Problems in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology residency training

Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to determine the problems encountered by Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology residents during residency training in order to identify solutions to these difficulties. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted between December 19 and 31, 2018 using a 46-item questionnaire. Participants were able to participate in the survey anonymously via the website of the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialty Society of Turkey. Residents were informed via text message and e-mail to encourage participation. The survey included questions about current problems with the physical conditions, access to scientific information resources, the quality of residency education, examinations, night shifts, mobbing, rotations, and the possibility of following up special patient subgroups. Results: A total of 134 residents completed the questionnaire, 73 of whom were in university educational hospitals and 61 were in training and research hospitals operating under the Ministry of Health. Around 68% of the participants stated that they were working in unsuitable physical conditions and 33% had no access to medical information resources outside of the hospital. Ninety-four participants (61%) declared that their clinic had a regular training program which was renewed annually, but only 36% of these asserted that it was adequate for their training. When asked about the frequency of coworking with faculty members for scientific data/study production, 46% of the respondents answered once a year or less. Fifty-nine participants (44%) had seven or more night shifts per month. Thirty-six percent of the participants reported that they were subject to workplace bullying, which they said was perpetrated most frequently by faculty members (36%). Only 22 participants (16%) considered the microbiology training was adequate and 15% rated the training received during rotations as adequate. Thirty-three of the residents had performed a liver biopsy or been trained in this procedure. Fifty-five participants (46%) had never worked at a vaccine outpatient clinic. According to the trainees, the most important problem was inadequate education (28%) and 55% declared that they would not choose the same specialty if they entered the national medical specialty exam again. Conclusion: Residents describe many problems during their specialty training, such as inadequate education, excessive night shifts, increased workload, and workplace bullying. These problems should be presented more frequently with valid scientific data within the professional societies, and in light of this information, physician working groups should be formed to develop solutions. © Copyright 2021 by the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialty Society of Turkey Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials published by Galenos Yayinevi

Mucormycosis: Retrospective evaluation of 12 cases [Mukormikoz: 12 olgunun retrospektif degerlendirilmesi]

PubMed ID: 21935783Mucormycosis is a rare and often fatal invasive fungal infection. Disseminated or pulmonary forms are common in patients with immune deficiency while rhinocerebral form is common in diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the adult mucormycosis cases which were followed up in our hospital between 2007-2010. The cases were evaluated in terms of demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, laboratory, clinical and treatment results. A total of 12 mucormycosis cases (6 were male; age range: 18-74 years; mean age: 50.83 ± 18.27 years) were evaluated. Ten of the 12 cases had definitive diagnosis of invasive fungal infection according to EORTC/MSG (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group) criteria whereas two had possible mucormycosis. Six cases had rhinoorbital, four had rhinocerabral, one had pulmonary and one had rhinocerebral and pulmonary mucormycosis. Fever (n= 10; 83%), edema in face (n= 8; 67%) and eyes (n= 6; 50%) were the most common symptoms and findings. Mycologic culture was performed in ten cases and was found positive in five cases (four cases had Rhizopus spp. one case had Mucor). In two cases direct microscopy revealed mycelium but culture did not yield any pathogen. Two cases had concomitant Aspergillus spp. growth. Overall mortality rate was determined as 50% (6/12). All of the cases received antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole or itraconazole), however, surgical intervention was applied to five cases. Mean duration of antifungal treatment was 60.8 ± 47.4 days. Mortality rate was lower in cases who received concomitant surgical therapy, but the difference was not found statistically significant (2/5 vs. 4/7, p> 0.05). Hematologic diseases (n= 6) and diabetes mellitus (n= 3) were the most common underlying diseases in mucormycosis cases. Voriconazole prophylaxis applied to three cases with hematologic diseases was detected as a risk factor. Development of mucormycosis in those cases who were under voriconazole prophylaxis, deserves attention. Since this is the largest 3-years series of adult mucormycosis cases reported from a single center and includes the first cases treated with posaconazole, the results of this evaluation may aid to the management of patients with mucormycosis

A case of cerebral abscess due to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus which is treated with linezolid + RIFAMPIN combination [Linezolid + rifampisin kombinasyonu ile tedavi edilen metisiline dirençlí staphylococcus aureus'un neden oldugu beyin apsesi olgusu]

PubMed ID: 21063978Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a rare cause of cerebral abscesses, however it is a relatively more common etiologic agent in post-neurosurgical abscesses and the main antibacterial therapy option is vancomycin. In this report, a case of brain abscess due to MRSA which did not respond neither to moxifloxacin + vancomycin nor vancomycin + rifampin combination therapies, and merely treated by linezolid + rifampin combination, has been presented. Fifty-one years old female patient who was operated 40 days ago for subarachnoid bleeding and aneurysm in middle cerebral artery bifurcation, was hospitalized due to purulent leakage from the operation area. She did not have fever and her physical examination, including the neurologic system, was normal. Computerized tomography revealed an approximately 1 cm lesion compatible with subdural empyema and cerebral abscess in the right frontoparietal area in supratentorial sections. The patient was operated for wound revision and moxifloxacin was initiated. Since the operation materials revealed MRSA growth, vancomycin (4 × 500 mg, IV) was added to the treatment. The isolate was identified by conventional methods, and antibiotic susceptibility test performed by disk diffusion method showed that it was susceptible to levofloxacin, linezolid, rifampin, vancomycin and teicoplanin. Since no clinical response was obtained in two weeks, moxifloxacin was switched to rifampin (300 mg 1 × 2). On the 10th day of vancomycin + rifampin therapy, radiological findings showed development of cerebritis and therefore vancomycin was changed with linezolid (2 × 600 mg, IV). The control CT of the patient revealed regression of the brain lesion and linezolid + rifampin treatment continued for six weeks. The patient did not develop any hematological, liver or renal toxicity during the therapy and the radiological findings regressed. No relapse were detected in the one year follow-up period. This case suggested that linezolid might be a treatment alternative in the therapy of vancomycin-refractory MRSA brain abscess

Pegylated interferon in HBeAg-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B patients: Posttreatment 1-year results of three Turkish centres

PubMed ID: 24171823In this study, we aimed to evaluate the 1-year post-treatment follow-up results of 112 patients who received pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) for 52 weeks. HBeAg negativity/seroconversion and/or negative HBV-DNA at the end of the treatment were considered as response. Patients who had response at the end of treatment but had HBV-DNA breakthrough during 1-year follow-up were considered as relapse. The study group comprised 112 cases (34 HBeAg-positive, 78 HBeAg-negative). In HBeAg-positive and -negative cases, end-of-treatment response rates were 2.9% and 60.2%, whereas 1-year sustained virological response rates were 0 and 33.3%, respectively. When we compared relapse cases versus cases with response at the end of 1-year follow-up, being female and having low viral load were the two parameters associated with higher response rates (Chi-square, P50.028; Mann–Whitney U test, P50.023). Overall non-response rates to PEGIFN were high (57.1%). Results in HBeAg-positive cases were disappointing. © 2014 Edizioni Scientifiche per l’Informazione su Farmaci e Terapia

Investigation of bacterial and viral etiology in community acquired central nervous system infections with molecular methods [Toplum Kökenli Santral Sinir Sistemi Enfeksiyonlarinda Bakteriyel ve Viral Etiyolojinin Moleküler Yöntemlerle Degerlendirilmesi]

PubMed ID: 28929964In this multicenter prospective cohort study, it was aimed to evaluate the bacterial and viral etiology in community-acquired central nervous system infections by standart bacteriological culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Patients hospitalized with central nervous system infections between April 2012 and February 2014 were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical information of the patients were collected prospectively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of the patients were examined by standart bacteriological culture methods, bacterial multiplex PCR (Seeplex meningitis-B ACE Detection (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Group B streptococci) and viral multiplex PCR (Seeplex meningitis-VI ACE Detection kits herpes simplex virus-1(HSV1), herpes simplex virus-2(HSV2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV6)) (Seeplex meningitis-V2 ACE Detection kit (enteroviruses)). Patients were classified as purulent meningitis, aseptic meningitis and encephalitis according to their clinical, CSF (leukocyte level, predominant cell type, protein and glucose (blood/CSF) levels) and cranial imaging results. Patients who were infected with a pathogen other than the detection of the kit or diagnosed as chronic meningitis and other diseases during the follow up, were excluded from the study. A total of 79 patients (28 feMale, 51 Male, aged 42.1 ±18.5) fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. A total of 46 patients were classified in purulent meningitis group whereas 33 were in aseptic meningitis/encephalitis group. Pathogens were detected by multiplex PCR in 41 patients. CSF cultures were positive in 10 (21.7%) patients (nine S.pneumoniae, one H.influenzae) and PCR were positive for 27 (58.6%) patients in purulent meningitis group. In this group one type of bacteria were detected in 18 patients (14 S.pneumoniae, two N.meningitidis, one H.influenzae, one Lmonocytogenes). Besides, it is noteworthy that multiple pathogens were detected such as bacteria-virus combination in eight patients and two different bacteria in one patient. In the aseptic meningitis/encephalitis group, pathogens were detected in 14 out of 33 patients; single type of viruses in 11 patients (seven enterovirus, two HSV1, one HSV2, one VZV) and two different viruses were determined in three patients. These data suggest that multiplex PCR methods may increase the isolation rate of pathogens in central nervous system infections. Existence of mixed pathogen growth is remarkable in our study. Further studies are needed for the clinical relevance of this result

Investigation of bacterial and viral etiology in community acquired central nervous system infections with molecular methods [Toplum Kökenli Santral Sinir Sistemi Enfeksiyonlarinda Bakteriyel ve Viral Etiyolojinin Moleküler Yöntemlerle Deǧerlendirilmesi]

In this multicenter prospective cohort study, it was aimed to evaluate the bacterial and viral etiology in community-acquired central nervous system infections by standart bacteriological culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Patients hospitalized with central nervous system infections between April 2012 and February 2014 were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical information of the patients were collected prospectively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of the patients were examined by standart bacteriological culture methods, bacterial multiplex PCR (Seeplex meningitis-B ACE Detection (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Group B streptococci) and viral multiplex PCR (Seeplex meningitis-VI ACE Detection kits herpes simplex virus-1(HSV1), herpes simplex virus-2(HSV2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV6)) (Seeplex meningitis-V2 ACE Detection kit (enteroviruses)). Patients were classified as purulent meningitis, aseptic meningitis and encephalitis according to their clinical, CSF (leukocyte level, predominant cell type, protein and glucose (blood/CSF) levels) and cranial imaging results. Patients who were infected with a pathogen other than the detection of the kit or diagnosed as chronic meningitis and other diseases during the follow up, were excluded from the study. A total of 79 patients (28 feMale, 51 Male, aged 42.1 ±18.5) fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. A total of 46 patients were classified in purulent meningitis group whereas 33 were in aseptic meningitis/encephalitis group. Pathogens were detected by multiplex PCR in 41 patients. CSF cultures were positive in 10 (21.7%) patients (nine S.pneumoniae, one H.influenzae) and PCR were positive for 27 (58.6%) patients in purulent meningitis group. In this group one type of bacteria were detected in 18 patients (14 S.pneumoniae, two N.meningitidis, one H.influenzae, one Lmonocytogenes). Besides, it is noteworthy that multiple pathogens were detected such as bacteria-virus combination in eight patients and two different bacteria in one patient. In the aseptic meningitis/encephalitis group, pathogens were detected in 14 out of 33 patients; single type of viruses in 11 patients (seven enterovirus, two HSV1, one HSV2, one VZV) and two different viruses were determined in three patients. These data suggest that multiplex PCR methods may increase the isolation rate of pathogens in central nervous system infections. Existence of mixed pathogen growth is remarkable in our study. Further studies are needed for the clinical relevance of this result

[No title available]

PubMed ID: 27511346Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had ?5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having >5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did. © TÜBITAK