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Dünyadaki sınırlı kaynakların hızla tükenmesi neticesinde ve gelecek nesiller adına daha sürdürülebilir bir toplum yaratılabilmesi amacıyla; daha sağlıklı ve çevreye daha saygılı şekilde beslenebilmek için, organik gıda tüketiminin de giderek arttığı gözlemlenmektedir. Özellikle de geleneksel olarak üretilen endüstriyel tarım ürünlerinin topluma, çevreye, hayvanlara ve insan sağlığına verdiği zararların iyice anlaşılmasından dolayı, organik tarım sistemiyle üretilerek pazara sunulan organik gıda ürünleri her geçen gün değer kazanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda yapılan bu çalışmanın asıl amacı; kavramsal açıdan ‘’Planlanmış Davranış Teorisi’’ modeline dayanılarak, bireylerin organik gıdaya yönelik tutumlarını hangi faktörlerin etkilediğini belirlemek ve buna bağlı olarak da bu tüketicileri organik gıda satın alma davranışına hangi etmenlerin teşvik ettiğini ortaya koymaktır. Buna göre İstanbul ilinde organik gıda satın alan 18 yaş ve üzerindeki katılımcılardan, kolayda örnekleme metoduyla toplanan 473 anket verisi, istatistiksel yöntemler kullanılarak analiz edilmiş ve yapılan analizler sonucunda da; sağlık endişesi, algılanan gıda güvenliği ve algılanan gıda fiyatı faktörlerinin, tüketicilerin organik gıdaya yönelik tutumlarını etkileyen unsurlar olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca buna bağlı olarak da bu bireylerin organik gıdaya yönelik tutumlarının, organik gıda satın alma davranışlarını etkilediği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Diğer taraftan besin değeri ve lezzet, algılanan gıda kalitesi ve çevresel kaygı faktörleri ise, bu araştırma kapsamında tüketicilerin organik gıdaya yönelik tutumları üzerinde etkili olmayan unsurlar olarak bulunmuştur.

The most common gram-negative pathogens in urinary tract infections are

The most common gram-negative pathogens in urinary tract infections are Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Therapy that is often empirical relies on local antibiotic resistance data, hence monitorization of antimicrobial resistance periodically in each hospital is a requirement. In this study, antibiotic susceptibility profiles of consecutive urinary isolates (E. coli [n = 235] and K. pneumoniae [n = 56]) of adult patients collected between February 2018 and February 2019 from inpatients in Hacettepe University Hospital were assessed. Isolates resistant to fosfomycin (minimum inhibitory concentration >32 mg/L) were further investigated for the presence of fosA, fosA3, and fosC2. Fosfomycin susceptibility was determined by agar dilution method. Broth microdilution method was performed for amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, tigecycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), colistin, and piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ). PCR method was employed to investigate fosA, fosA3, fosC2, and blaCTX-M. Existence of fosA3 gene was confirmed by sequencing. Resistance rates to amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, tigecycline, TMP/SMX, colistin, and PIP/TAZ were 2.7%, 18.5%, 25.4%, 33.0%, 3.4%, 45.4%, 2.4%, 43.6%, 6.2%, and 23.7%, respectively. Sixteen isolates (5.5%) were resistant to fosfomycin. Resistance was most frequently observed in K. pneumoniae (n = 9). fosA3 gene was detected in one fosfomycin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolate. This isolate also carried blaCTX-M. fosC2 and fosA genes could not be detected in any of the isolates. In this study, we report for the first time the existence of fosA3 in Turkey and its association with the blaCTX-M gene. As a result of increasing blaCTX-M producing Enterobacterales isolates globally, increase in fosfomycin resistance may be expected in near future.

Colistin is one of the most effective alternatives for treating Acinetobacter baumannii infections. The aim of this study was to determine colistin resistance and heteroresistance rates in A. baumannii from clinical samples in Hacettepe University clinical microbiology laboratory between June 2016 and January 2017. A total of 200 isolates were included in the study. In vitro susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and tigecycline were determined by disk diffusion test. Most isolates were multiresistant as they exhibited resistance to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, and fluoroquinolones. Colistin susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution (BMD) test (EUCAST standards) and was compared with E-test (bioMérieux, France) in 120 isolates. In 14 blood isolates that were susceptible to colistin (MIC ≤ 2 mg/L), heteroresistance was investigated with the population analysis profile (PAP) method. Overall resistance (n = 200) to colistin was 28% by BMD. Among the 120 isolates where the two tests were compared, resistance to colistin was 25.8% versus 4.2% with BMD and E-test, respectively. Three blood isolates (21.4%) were heteroresistant to colistin. With E-test, a majority of the resistant isolates are overlooked and in vitro susceptibility to colistin should be determined with broth dilution method. This is the first study in Turkey reporting heteroresistance in A. baumannii isolates by the PAP method and emphasizes the need to test for heteroresistance in relation to clinical outcome in serious infections due to A. baumannii.

Background Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–A. baumannii (Acb) complex and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia represent frequent causes of hospital-acquired infections. We evaluated the frequency and resistance rates of Acb complex and S. maltophilia isolates from medical centers enrolled in the SENTRY Program. Methods A total of 13 752 Acb complex and 6467 S. maltophilia isolates were forwarded to a monitoring laboratory by 259 participating sites from the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Europe, and North America between 1997 and 2016. Confirmation of species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using conventional methods and/or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry and the broth microdilution method, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility results were interpreted by CLSI and EUCAST 2018 criteria. Results Acb complex and S. maltophilia were most frequently isolated from patients hospitalized with pneumonia (42.9% and 55.8%, respectively) and bloodstream infections (37.3% and 33.8%, respectively). Colistin and minocycline were the most active agents against Acb complex (colistin MIC50/90, ≤0.5/2 mg/L; 95.9% susceptible) and S. maltophilia (minocycline MIC50/90, ≤1/2 mg/L; 99.5% susceptible) isolates, respectively. Important temporal decreases in susceptibility rates among Acb complex isolates were observed for all antimicrobial agents in all regions. Rates of extensively drug-resistant Acb complex rates were highest in Europe (66.4%), followed by Latin America (61.5%), Asia-Pacific (56.9%), and North America (38.8%). Among S. maltophilia isolates, overall trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) susceptibility rates decreased from 97.2% in 2001–2004 to 95.7% in 2013–2016, but varied according to the geographic region. Conclusions We observed important reductions of susceptibility rates to all antimicrobial agents among Acb complex isolates obtained from all geographic regions. In contrast, resistance rates to TMP-SMX among S. maltophilia isolates remained low and relatively stable during the study period.

Objective: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most significant problems of human-animal and environmental ecosystems. It is crucial to establish integrated surveillance systems and monitor resistance for the management of antibiotic resistance. Standardization of antibiotic resistance data obtained from various disciplines is the critical point in enhancing the data quality. To realize this objective, a common antibiotic susceptibility testing training program was prepared and performed for professionals from various disciplines to standardize the resistance data to be obtained from the human, animal, and environmental sectors in our country. Method: A total of 48 individuals participated in a five-day training program in three terms. In each period, four small groups, each consisting of four people from a group of different professions, were generated. Participants were trained on quality control, phenotypic tests, genotypic tests, and the use of resistance data in antibiotic susceptibility testing. Pre-test and post-tests were applied to the participants. Results: Individuals with a postgraduate degree who studied antibiotic susceptibility testing in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, food, and environment participated in the training. The average number of correct answers in the pre-test and post-test increased from 4.8 to 10.5 in April, from 4 to 9 in June and from 3.4 to 8.5 in September. They studied phenotypic and genotypic tests in the supplied isolates under the supervision of the educators. Conclusion: We presume that dissemination of the training at graduate and postgraduate levels will also enable the One-Health approach to become widespread. In addition, worldwide application of similar trainings will help standardization of resistance data, as well as one health approach.

Introduction: Infections caused by Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are an important public health issue. Intravenous fosfomycin can be considered as an alternative for the treatment of serious infections caused by CPE. In this study, in vitro activity of fosfomycin was investigated among CPE isolates. Methodology: Overall, 158 clinically relevant isolates obtained from 18 hospitals of 13 cities in Turkey with predetermined carbapenemase types were evaluated in the study, including Escherichia coli (n = 19) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 139). In vitro activity of fosfomycin was determined with agar dilution method. Among Klebsiella spp., 104 harbored blaOXA-48, 15 isolates carried both blaOXA-48 and blaNDM; three had both blaOXA-48 and blaVIM and nine isolates had blaNDM alone. Four isolates carried only blaVIM and two isolates harbored blaIMP alone. One isolate co-harbored blaVIM and blaNDM. Among E. coli isolates, blaOXA-48 and blaNDM were carried by 18 and one isolates, respectively. Results: Resistance to fosfomycin was detected in 43.7% of the isolates. Among Klebsiella spp. and E. coli, these rates were 46.8% and 21.1%, respectively. In Klebsiella spp. resistance to fosfomycin was 49.5% in blaOXA-48 carriers; 26.7% in isolates co-harbouring blaOXA-48 and blaNDM and 66.7% in blaNDM carriers. In E. coli, fosfomycin resistance was detected among 16.7% of the blaOXA-48 carriers. Conclusions: High level of fosfomycin resistance in these isolates may be attributable to the fact that these isolates are multidrug resistant. The genetic background of resistance should also be investigated in order to understand the co-occurrence and transfer of resistance among the CPE.

Pantoea agglomerans is an environmental Gram-negative bacterium that rarely is responsible for the infections in humans but it is often a causative factor of a number of occupational diseases. This study evaluated the clinical and microbiological characteristics and pathogenicity of P. agglomerans in children. We retrospectively reviewed microbiological test results for all children (1 month old to 18 years old) who were admitted to our pediatric hospital between January 2000 to June 2015 and had positive clinical specimen cultures for P. agglomerans. Isolates were identified using conventional tests and the BBL Crystal E/NF ID or MALDI-TOF MS systems. Antibiotic susceptibilities were evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. We identified fifteen positive cultures from 14 patients with confirmed infections. The positive specimens included pus, urine, tracheal aspirate, blood, and central venous line samples that yielded P. agglomerans. The median patient age was 8.8 years (range: 1.5 months to 16.5 years), and all patients had underlying comorbidities. Five patients had medical devices, and two devices were removed. The most common P. agglomerans infections involved wound infections (35.7%), pneumonia (21.4%), and urinary tract infections (21.4%). Three patients had concomitant infections (Enterococcus faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus fumigatus). Five patients had anemia. Three patients (21.4%) died, and all three had carbapenem-resistant P. agglomerans that was detected after the first week of hospitalization; two cases involved pneumonia, which was ineffectively treated. P. agglomerans infections may be life-threatening, especially in young patients with pneumonia. Hospital-acquired P. agglomerans may have different pathogenicity and clinical features, compared to community-acquired P. agglomerans, although further studies are needed to understand the drug resistance patterns in this bacterium. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Limited on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

0000-0002-6877-0269 WOS: 000571318600001 Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of nurses' way of working on depression indications and their sexual lives (N = 163).Methods:The study had a correlational design. The present study was conducted with the participation of 163 women nurses who met the criteria for participation in the research in Turkey. The questionnaire included three psychometrically tested scales: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as the participant information form.Results:The study found that the total mean score of BDI of nurses who worked in shifts was higher than that of those who worked only in daytime (p < .001). The study also found that the total mean score of FSFI and its subscales other than desire (p > .05) were significantly lower than that of those who worked only in daytime.Conclusion:Nurses who worked night shifts had higher rates of depression (based on the BDI) and higher rates of sexual dysfunction.

Lactobacilli are part of the microbiota and are also used as probiotics. However, in recent years they have been associated with invasive infections, especially bacteremia.

Lactobacilli are part of the microbiota and are also used as probiotics. However, in recent years they have been associated with invasive infections, especially bacteremia. Lactobacillus spp. are usually susceptible to penicillins, macrolides, and carbapenems, but Lactobacillus rhamnosus is intrinsically resistant to glycopeptides. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and resistance mechanism of a clinical isolate of L. rhamnosus isolated from 10 sets of blood cultures of the same patient. The isolate was identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (Bruker Daltonics; BD, Bremen, Germany) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In vitro susceptibilities to penicillin, ampicillin, imipenem, vancomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and linezolid were determined with gradient test strips (bioMerieux, France) on Mueller-Hinton agar plates supplemented with 5% defibrinated horse blood and 20 mg/L beta-NAD. The isolate was resistant to vancomycin and imipenem. Polymerase chain reaction test was positive for blaOXA-48 and the presence of this carbapenemase was confirmed by gene sequencing. Although plasmid analysis suggested that the blaOXA-48 is chromosomal in this isolate, it is still an alarming finding for potential transmission of antibiotic resistance genes to other bacteria in the gut. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of blaOXA-48 in a Lactobacillus spp. and has utmost importance as these bacteria are used as probiotics. The isolation of these bacteria from sterile body sites should not go unnoticed.

Kluyvera is a relatively newly described member of the Enterobacteriaceae family that rarely causes infections in humans. In the pediatric population, it is described in association with clinically significant infections ranging from urinary tract infections to sepsis with multiorgan failure. Our aim is to determine the clinical significance of K. ascorbata infections in the pediatric population at our institution. We retrospectively analyzed clinical microbiology data as from 2006 and identified four clinically significant isolates in this period. The isolates were from four cases who presented with sepsis, bacteremia associated with central venous catheter, pyelonephritis and intraabdominal collection. The ages of these patients ranged between seven months to 17 years. All patients received prompt antimicrobial treatment on the basis of susceptibility testing and good clinical response was obtained in all patients. Successful treatment options include third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, betalactams with beta-lactamase inhibitors and carbapenems. Clinicians should be aware of the spectrum of disease and increasing clinical importance associated with this pathogen.

Selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) results is one possible laboratory-based antibiotic stewardship intervention. The primary aim of this study was to identify where and how selective reporting of AST results is implemented in Europe both in inpatient and in outpatient settings. An ESCMID cross-sectional, self-administered, internet-based survey was conducted among all EUCIC (European Committee on Infection Control) or EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) national representatives in Europe and Israel. Of 38 countries, 36 chose to participate in the survey. Selective reporting of AST results was implemented in 11/36 countries (31%), was partially implemented in 4/36 (11%) and was limited to local initiatives or was not adopted in 21/36 (58%). It was endorsed as standard of care by health authorities in only three countries. The organisation of selective reporting was everywhere discretionally managed by each laboratory, with a pronounced intra-and inter-country variability. The most frequent application was in uncomplicated community-acquired infections, particularly urinary tract and skin and soft-tissue infections. The list of reported antibiotics ranged from a few first-line options, to longer reports where only last-resort antibiotics were hidden. Several barriers to implementation were reported, mainly lack of guidelines, poor system support, insufficient resources, and lack of professionals' capability. In conclusion, selective reporting of AST results is poorly implemented in Europe and is applied with a huge heterogeneity of practices. Development of an international framework, based on existing initiatives and identified barriers, could favour its dissemination as one important element of antibiotic stewardship programmes. KEYWORDS: Antibiotic prescription; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotic stewardship; Antibiotic susceptibility testing; Questionnaire; Selective reporting PMID: 28093208 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2016.11.014, Selective reporting of antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) results is one possible laboratory-based antibiotic stewardship intervention. The primary aim of this study was to identify where and how selective reporting of AST results is implemented in Europe both in inpatient and in outpatient settings. An ESCMID cross-sectional, self-administered, internet-based survey was conducted among all EUCIC (European Committee on Infection Control) or EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) national representatives in Europe and Israel. Of 38 countries, 36 chose to participate in the survey. Selective reporting of AST results was implemented in 11/36 countries (31%), was partially implemented in 4/36 (11%) and was limited to local initiatives or was not adopted in 21/36 (58%). It was endorsed as standard of care by health authorities in only three countries. The organisation of selective reporting was everywhere discretionally managed by each laboratory, with a pronounced intra- and inter-country variability. The most frequent application was in uncomplicated community-acquired infections, particularly urinary tract and skin and soft-tissue infections. The list of reported antibiotics ranged from a few first-line options, to longer reports where only last-resort antibiotics were hidden. Several barriers to implementation were reported, mainly lack of guidelines, poor system support, insufficient resources, and lack of professionals' capability. In conclusion, selective reporting of AST results is poorly implemented in Europe and is applied with a huge heterogeneity of practices. Development of an international framework, based on existing initiatives and identified barriers, could favour its dissemination as one important element of antibiotic stewardship programmes.

WOS: 000376292100007, PubMed ID: 27048584, Objectives: Data are presented from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) for respiratory tract infection pathogens collected in 2011-13 from Turkey. Methods: MICs were determined using Etest (R). Susceptibilitywas assessed using CLSI, EUCASTand pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) interpretive criteria. Results: Rates of antibiotic susceptibility were very low among 333 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae tested: penicillin 38% using CLSI (oral) and EUCAST breakpoints; erythromycin 51% using CLSI and EUCAST criteria; and cefuroxime 64.6% using CLSI and PK/PD and 46.9% using EUCAST. Of the isolates, >90% were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone (except using EUCAST criteria: 76%), levofloxacin and high-dose intravenous penicillin. Among 339 Haemophilus influenzae isolates, 6.8% were beta-lactamase positive while 9.1% were beta-lactamase negative but ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) by CLSI (14.7% by EUCAST) criteria. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid susceptibility was similar to 90% by CLSI (with or without BLNAR adjustment, EUCAST and high-dose PK/PD) but lower, at 82.9%, by EUCAST with BLNAR adjustment. Levofloxacin susceptibility was 96% using all three breakpoints. Dramatic differences in rates of susceptibility, depending on the breakpoints used, were seen for cefaclor [ 94% by CLSI (86.4% BLNAR adjusted), 23% by PK/PD] and cefuroxime [97% by CLSI (89.1% BLNAR adjusted), 85% by PK/PD, 15% by EUCAST (13.0% BLNAR adjusted)]. Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 222) and Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 40) isolates remained highly susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalosporins and levofloxacin, with only erythromycin susceptibility dropping below 95% for S. pyogenes. Conclusions: Overall, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and levofloxacin were themost active antibiotics based on all three breakpoints against these pathogens. Although susceptibility was not universally low in Turkey, high resistance rates were found in S. pneumoniae and, when using PK/PD and EUCAST breakpoints, in other respiratory pathogens., GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKline, This study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline.

Pre-term birth and/or low birth weight (PTLBW) is a serious problem in developing countries. The absence of known risk factors in ≈ 50% of PTLBW cases has resulted in a continued search for other causes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of periodontitis on pregnancy outcomes.Samples were taken from 50 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on amniotic fluid samples obtained during amniocentesis and on subgingival plaque samples to determine the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Campylobacter rectus and Eikenella corrodens. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment level were evaluated. Medical records were obtained after birth.Social and demographic variables were similar among the Gingivitis (G), Localized Periodontitis (LP) and Generalized Periodontitis (GP) groups. Four subjects gave birth to PTLBW neonates. Campylobacter rectus, T. forsythia, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were detected in the amniotic fluid and subgingival plaque samples of three patients who gave birth to PTLBW neonates. The amniotic fluid sample from the fourth patient was not positive for any of the tested pathogens.These findings suggest that the transmission of some periodontal pathogens from the oral cavity of the mother may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results contribute to an understanding of the association between periodontal disease and PTLBW, but further studies are required to better clarify the possible relationship.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the epidemiological, clinical, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Shigella gastroenteritis cases occurring during the years 2003-2009 and to compare results with those of the years 1987-2002. Methods: A hospital-based study was conducted over a 22-year period. All 238 Shigella strains isolated between 2003 and 2009 were compared to 618 isolates from the period 1987-1994 and 218 Shigella strains isolated during 1995-2002 with regard to antimicrobial resistance patterns and patient clinical characteristics. Results: The predominant species during all periods was Shigella sonnei, with an increasing predominance across the periods (64.0%, 71.5%, and 87.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Neither the prevalence of bloody diarrhea nor other clinical characteristics changed across the study periods, except for the prevalence of dehydration, which increased (11.0%, 20.6%, and 28.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). During the period 2003-2009, 69.9% of Shigella were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 35.8% to ampicillin, and 4.7% to nalidixic acid. No case resistant to ciprofloxacin was detected. Multidrug resistance was also found to be similar in the last two periods (24.0% vs. 28.1%, respectively). Conclusions: There was both a microbiological and a clinical change in childhood Shigella gastroenteritis cases over the 22 years. The antibiotic resistance pattern appears to have remained stable over the last two periods. There is a need to re-examine the criteria and clinical management guidelines for suspected shigellosis cases. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: This study aimed to provide insight into possible antibiotic drivers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (3GCREC) in southern and eastern Mediterranean institutions. Methods: MRSA and 3GCREC susceptibility proportions from 19 regional hospitals, previously published by the ARMed project, were correlated with antibiotic use data from the same institutions. Results: Hospitals reporting below-median MRSA proportions had significantly lower total antibiotic use. MRSA proportions increased with greater use of carbapenems (P = .04). In multivariate analysis, a positive correlation was identified with the use of carbapenems (P = .002), combination penicillins (P = .018), and aminoglycosides (P = .014). No difference was ascertained between 3GCREC proportions and total antibiotic use. In multivariate linear regression, a correlation was identified only for 3GCREC (P = .005), but a negative association was evident for beta-lactamase–resistant penicillins (P = .010) and first-generation cephalosporins (P = .012). Conclusions: The results suggest an association between resistance and antibiotic use, especially for carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins. These data support the urgent implementation of antibiotic stewardship initiatives in hospitals in developing countries that focus on more judicious use of broad-spectrum formulations., peer-reviewed

Kibar, Filiz/0000-0003-2983-2399; Aktas, Zerrin/0000-0002-5998-0440; Ogunc, Dilara/0000-0001-6669-6811; gelmez, gulsen altinkanat/0000-0003-0274-628X; WOS: 000269414100003 PubMed: 19622455 Resistance rates to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, cefoperazone/sulbactam and piperacillin/tazobactam in Escherichia coli (n = 438), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 444), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 210) and Acinetobacter baumanni (n =200) were determined with E-test in a multicenter surveillance study (HITIT-2) in 2007. ESBL production in Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae was investigated following the CLSI guidelines. Overall 42.0% of E.coli and 41.4% of K. pneumoniae were ESBL producers. In E. coli, resistance to imipenem was not observed, resistance to ciprofloxacin and amikacin was 58.0% and 5.5% respectively. In K. pneumoniae resistance to imipenem, ciprofloxacin and amikacin was 3.1%, 17.8% 12.4% respectively. In P. aeruginosa the lowest rate of resistance was observed with piperacillin/tazobactam (18.1%). A. baumanni isolates were highly resistant to all the antimicrobial agents, the lowest level of resistance was observed against cefoperazone/sulbactam (52.0%) followed by imipenem (55.5%). This study showed that resistance rates to antimicrobials are high in nosocomial isolates and show variations among the centers.

Summary: Anecdotal data from the southern and eastern Mediterranean region suggests that self-medication with antibiotics is commonly practiced in many countries. In order to provide proper information on the situation, we undertook short structured interviews in out-patients clinics or primary health centres in Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia and Turkey. A total of 2109 interviews were undertaken of which 1705 completed the full questionnaire. Self-medication was reported by 19.1% (

Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi, paratyphi A and B, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of S. typhi is essential for early diagnosis of typhoid fever and effective therapy. In this study 45 febrile patients who were suspected to have enteric fever were enrolled, and the results of blood cultures, widal agglutination tests and Polymerase Chain Reaction in these cases were evaluated. Group I consisted of 11 patients with diseases other than salmonella infections, group II represented 6 patients with positive cultures, and group III represented 28 patients with negative blood cultures negative but who were clinically suspected cases that had a medical history of using variable antimicrobial agents. Two positive PCR results were present; one of them was in culture positive group (16,6%) and the other was in culture negative group (3,5%). In our study widal agglutination tests and cultures were found not to be helpful in differential dignosis. Although PCR based detection of S. typhi is reported to be a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of enteric fever, in our study the benefit of this method in the diagnosis of especially patients who were treated with antimicrobial therapy was not clearly determined. Other methods to increase sensitiviy and specificity to levels such as those of real time PCR should be developed and large-scaled studies should be done in endemic and non-epidemic regions.

A significant increase in carbapenem-resistance rates among Acinetobacter baumannii isolates collected in two Turkish medical centres was detected in the 2000–2006 period (20–60 %) by the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program. Carbapenem-resistant strains from 2006 were evaluated for the presence of encoding genes and epidemic clonality. OXA-58-like and OXA-23-like carbapenemase-producing strains were detected in both medical institutions. Seventeen out of 18 strains from Ankara were positive for bla OXA-58 primers and belonged to the same clone, whilst 26 isolates (25 from Istanbul and one from Ankara) harboured bla OXA-23-like genes and showed identical or similar PFGE patterns. Isolates producing OXA-23-like carbapenemases were more resistant than OXA-58-like carbapenemase producers to non-carbapenem antimicrobial agents. Carbapenem resistance in these institutions was observed to be largely driven by the dissemination of clones producing OXA-type carbapenemases.

Objectives The aim of the study is to assess the effect of ring wearing and ring types on hand contamination and efficacy of alcohol-based hand disinfection among nurses working in intensive care settings. Methods Hand cultures were obtained from 84 nurses providing direct patient care in intensive care units of a pediatric hospital. Colony counts were compared depending on ring wearing and the type of ring worn. Twenty-eight nurses were asked to a wear plain wedding ring, 28 to wear rings with stones and 28 not to wear any rings, starting 15 days before and continuing throughout the study. Cultures were obtained by using sterile gloves containing phosphate-buffered-saline solution (PBS) after an alcohol-based hand disinfectant was used and bacteria were identified with standard laboratory tests. Results The nurses wearing rings had more Gram-positive, Gram-negative and total bacterial colonization on their hands than the nurses without rings despite using an alcohol-based rub ( p =0.001). When comparing the two groups with rings (plain wedding rings and rings with stones), colony counts of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and total bacteria did not differ ( p >0.05). Conclusions Ring wearing increases the bacterial colonization of hands and alcohol-based hand disinfection might not significantly reduce contamination of the ring-wearing hands. The type of ring did not cause any significant difference on the bacterial load. Wearing rings could increase the frequency of transmission of potential nosocomial pathogens.

Three clusters of Chryseobacterium meningosepticum infections in a tertiary health center in July 2006 and January 2007 involving 8 newborns and 5 older children were investigated. The index patient was from the neonatal intensive care unit, and the older patients were from other pediatric wards. Cultures were obtained from the environment and from health care workers' hands as part of an outbreak investigation. C meningosepticum was isolated from hand cultures obtained from a senior resident and from environmental cultures obtained from powdered infant formula, an electrical button, a computer keyboard, phone, a doorknob, and an Ambu bag. Antibiogram typing and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence polymerase chain reaction indicated that all of the isolates were epidemiologically related. Nine patients improved on antimicrobial treatment, and 4 premature infants died after the infection. C meningosepticum is a well-known etiologic agent for nosocomial infections involving newborns and immunocompromised patients. Wet and dry environmental surfaces and equipment may act as a source or play a role in disseminating the microorganism. Outbreaks may be controlled with strong emphasis on infection control measures.

To determine the frequency of pertussis in childrenor = 16 y who had prolonged cough (or = 14 d), a prospective study was conducted at an outpatient clinic of a paediatric hospital. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken for culture and nucleic acid testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Bordetella pertussis. Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT) were tested by ELISA in paired serum samples. A total of 148 patients were recruited during 1 y. Pertussis was detected in 25 (16.9%) patients with at least 1 of the tests. PCR was positive in 12 patients, and 9 cases was diagnosed serologically. Both PCR and serology were positive in 4 children. Duration of cough was longer in the patients with pertussis (median 33 vs 20, p = 0.03). Seropositivity of pertussis toxin was higher in pertussis negative patients during enrollment (24% vs 65%, p = 0.005). From the results of this study, B. pertussis seems to be common in our population despite high immunization rates with whole cell vaccine. Although the duration of cough is defined as longer than 21 d in some studies for pertussis case definition criteria, it was shorter than this in 3 of our cases.

Trichosporon asahii is a rare opportunistic infection, especially in children, causing a life threatening fungal infection underlying hematologic malignancies. Predisposing factors for infection with this pathogen are immunodeficiency including underlying malignancy, organ transplantation, extensive burns, human immunodeficiency virus infection, corticosteroid therapy, prosthetic valve surgery, and peritoneal dialysis. In the literature, a breakthrough under caspofungin, micafungin therapy is reported. In this article we report on a 16-year-old patient with Ewing sarcoma who had T. asahii sepsis. The patient died although he had been receiving caspofungin for less than 3 months and amphotericin B therapy for 3 days. A postmortem study of conchal tissues revealed T. asahii and mucormycosis histopathologically, and blood culture grew T. asahii. Copyright (C) 2013, Taiwan Society of Microbiology. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Tüm dünyada Enterobacteriaceae ailesi üyeleri arasında çoklu ilaç direncine sahip izolatlar artış göstermekte ve tedavide son seçenek olarak kabul edilen karbapenemlere karşı bu izolatlarda bulunabilen karbapenemazlar tedavide başarısızlıklara yol açabilmektedir. Bu enzimlerin ülkemizdeki sıklıklarına ilişkin çok merkezli çalışmalar bulunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, European Survey on Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) projesi kapsamında, Türkiye'nin değişik bölgelerindeki merkezlerden izole edilen Escherichia coli ve Klebsiella pneumoniae izolatlarında karbapenemaz varlığını ve enzim tiplerini belirlemektir. Türkiye'de belirlenmiş 18 merkezden Kasım 2013 tarihinden itibaren ilk altı aylık süre içinde karbapenem grubu antibiyotiklerden (imipenem, meropenem veya ertapenem) en az birine dirençli olarak saptanan ilk 10 klinik izolat koordinatör merkeze gönderilmiştir. İzolatlarda imipenem, meropenem ve ertapenem antibiyotik duyarlılıkları mikrodilüsyon yöntemi ile EUCAST standartlarına göre araştırılmış ve karbapenemaz varlığı fenotipik olarak kombinasyon sinerji testi ile doğrulanmıştır. Karbapenemaz tipleri, VIM, IMP, NDM, KPC ve OXA-48 karbapenemaz genlerine özgül primerler kullanılarak multipleks-polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu yöntemi ile araştırılmıştır. Altı aylık süre içinde, koordinatör merkeze, karbapenemaz varlığı şüpheli 155 klinik izolat [21'i (%13.5) E.coli, 134'ü (%86.5) K.pneumoniae] gönderilmiştir. E.coli izolatlarının 19'unda (%90.5) ve K.pneumoniae izolatlarının 124'ünde (%92.5) olmak üzere toplam 155 izolatın 143'ünde (%92.3) genotipik olarak en az bir karbapenemaz geni saptanmıştır. Bu enzimler 136 izolatta tek başına (OXA-48: %84.6; NDM: %6.3; VIM: %2.8; IMP: %1.4) bulunurken, yedi izolatta iki enzim bir arada (OXA-48 + NDM: %2.1; OXA-48 + VIM: %2.1; VIM + NDM: %0.7) olarak tespit edilmiştir. İzolatların hiç birinde KPC enzimi gözlenmemiştir. Mikrodilüsyon testi sonuçlarına göre OXA-48 pozitif izolatların imipenem, meropenem ve ertapeneme direnç yüzdeleri sırasıyla %59.5, %52.9 ve %100 olarak belirlenmiştir. Karbapenemaz varlığının doğrulanması için yapılan kombinasyon sinerji testinin moleküler test ile %100 uyumlu olduğu saptanmıştır. OXA-48 enzimi içeren izolatların birçoğunun meropeneme duyarlı ancak tamamının ertapeneme dirençli olması nedeniyle, karbapenemaz taramasında ertapenemin en uygun antibiyotik olduğu, ekipman ve maliyet gerektiren moleküler yöntemlerin uygulanamadığı merkezlerde sinerji tekniğine dayalı bu fenotipik yöntemin güvenle kullanılabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır, Carbapenems are the choice of treatment in infections caused by multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In recent years carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates due to carbapenemases have been increasingly reported worldwide. Multicenter studies on carbapenemases are scarce in Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of carbapenemases from different parts of Turkey as a part of the European Survey of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) project. Beginning in November 2013, carbapenem-resistant isolates resistant to at least one of the agents, namely imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem were sent to the coordinating center. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for these carbapenems were determined by microdilution tests following EUCAST guidelines. Production of carbapenemase was confi rmed by combination disk synergy tests. Types of carbapenemases were investigated using specifi c primers for VIM, IMP; NDM, KPC and OXA-48 genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. In a six month period, 155 suspected carbapenemase-positive isolates were sent to the coordinating center of which 21 (13.5%) were E.coli and 134 (86.5%) were K.pneumoniae. Nineteen (90.5%) strains among E.coli and 124 (92.5%) strains among K.pneumoniae were shown to harbour at least one carbapenemase gene by molecular tests, with a total of 92.3% (143/155). Carbapenemases were determined as a single enzyme in 136 strains (OXA-48: 84.6%; NDM: 6.3%; VIM: 2.8%; IMP: 1.4%) and as a combination in seven isolates (OXA-48 + NDM: 2.1%; OXA-48 + VIM: 2.1%; VIM + NDM: 0.7%). KPC was not detected in any of the isolates. According to the microdilution test results, resistance to imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem in OXA-48 isolates were 59.5%, 52.9% and 100%, respectively. The combination disk synergy test was 100% compatible with the molecular test results. As most of the OXA-48 producing isolates were susceptible to meropenem but all were resistant to ertapenem, ertapenem seems to be the most sensitive agent in screening carbapenemases in areas where OXA-48 is prevalent and phenotypic combination tests can be useful in centers where molecular tests are not available

Background: Parapneumonic effusions cause significant morbidity and mortality despite current developments in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Causative microorganisms may remain unidentified in a significant number of patients by cultures and Gram smears. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular technique for the detection of causative bacteria; however, its efficiency in pleural fluids is less known. Objectives: The present study was performed to compare the efficiency of PCR in the detection of the three most common organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophylus influenzae) with conventional methods. Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with parapneumonic pleural effusions were studied. On admission, pleural fluid samples were obtained for Gram staining, routine culture and PCR analysis for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Results: PCR analysis allowed detection of 11 microorganisms in 10 patients (35.7%), whereas pleural fluid cultures detected the etiological agent in only 2 (7.1%). S. pneumoniae was the most frequent agent. Conclusions: Pleural fluid cultures may have low diagnostic yields, partly due to prior antibiotic use. Pleural fluid PCR analysis may improve the etiologic diagnosis in parapneumonic pleural effusions, with technical advances leading to higher yields than obtained in this study.

In this report, we describe an 11-y-old girl who developed jugular venous thrombosis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for lymphoma and then experienced dissolution of the thrombosis following catheter-related Stenothrophomonas maltophilia bactearemia. The lysis of the old thrombosis around the central venous catheter suggested a local fibrinolytic activity of S. maltophilia. The global fibrinolytic capacity (GFC) was also tested in vitro by using S. maltophilia cultures obtained from the present patient; GFC of the patient was compared to that of another isolate of S. maltophilia, other bacteria (S. pyogenes and E. coli), and control plasma. The fibrinolytic capasity of S. maltophilia was significantly higher than that of the control plasma (p0.05) and almost equal to that of S. pyogenes (p0.05). Thus, if a potent local fibrinolytic activity of S. maltophilia is evident, the use of the fibrinolytic enzyme of S. maltophilia as a thrombolytic agent may be a useful therapeutic adjunct in the future. Further studies are needed to comfirm the results obtained in the present study.

WOS: 000371499500003, PubMed ID: 27058326, Carbapenems are the choice of treatment in infections caused by multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In recent years carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates due to carbapenemases have been increasingly reported worldwide. Multicenter studies on carbapenemases are scarce in Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of carbapenemases from different parts of Turkey as a part of the European Survey of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) project. Beginning in November 2013, carbapenem-resistant isolates resistant to at least one of the agents, namely imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem were sent to the coordinating center. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for these carbapenems were determined by microdilution tests following EUCAST guidelines. Production of carbapenemase was confirmed by combination disk synergy tests. Types of carbapenemases were investigated using specific primers for VIM, IMP; NDM, KPC and OXA-48 genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. In a six month period, 155 suspected carbapenemase-positive isolates were sent to the coordinating center of which 21 (13.5%) were E.coli and 134 (86.5%) were K.pneumoniae. Nineteen (90.5%) strains among E.coli and 124 (92.5%) strains among K.pneumoniae were shown to harbour at least one carbapenemase gene by molecular tests, with a total of 92.3% (143/155). Carbapenemases were determined as a single enzyme in 136 strains (OXA-48: 84.6%; NDM: 6.3%; VIM: 2.8%; IMP: 1.4%) and as a combination in seven isolates (OXA-48 + NDM: 2.1%; OXA-48 + VIM: 2.1%; VIM + NDM: 0.7%). KPC was not detected in any of the isolates. According to the microdilution test results, resistance to imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem in OXA-48 isolates were 59.5%, 52.9% and 100%, respectively. The combination disk synergy test was 100% compatible with the molecular test results. As most of the OXA-48 producing isolates were susceptible to meropenem but all were resistant to ertapenem, ertapenem seems to be the most sensitive agent in screening carbapenemases in areas where OXA-48 is prevalent and phenotypic combination tests can be useful in centers where molecular tests are not available.

There are limited data regarding the prevalence of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA)/heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) among pediatric population. Our objective was to determine the distribution of vancomycin and daptomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and explore the phenomenon of vancomycin MIC creep and the VISA/hVISA prevalence among the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains belonging to pediatric population by population analysis profile-area under the curve (PAP-AUC) and Etest macromethod. Vancomycin and daptomycin susceptibilities of 94 pediatric isolates of MRSA were tested by broth microdilution (BMD) and Etest methods. To determine the prevalence of VISA/hVISA, Etest macromethod and PAP-AUC was performed on all isolates. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and daptomycin by both BMD and Etest methods. Twenty-eight (29.8%) isolates had vancomycin MICs of 2 μg/ml by BMD. No increase in vancomycin MICs was observed over time. There were no VISA among 94 MRSA tested but 20 (21.3%) hVISA isolates were identified by PAP-AUC. Results of Etest macromethod were compared to PAP-AUC. Etest macromethod was 60.0% sensitive and 90.5% specific. The hVISA isolates represented 53.6% of isolates with vancomycin MICs of 2 μg/ml. Also, 75% of hVISA isolates had vancomycin MICs of 2 μg/ml. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the prevalence of VISA/hVISA among MRSA isolated from pediatric patients by PAP-AUC method. Based on our findings, MRSA isolates, which have vancomycin MIC of 2 μg/ml can be investigated for the presence of hVISA. In this study, daptomycin showed potent activity against all isolates and may represent a therapeutic option for MRSA infections.

A total of 539 isolates recovered from various clinical sites were collected from 13 hospitals from different regions of Turkey between 1999 and 2002. Susceptibility to penicillin and cefotaxime was determined by the E-test and the remaining antimicrobials were evaluated by disk diffusion tests. Penicillin resistant and intermediate isolates were serotyped and PFGE patterns were analysed. Overall 16 isolates (3%) were resistant to penicillin, and 143 (26.5%) were intermediate. Resistance and intermediate rates were 3.1% and 29.0% respectively in respiratory tract isolates. Multiple resistance (resistance to ≥3 antibiotics) occurred in 81.8% of the penicillin resistant isolates and the most frequent resistance phenotype was penicillin+trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (37.7%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime were lower than 1 mg/ml for all the isolates. The highest rate of resistance was observed for trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole (26.6%) followed by doxycycline (12.6%). Resistance to erythromycin was 10.1%, clindamycin 9.9%, chloramphenicol 4.3%, ofloxacin 5.0% and levofloxacin 0.2%. There was no resistance to vancomycin. Resistant isolates belonged to serogroups 9, 23, and 6. The most frequent serogroups among intermediate isolates were 23, 19, 14, 1, 9, and 6. Five distinct PFGE patterns were observed among penicillin resistant isolates. There was no distinct clustering of specific PFGE patterns in the study centres. No correlation between serotypes, resistance and PFGE patterns was found. There seems to be genetic heterogeneity inStreptococccus pneumoniae isolates in Turkey.

Fifty-three Salmonella enterica group C isolates obtained from various human samples (47 stool, 4 blood and 2 urine) in ten provinces of Turkey between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2002 were serotyped and resistance to antimicrobials was investigated by agar dilution tests. The isolates were identified as S. Choleraesuis (11), S. Hadar (7), S. Irumu (4), S. Virchow (3), S. Tallahassee (3), S. Paratyphi C (2), S. Braenderup (2), S. Othmarschen (2), S. Menston (2), S. Concord (2), S. Infantis (2), S. Kottbus (2), S. Edinburg (1), S. Oranienburg (1), S. Muenchen (1) and S. Malmoe (1). Antimicrobial resistance rates of S. enterica groups C1 and C2 were high for ampicillin (26% and 60%, respectively), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (11% and 40%), chloramphenicol (16% and 27%) and tetracycline (3% and 40%). The percentages of strains sensitive to all antimicrobials were 58% and 33%, respectively. Multiresistance was not observed in group C1 isolates, but the rate of multiresistant isolates was 13% in group C2. The rate of decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility (CipL) was 61% in serogroup C1 and 20% in serogroup C2. These results indicated that S. enterica group C infections in humans were not infrequent in Turkey and that multiple antimicrobial resistance was common within these strains.

Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is usually caused by the presence of the erm(B) or mef(A) resistance determinants. The aim of the present study was to identify the predominant macrolide resistance mechanisms among erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolated in a university hospital, Ankara, Turkey. A total of 669 S. pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical specimens of patients admitted to the hospital between 1994--2002. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin G, erythromycin A and clindamycin were determined by the agar dilution method according to NCCLS guidelines. Ninety-one (13.6%) isolates were resistant to erythromycin. Erythromycin-resistant isolates were examined for their macrolide resistance phenotypes by a triple disc diffusion assay. It assigned 57 (62.6%) of the 91 erythromycin-resistant pneumococci to cMLS(B) phenotype, 19 (20.9%) to iMLS(B) phenotype and 15 (16.5%) to M phenotype. All erythromycin-resistant isolates were analyzed by PCR for the presence of erm(B) and mef(A) determinants. The isolates were characterized for the underlying resistance genotype, with 83.5% having erm(B), 16.5% having the mef(A) genotypes. This study provides further evidence of the dissemination of macrolide-resistant mutants in pneumococci as the use of new, long-acting macrolides increases. This is the first article about MLS(B) resistance phenotypes and genotypes of S. pneumoniae from Turkey and it emphasizes the need for future epidemiological monitoring of macrolide-resistant pneumococci.

To evaluate the relation between biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer and the extent of positive surgical margins (PSMs), Gleason score (GS) of the tumor at the margins, and preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Materials and methods: A total of 94 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were recruited for this study and received postoperative follow-up care for 2 years. All specimens were evaluated for surgical margin status, PSM length, GS at positive margin, size of tumor, multifocality, invasion of seminal vesicle, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion. PSM was defined as a prostate tumor. Results: Out of 94 patients, 34 patients (36.2%) had PSMs and 46 patients (48.9%) had BCR. A statistically significant relation between having a high risk of BCR of prostate cancer and having high preoperative PSA levels (P < 0.001), PSMs (P < 0.001), or a high GS at the surgical margin (P = 0.024) was found. Conclusion: High preoperative PSA levels, PSMs, and tumors with high GS at the margins have a poor prognostic impact, and they correlate with a higher rate of BCR. Close follow-up of patients with PSMs with high GS and high levels of preoperative PSA is recommended.

The aim of this study is to identify differences in distribution of Candida species, resistance to antifungals and clinical outcome, as well as the identification of potential risk factors associated with candidaemia in children. We conducted a retrospective analysis in children ≤18 years with blood culture proven candidaemia identified between 2004 and 2012. Patients were divided into two groups (Group 1

Objective To determine the most frequently occurring individual and combined resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria resistant to any of the clinically available aminoglycosides in Turkey, and to compare these mechanisms with those found in smaller, earlier studies. Methods Aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative isolates resistant to either gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin or amikacin collected in different regions of Turkey were evaluated both phenotypically and genotypically using 12 aminoglycosides and up to 22 aminoglycoside resistance gene probes. Results Among 696 aminoglycoside-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, resistance rates were very high for gentamicin (94.5%), tobramycin (82.4%), netilmicin (53.6%), and amikacin (49.7%). Although isepamicin was the most active aminoglycoside against Gram-negative bacteria, increased resistance (29.7%) was found and resistance rates were higher than those in most of the other countries surveyed in earlier studies. The most common aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms (AAC(3)-II (GTN), AAC(6')-I (TNA), and ANT(2")-I (GT)) in the earlier studies were also found in the present isolates of Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli, with increased complexity. In addition to these old mechanisms, two new aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms, namely AAC(6')-III (TNAI) and AAC(6')-IV (GTNA), were also found at significant frequencies (11.9% and 26.9%, respectively) in these isolates of Enterobacteriaceae (n = 435). Among the isolates of Pseudomonas spp. (n = 150), in addition to the increased complexity of enzymatic resistance mechanisms (AAC(3)-I (16.6%), AAC(6')-II (29.3%), AAC(6')-III (19.3%), ANT(2")-I (40%)), permeability resistance seemed to be responsible for the high rates of resistance to aminoglycosides. Conclusion The results of this study indicated increased resistance to clinically available aminoglycosides, including isepamicin, even though it was the most active, as a result of both the presence of new aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms and the increased complexity of all mechanisms, including permeability resistance, particularly in Pseudomonas in Turkey.

Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae (750) to penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole isolated in 4 Turkish hospitals between 1996 and 1999 was evaluated according to year of isolation, patients' age groups and specimen. Penicillin susceptibility was determined by E-test strips and the other antibiotics were tested by disk diffusion test following the NCCLS guidelines in each center. Overall high and intermediate resistance to penicillin was 3% and 29%, respectively. There was a significant difference (p

Resistance mechanisms of gram-negative bacteria to aminoglycoside antibiotics differs by region and country. Aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms (Ag RMs) in gram-negative isolates resistant to either one of gentamicin (G), tobramycin (T), netilmicin (N) and amikacin (A) collected in different regions of Turkey were determined by both phenotyping and genotyping methods. Phenotyping was performed on the basis of relative resistance profiles of the isolates to 12 aminoglycoside antibiotics. Genotypically, Ag RMs of the isolates were determined by using hybridization assay including 22 common aminoglycoside resistance gene probes. Among 585 aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacteria, resistance rates were highest for gentamicin (91.5%) followed by tobramycin (93.2%), netilmicin (62.1%), and amikacin (48.2%). Although isepamicin (I) was the most active aminoglycoside in-vitro against gram-negative bacteria, resistance rate (29.2%) for this drug was higher than in most of the other countries surveyed in earlier studies. The most common Ag RMs [AAC(3)-II (GTN), AAC(6’)-I (TNA), ANT(2”)-I (GT)] in earlier studies, were also present in this study. In addition to those mechanisms, two new mechanisms were observed. AAC(6’)-III (TNAI), occurred in both Enterobacteriaceae (11.9%) and Pseudomonas spp.(19.3%). Despite the high incidence of the other new mechanism, AAC(6’)-IV (GTNA) in Enterobacteriaceae (26.9%), it was not determined in Pseudomonas spp. All these mechanisms were mostly found in combination with each other or with less occurring resistance mechanisms except for AAC(6’)-IV which mostly occurred alone. The incidence of combinations of the most common resistance mechanisms were high in both Enterobacteriaceae (48%) and Pseudomonas spp. (58.7%). High incidence of combinations reflects the high resistance rates to clinically useful aminoglycosides (G, T, N, A, I) in gram-negative bacteria. Although enzymatic resistance mechanisms [AAC(3)-I (16.6%), AAC(6’)-II (29.3%), AAC(6’)-III (19.3%), ANT(2”)-I (40%)] were frequent in Pseudomonas spp., permeability resistance seems to be responsible for resistance to a wide range of clinically available aminoglycosides in this organism.