B2 was measured every 30 minutes for the first two hours, and then hourly over the course of the experiment. Urine samples were collected at the same time points for the measurement of prostaglandin E2. Results Ibuprofen was found to improve respiratory rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure. However, it did not improve the negative effects of endotoxin on body temperature, haematocrit values, white blood cell count, and thrombocyte number. Thromboxane B2 levels in group IV were significantly lower than in the other groups, and the increase started at a later timepoint. In ibuprofen-treated animals, Prostaglandin E2 levels stayed low for at least 90 minutes, but started to rise thereafter. While the average survival in Group II animals was 192.9 ± 46.9 minutes, those of groups III and IV were 339.1 ± 33.5 minutes (p Conclusions Ibuprofen appears to increase survival in endotoxic shock-induced animals. Therefore, it may be helpful for the prophylaxis and treatment of patients with, or who are likely to develop, septic shock.</p