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AIM: The study aimed to ascertain the indications for urine culture in inpatients over 65, the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infection (UTI), and the compliance of antimicrobial treatments with national/international guidelines and their suitability for geriatric age. BACKGROUND: UTIs are the most common bacterial infection in the elderly population and cause morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective observational study was conducted, including elderly patients who were sent urine cultures. Demographic profiles, clinical and laboratory features, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and outcomes were documented and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 550 urine cultures taken from 3 university hospitals were included and 382 patients (71.0%) with infectious diseases (ID) consultation were evaluated. The most common reasons to perform urine culture are the presence of symptoms (22.0%), elevation of C-reactive protein (19.3%), and the search for focus on infection (15.8%). The microorganism growth rate in urine cultures evaluated by ID specialists was 41.4% (158/382). The gram-negative bacteria isolation rate was 68.6%, while the gram-positive and candida growth rates were 17.3% and 14.1%, respectively. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were the most frequent bacteria (43.7% and 21.5%). The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 11.4%, and 27.8% of these patients were prescribed antibiotics. A total of 136 of 158 patients (86.1%) with growth in urine culture died, and the mortality rate was higher than patients without bacteriuria (p

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) can be complicated with metastatic foci as a result of seeding to any body site. It is very important to detect metastatic infections for determining the appropriate treatment modality and duration. Here, we presented a S. aureus bacteremia patient complicated with multiple paravertebral and psoas abscess diagnosed with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in combination with computed tomography (FDG PET/CT). CASE PRESENTATION: A sixty nine year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with hip pain, fever and septic clinical findings. His temperature was 390C, pulse rate was 110 beats/min, blood pressure was 100/70 mmHg. Methicilline sensitive S. aureus growth was detected on all blood cultures. Ceftriaxone treatment started in the emergency room was discontinued and cefazolin was started. Transthoracic, transesophageal echocardiography and abdominal ultrasonography was normal. FDG PET-CT scan was planned to investigate the etiology of fever and identify any metastatic infectious foci. PET-CT imaging revealed that increased metabolic activity in the paraspinal regions at the level of thoraco-lumbar vertebrae, psoas muscle and pubic symphisis. Further imaging directed at the areas identified on PET-CT confirmed the presence of a broad paravertebral abscess and psoas. These abcsess were partially drained by neurosurgery specialists because of multiple and wide area involvement. The patient's treatment was continued with oral amoxicillin clavulonic asit until resolution of abcesses. CONCLUSION: Previous studies had shown that 18F-FDG PET/CT had a positive impact on outcome and the management of SAB. Diagnostic PET-CT imaging plays a crucial role in targeted management and timely intervention for SAB.

Abstract Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The development of rapid antigen tests has contributed to easing the burden on healthcare and lifting restrictions by detecting infected individuals to help prevent further transmission of the virus. We developed a state-of-art rapid antigen testing system, named DIAGNOVIR, based on immune-fluorescence analysis, which can process and give the results in a minute. In our study, we assessed the performance of the DIAGNOVIR and compared the results with those of the qRT-PCR test. Our results demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of the DIAGNOVIR were 94% and 99.2%, respectively, with a 100% sensitivity and 96.97% specificity, among asymptomatic patients. In addition, DIAGNOVIR can detect SARS‑CoV‑2 with 100% sensitivity up to 5 days after symptom onset. We observed that the DIAGNOVIR Rapid Antigen Test’s limit of detection (LoD) was not significantly affected by the SARS‑CoV‑2 variants including Wuhan, alpha (B1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (B.1.1.529) variants, and LoD was calculated as 8 × 102, 6.81 × 101.5, 3.2 × 101.5, 1 × 103, and 1 × 103.5 TCID50/mL, respectively. Our results indicated that DIAGNOVIR can detect all SARS-CoV-2 variants in just seconds with higher sensitivity and specificity lower testing costs and decreased turnover time.

AIM: To evaluate the antiretroviral treatment (ART) in newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLWH) and to determine treatment response in pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the treatment processes of PLWH. METHODS: This multi-centred, retrospective study included newly diagnosed PLWH aged ≥18 years, between pre-pandemic (01.03.2018-29.02.2020) and pandemic (01.03.2020-28.02.2022) period. Demographic data and ART were recorded. RESULTS: Of 2400 PLWH from 23 centres, 88% were male; mean age was 37,5±12,5. At diagnosis, mean CD4 count was 398/mm3, CD4/CD8 ratio 0,47, HIV-RNA 12288990 copies/ml. Among patients, 52% diagnosed during pre-pandemic, 48% during pandemic period. Thirty patients could not be treated because one died before treatment, 29 did not re-apply after diagnosis. Of remaining 2370 patients, 93,4% were started on ≥3 antiretroviral drugs, 6,6% on dual therapy; 97,8% were integrase inhibitor (INSTI), 1,8% protease inhibitor (PI), 0,4% non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) based. Of patients, 64,5% were receiving single-tablet, 35,5% multiple-tablet regimen. The mean CD4 count at 6th month was 602/mm3, CD4/CD8 ratio 0,72. HIV-RNA negativity rates at 1st, 3rd, 6th months were 49%, 76%, 88%, respectively. Comparison of two periods is shown in Table 1. INSTI based combinations (p=0,002) and dual therapy (p=0,000) were used more frequently during the pandemic period. Mean CD4 count, CD4/CD8 ratio at 6th month, and HIV RNA negativity rates were similar in both periods (p>0,05). CONCLUSIONS: INSTI based combinations and two-tablet regimens were used more frequently during the pandemic period. The treatment response was similar in both periods.