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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) refers to the clinical picture of an important and severe infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of COVID-19, it is safe to state that both COVID-19 and inflammatory rheumatic disorders cause a cytokine storm and merit treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs. Three patients, who were on regular follow-up due to the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), contracted COVID-19 infection; and their pre-clinical and post-clinical data as well as laboratory, prognosis and treatment data were investigated. Effects of colchicine in FMF patients who contracted COVID-19 infection were presented in this study. All the cases recovered from COVID-19 without complications. The present study suggests that colchicine can positively affect the prognosis of COVID-19 in FMF patients; therefore, experience of rheumatologists in the use of anti-inflammatory drugs can be highly instrumental in management of COVID-19 patients.

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902 WOS: 000328083900015 PubMed: 24240047 Introduction: Antimicrobials are being used unnecessarily for different reasons. The aims of this study were: assessment of the quality of antimicrobial use and determination of the factors related to correct use. Method: Antimicrobial practice at Dicle University Hospital (DUH) was evaluated with a point prevalence approach. Using a standardized data collection form, the patients' data (clinic, epidemiology, laboratory and antimicrobial use) was collected. Possible influential factors on antimicrobial use were examined. Results: In the surveillance study 1,350 inpatients were evaluated; 461 (34.1%) of them were using antimicrobials for treatment and 187 (13.9%) for prophylaxis. Antimicrobial indication was found in 355 of 461 patients (77.0%), and the number of antimicrobials was 1.8 per patient in the treatment group. The most common reason for antimicrobial use was community-acquired infection (57.9%). Pneumonia (20.4%), skin and soft tissue infections (9.11%) and urinary tract infections (7.9%) were the most common infectious diseases. Positive culture results were available for 39 patients (8.5.0%) when antimicrobial treatment started. All steps of antimicrobial use were found appropriate in 243 patients (52.7%). In multivariate analyses, clinical manifestation of infection at the beginning (p

WOS: 000386954300001, PubMed: 27809934, Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

EASL International Liver Congress -- APR 13-17, 2016 -- -- Barcelona, SPAIN, WOS: 000398711700582, …, EASL

Tegin, Ibrahim/0000-0002-5661-7195; Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902 WOS: 000309698500011 Objective: To determine the alterations of serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels and Cu/Zn ratio in patients with brucellosis. Material and Methods: A total of 170 individuals were included in the study. Of these, 45 (26.5%) currently had acute or sub-acute brucellosis, 35 (20.6%) were previously diagnosed with acute or sub-acute brucellosis and successfully treated, and 90 (52.9%) were healthy volunteers. After fasting overnight for 10 hours, 5 ml of venous blood was taken from all subjects. Serum Cu and Zn levels were measured using a Unicam 929 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Mean serum Cu levels of 45 patients with acute or sub-acute brucellosis, 35 patients previously diagnosed with acute or sub-acute brucellosis and 90 healthy volunteers were 88.6 +/- 26, 58.7 +/- 13 and 56.7 +/- 16 mu g/dL, respectively. Mean serum Zn levels of 45 patients with acute or sub-acute brucellosis, 35 patients previously diagnosed with and treated successfully for acute or sub-acute brucellosis and 90 healthy volunteers were 38.3 +/- 12, 58.5 +/- 14, and 55.8 +/- 13 mu g/dL, respectively. Serum Cu levels (p

Objectives: Percutaneous injuries (PCIs) remain a common incident among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite the introductionof safety programs. The aim of this study was to assess the PCIs, required precautions, and applications after the injuries among healthcare workers in a small general hospital.Materials and methods: We assessed the occurrence of PCIs at a General Hospital (EGH) from January 2007 to November2010. During this period, all injury cases among HCWs were reported to the Infection Control Committee (ICC) using percutaneous injury notification form. The injury notification forms were evaluated retrospectively.Results: Totally 275 health personnel were working in our hospital, 36 healthy workers have been exposed to PCIs during this period. The incidence of PCIs was 2,9/10000 in 2007, 3,1/10000 in 2008, 3,8/10000 in 2009 and 3,9/10000 patient-days in 2010. Injured staff were recorded as, 16 nurses (44%), 12 cleaning staffs (34%), and eight (22%) doctors. The device leading to damage was most frequently the needle-channel. Ten sources (27%) were detected positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV), four (11%) for hepatitis C virus (HCV), and two (5%) for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). No case of seroconversion has been recognized for any of the above mentioned infections.Conclusions: Percutaneous injuries remain to occur among HCWs. Since some the sources were infected, the health personnel are endangered for infections due to PCIs. The health personnel should presume that all patients are infected,and thus should work following universal precautions to avoid complications about the PCIs. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2011;1(1):26-30.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory features of CCHF cases on admission to the emergency department.Materials and methods: Clinical and laboratory features of CCHF cases which applied to the emergency department of a district general hospital (Erbaa, Tokat Province) between the period of 2008 and 2010 were retrospectively assessed.Results: Totally 15 cases were included in the study. Most of the patients applied with non-specific symptoms, some of them admitted with atypical symptoms such as abdominal pain and hematemesis. In three patients, all laboratory findingsat admission were within normal limits.Conclusions: Although, CCHF patients apply to hospital with nonspecific symptoms, some may have atypical symptoms like severe abdominal pain and hematemesis. Moreover, some may have normal leukocyte and platelet counts on admission.Therefore, for early diagnosis, physicians should have knowledge about the various clinical symptomatology of CCHF. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2011;1(1):1-4.

Meningitis and intracranial abscess due to Proteus mirabilis is seen especially in the neonatalperiod and among the patients with immune deficiency. It was learned that 35 years old malepatient who applied to the emergency room with ongoing fever, nausea and vomiting for threedays have had their upper left jaw tooth out 10 days ago. As clinical and laboratory to patientswith acute bacterial meningitis empirical ceftriaxone 2x2 gr/day parenteral was started. Thecranial MR of the patient, that has P. mirabilis producing in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) culture, was taken at the seventh day of hospitalization as his complaints started again.In the MR, abscess was detected in the left temporal brain of the patient and a surgical treatmentwas applied. Complete healing was seen eight week treatment with antibiotics after surgery.During application it was though that meningitis has occurred due to the dental surgery, howeverafter the temporal BT, mastoiditis was detected. It was thought that meningitis and brain abscessdeveloped on the patient was caused by mastoiditis. Even with sensitive antibiotics if norecovery is observed in patients with meningitis, intracranial abscess should be considered, alsoit should not be forgotten that in adults and patients with no immune deficiency meningitis dueto P. mirabilis may develop.

Aim: Resistance to gram negative bacilli is increasing all over the world. In this study, theresistance of gram negative bacilli, which were isolated from inpatients, was evaluated forselected antibiotics. The aim of this study was to acquire the significant results for empirictherapy.Material and Method: Eight hundered ninety eight strains which were isolated from inpatientswere investigated between May 2003 and April 2005 from clinical speciments at DicleUniversity Hospital, Diyarbakir. The microdiluation test was used to determine for antibioticsresistance.Findings: Escherichia coli (n=282), Enterobacter spp. (n=215), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(n=101), Klebsiella spp. (n=95), Stenotrophomanas maltophilia (n=69) and Acinetobacter spp.(n=52) were the most frequent isolates. The resistance ratio among whole isolates againstceftriaxone was 73%, cefotaxime 68%, ceftazidime 63%, trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole 60%,ciprofloksasin 51%, amikasin 20%, imipenem 3% and meropenem 2%. The resistance to thethird generation cephalosporins, trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin was foundhigher than other antibiotics in this study.Results: In conclusion, antimicrobial resistance must be monitored for each hospital for areasonable empirical antibiotic therapy. Surveillance studies might be useful for empiricaltreatment approach.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiologic data of nosocomial infection (NI)occurring in the General Surgery Unit (GSU).Method: This study was performed between January 1997 and December 2006. The surveillancemethod was active, prospective, and based on laboratory and patient. NIs were defined accordingto Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention criteria (CDC).Results: During the ten-year period, 305 NI episodes were detected in 290 patients. The overallincidence rates and incidence densities of NIs were 2.0% and 2.3/1,000 patient-day respectively.The most common NIs by primary site were surgical site infections, urinary tract infections,and pneumonia. The most prevalent microorganisms were Escherichia coli (36.8%),Staphylococcus aureus (17.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.5%). Meticillin resistanceamong S. aureus isolates was 76%. Meropenem and amikacin were the most effective agentsagainst to Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: In order to detect of the variation and trends of NIs, the data of surveillanceactivities must be evaluated decisively and regularly with collaboration among infection controlteam, Infectious Disease clinic, and GSU.

WOS: 000208252700012, PubMed: 21045362, Infectious Mononucleosis (IM), a benign lymphoproliferative disease, is the best known clinical syndrome caused by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). It usually resolves over a period of weeks or months without sequelae but may occasionally be complicated by a wide variety of neurologic, hematologic, hepatic, respiratory, and psychological complications. In this report we describe a patient with acute hepatitis following EBV-IM in a previously healthy woman. A 26-year-old woman who presented with fever, generalized weakness, nausea, sore throat, yellowing of skin, and a generalized skin rash was admitted to our clinic. Tonsillar enlargement, pharyngeal erythema, palatal petechiae, lymphadenopathy, and jaundice were noted. Significant atypical lymphocytes (> 10%) were seen on the peripheral blood smear. Liver function tests such as ALT: 303 U/L, AST: 172 U/L, ALP: 193 U/L and total bilirubin: 7.3 mg/dl were elevated. Serological tests for EBV infection were consistent with acute infection (EBV virus capsid antigen was reactive with IgM and IgG antibodies). The Monospot test was also positive. On the seventh day, liver function tests and bilirubin had risen to peak level and platelets were decreased. The patient was managed supportively and her critical condition improved and was finally stabilized. Although the prognosis for IM is very favorable, a variety of acute complications may occur.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare, life-threatening acute allergic drug reaction presenting with target lesions and blebs of epidermis. Although a variety of etiologies such as infections and underlying malignancies have been implicated as potential causes of SJS, drugs remain the predominant inciting agent. This report presents a SJS case due to combined use of lamotrigine and fluoxetine. A 41-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with fever, skin eruptions (especially on the face and trunk) and lesions around the mouth. The patient’s history revealed lamotrigine and fluoxetine use during the previous three weeks for major depression. Dermatological examination revealed a typical clinical picture of SJS; his psychotropic medications were all stopped. While topical and ocular prednisolone (1mg/kg/day) cares were initiated, steroid dosage was reduced within 15 days. The condition of patient rapidly improved through this treatment. Effective management of SJS begins with prompt recognition of the entity, combined with attention to each of the major organs that may be affected, potential comorbidities and withdrawal of all potentially causative drugs. Clinicians should bear in mind the possibility that drugs with potential risk in developing SJS must be used carefully.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach in Turkey and analyse predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance. Design: An observational, prospective, interventional, before-and-after study was conducted from August 2003 to August 2011 in 12 intensive care units (ICU) of 12 hospitals in 11 cities. The study was divided into a baseline and a follow-up period and included random 30-minute observations for hand hygiene compliance in ICU. The hand hygiene approach included administrative support, supplies availability, education and training, reminders in the workplace, process surveillance, and performance feedback. Results: We observed 21,145 opportunities for hand hygiene. Overall hand hygiene compliance increased from 28.8% to 91% (95% CI 87.6–93.0, p 0.0001). Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that several variables were significantly associated with poor hand hygiene compliance: males vs. females (39% vs. 48%; 95% CI 0.79–0.84, p 0.0001), ancillary staff vs. physicians (35% vs. 46%, 95% CI 0.73–0.78, p 0.0001), and adult vs. pediatric ICUs (42% vs. 74%, 95% CI 0.54–0.60, p 0.0001). Conclusions: Adherence to hand hygiene was significantly increased with the INICC Hand Hygiene Approach. Specific programmes should be directed to improve hand hygiene in variables found to be predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate knowledge of primary care physicians regarding the use of antibiotics for the upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and the specific outcomes of a health educational meeting in two cities using a self -administered questionnaire. Materials and methods: A standard questionnaire was filled by the participants before and after the meeting. The questionnaire had seven questions about definition, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of URTIs. The knowledge and approaches of practitioners concern about diagnosis and antibiotic use in URTIs were evaluated. The proportion of overall satisfied answers before and after the meeting was compared. Results: Totally 110 primary care physicians joined into the study. Before the educational meeting, more than 30% of participants stated that the at least 50% of the causative agents of the URTIs are bacteria. Eighty-eight percent declared that anaerobes or Neisseria are not the plausible causative agents in URTIs. Only 14% of them indicated that procaine penicillin is the primary agent for the treatment of Streptococcus pyogenes. On the other hand, 95% of survey participants considered that penicillin is the first choice for URTI with Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. After the educational meeting, most of participants' knowledge showed a significant improvement in knowledge. There were a significantly more correct answers to all questions after the educational meeting compared to before the meeting. (27.7% of doctors before vs.92.7% after, p, Amaç: Bu çalışmayla, iki ilimizde çalışan pratisyen hekimlerin üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarında (ÜSYE) antibiyotik kullanım farkındalığı ve sağlık ile ilgili eğitim seminerlerinin etkileri, özel olarak hazırlanan bir anket yardımıyla değerlendirmek amaçlandı. Gereç ve yöntem: Düzenlenen eğitim semineri önce ve sonrasında, pratisyen hekimlere ÜSYE\'nu epidemiyoloji, etyoloji, tanı ve tedavisi hakkında yedi soruyu içeren standart bir anket uygulanarak bilgi ve tutumları değerlendirildi ve cevap oranları karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Toplamda 110 pratisyen hekim çalışmaya katıldı. Seminer öncesi katılımcıların %30\'undan fazlası ÜSYE\'larının etyolojisinin en az %50\'sini bakterilerin oluşturduğu ve %88\'i anaerop ve Neisseriaların etyolojide yer almadığını düşünürken, katılımcıların yalnız %14\'ü Streptococcus pyogenes suşunun prokain penisiline tam duyarlı olduğunu, başka bir deyişle % 95\'i Beta-hemolytic - Streptococcus\'un etken olduğu ÜSYE\'ununun tedavisinde penesilinin ilk seçenek olduğu cevabını verdi. Seminer sonrası katılan hekimlerin bilgilerinde önemli bir ilerleme görüldü. .Doğru cevap oranlarında (seminer öncesi %27.7 ve sonrası %92.7) anlamlı bir fark vardı (p< 0.001). Sonuç: Pratisyen hekimlerin bilgi ve davranışlarının, eğitim seminerleriyle geliştirilebileceği sonucuna varıldı.

Yalcin, Ata Nevzat/0000-0002-7243-7354; dursun, oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; Oncul, Oral/0000-0002-1681-1866; Leblebicioglu, Hakan/0000-0002-6033-8543; demirdal, tuna/0000-0002-9046-5666; Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; Erben, Nurettin/0000-0003-0373-0132; Kendirli, Tanil/0000-0001-9458-2803; Acar, Ali/0000-0003-2008-5112; Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902; Dursun, Oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; KAYA, ZEYNEP/0000-0002-8468-2103; KARABAY, OGUZ/0000-0003-1514-1685; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-0502-432X; Kaya, Sehnaz/0000-0003-0002-1517 WOS: 000347654600011 PubMed: 25564124 Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs. Surgical procedures (SPs) were classified into 22 types according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria. Results: We recorded 1879 SSIs, associated with 41,563 SPs (4.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.3-4.7). Among the results, the SSI rate per type of SP compared with rates reported by the INICC and CDC NHSN were 11.9% for ventricular shunt (vs 12.9% vs 5.6%); 5.3% for craniotomy (vs 4.4% vs 2.6%); 4.9% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (vs 4.5 vs 2.9); 3.5% for hip prosthesis (vs 2.6% vs 1.3%), and 3.0% for cesarean section (vs 0.7% vs 1.8%). Conclusions: In most of the 22 types of SP analyzed, our SSI rates were higher than the CDC NHSN rates and similar to the INICC rates. This study advances the knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Turkey, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions. Copyright (C) 2015 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The objective consumption rate of antibiotics at our hospital has been measured using “antibiotic consumption index (ACI)” described by World Health Organization. In our hospital, ACI was found 90.7 DDDs/100-Bed Day (BD). In the first level of study, antimicrobial consumption was measured. In the second level, an educational intervention program was started for four of the departments (the study departments). The incidence of hospital infections was monitored during the first and second six-month periods. The index was 128 to 83 in burn unit, 109.8 to 84 in department of nephrology, 102.7 to 90 in thoracic and cardiac surgery (TCS) and 71.5 to 64 in neurosurgery. There was no remarkable change in control departments that 62.7 to 60.7 in gastroenterology and 103 to 106.5 DDDs/100-BD in haematology. Approximately 80.000 dollar were saved from antibiotic budget in the four study departments during the second semester. In the study departments, nosocomial infection rate was found 8.3% in the first semester and 4.9% in the second semester. As a conclusion, educational programs for rational antibiotic consumption and consultations from infectious diseases department are thought to be effective to prevent irrational antibiotic consumption and our new antibiotic policy did not resulted in an increase in nosocomial infection in our hospital.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of burn unit infections, the effect of these infections on the mortality rate, and antibiotic resistance pattern of the predominant bacteria isolated from children. Patients and method Epidemiologic data for 610 children, aged 0 to 15 years, admitted to the burn unit at Dicle University Hospital during a 5–year period were collected and analyzed. Results In 207 patients (33.9%), 279 nosocomial infections were identified. The most common types of infections were burn wound infections (72.4%), urinary tract infections (10.8%), pneumonia (9.3%), and septicemia (7.5%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (181 isolates) was the most common microorganism. Thirty–six patients (5.9%) died at the hospital. Sepsis was associated with mortality in 18 (50%) cases, pneumonia in 6 (17%), and varied noninfectious reasons in 12 patients (33%). P aeruginosa isolates showed high resistance to commonly used antimicrobials. Antibiotic susceptibility test results suggested that imipenem was the most effective agent for P aeruginosa and Escherichia coli strains. Conclusion The major type of nosocomial infections in the burn unit was burn wound infections, and the majority of nosocomial infections resulted from multiple drug–resistant, gram–negative bacteria.

Objective:To assess the quality of antibiotic prophylaxis for clean and clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures.Design:A cross-sectional, country-wide survey.Setting:Thirty-six hospitals in 12 cities in Turkey.Participants:Four hundred thirty-nine surgeons from 6 different specialties who performed selected procedures of interest.Methods:A random sample of surgeons from different hospitals was selected. A standardized data collection form was used to record the type of procedure, the names, doses, timing of the first doses, and duration of antibiotics, important decisive factors, and problems in the management of prophylactic antibiotic use for surgical procedures.Results:Fifty-five percent of surgeons addressed completed the survey. For clean-contaminated procedures, 6% of surgeons did not use antibiotic prophylaxis, whereas 88% used more than a single dose. Inappropriate antibiotics were chosen for 32% of procedures. In 39% of procedures, the first dose of antibiotics was not administered during induction of anesthesia. Duration of prophylaxis was longer than 24 hours in 80% and longer than 48 hours in 46% of all procedures. Only 112 surgeons (26%) were using definitely appropriate prophylaxis in all ways. Multivariate analysis revealed that surgeons in university hospitals (OR, 2.353; CI95, 1.426–3.884; P = .001) and general surgeons (OR, 4.986; CI95, 2.890–8.604; P < .001) used antibiotic prophylaxis more appropriately. Patients not covered by health insurance (OR, 0.417; CI95, 0.225–0.772; P < .001) were associated with inappropriate prophylaxis.Conclusion:Given the high frequency of antibiotics prescribed for surgical prophylaxis in Turkey, adherence to surgical prophylaxis guidelines is urgently needed.

The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology and control of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in paediatric surgery. We reviewed 2844 hospitalized children in a paediatric surgical clinic between January 1997 and December 2000. The diagnosis of HAI was made based on criteria proposed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The incidence, type of micro-organisms and infections, age, sex, risk factors, and the economic aspects were recorded. The mortality, duration of hospitalization and economic aspects of patients were compared with 78 control patients matured for age, sex and primary illness and free of HAI. There were 78 children with HAI, the overall incidence was 2.74% (4.99% in 1997, 3.89% in 1998, 1.33% in 1999, 1.44% in 2000). The most frequent infections were surgical wound (28 patients) and urinary tract (25 patients). The most frequent risk factors were urethral catheterization (10.26%), trauma (9.25%), and parenteral nutrition (8.70%). Mean hospitalization was 16 days (range 4-28 days) in patients with infection compared with nine days (range 2-22 days) in control group. Eight patients died in the infection group, while two died in the control group. HAI caused a significant increase in mortality, prolonged hospitalization and increased costs (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively).

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902; demirdal, tuna/0000-0002-9046-5666; KARABAY, OGUZ/0000-0003-1514-1685; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-0502-432X; Gunduz, Alper/0000-0001-9154-844X WOS: 000352106600012 PubMed: 25500658 Introduction: Although pegylated interferons (pegIFNs) alpha-2a and alpha-2b have been used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment for many years, there are few studies concerning predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegIFN therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the predictors of response to pegIFN treatment in cases with HBeAg-negative CHB infection. Methodology: Seventeen tertiary care hospitals in Turkey were included in this study. Data from consecutively treated HBeAg-negative CHB patients, who received either pegIFN alpha-2a or alpha-2b, were collected retrospectively. SVR is defined as an HBV DNA concentration of less than 2,000 IU/mL six months after the completion of therapy Results: SVR was achieved in 40 (25%) of the 160 HBeAg-negative CHB patients. Viral loads in patients with SVR were lower compared to those with no SVR, beginning in the third month of treatment (p < 0.05). The number of cases with a decline of 1 log(10) IU/mL in viral load after the first month of treatment and with a serum HBV DNA level under 2,000 IU/mL after the third month of treatment was higher in cases with SVR (p < 0.05). The number of patients who had undetectable HBV DNA levels at week 48 among responders was significantly greater than among post-treatment virological relapsers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Detection of a 1 log(10) decline in serum HBV DNA level at the first month of treatment and a serum HBV DNA level < 2000 IU/mL at the third month of therapy may be predictors of SVR.

Objectives: Percutaneous injuries (PCIs) remain a common incident among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite the introduction of safety programs. The aim of this study was to assess the PCIs, required precautions, and applications after the injuries among healthcare workers in a small general hospital. Materials and methods: We assessed the occurrence of PCIs at a General Hospital (EGH) from January 2007 to November 2010. During this period, all injury cases among HCWs were reported to the Infection Control Committee (ICC) using percutaneous injury notification form. The injury notification forms were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Totally 275 health personnel were working in our hospital, 36 healthy workers have been exposed to PCIs during this period. The incidence of PCIs was 2,9/10000 in 2007, 3,1/10000 in 2008, 3,8/10000 in 2009 and 3,9/10000 patient-days in 2010. Injured staff were recorded as, 16 nurses (44%), 12 cleaning staffs (34%), and eight (22%) doctors. The device leading to damage was most frequently the needle-channel. Ten sources (27%) were detected positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV), four (11%) for hepatitis C virus (HCV), and two (5%) for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). No case of seroconversion has been recognized for any of the above mentioned infections. Conclusions: Percutaneous injuries remain to occur among HCWs. Since some the sources were infected, the health personnel are endangered for infections due to PCIs. The health personnel should presume that all patients are infected, and thus should work following universal precautions to avoid complications about the PCIs.

Maghsoudi, Behzad/0000-0002-1279-8799; Kritsotakis, Evangelos/0000-0002-9526-3852; Yalcin, Ata Nevzat/0000-0002-7243-7354; Mikaszewska-Sokolewicz, Malgorzata A/0000-0002-1148-7817; ALDEMIR KOCABAS, Bilge/0000-0002-6396-5243; Masjedi, Mohammad Reza/0000-0002-6871-382X; Masjedi, Mansoor/0000-0001-6175-9289; Gan, Chin Seng/0000-0002-6758-4798; Oncul, Oral/0000-0002-1681-1866; Sabetian, Golnar/0000-0001-8764-2150; YAMAN, Ayhan/0000-0002-5651-1286; Ozdemir, Halil/0000-0002-7318-1688; Leon, Hector Armando Rincon/0000-0003-0715-200X; Delia, Muntean/0000-0001-9100-4530; Atasay, Fatma Begum/0000-0002-9114-5293; Zand, Farid/0000-0003-3489-3372; Kuchenbecker, Ricardo/0000-0002-4707-3683; Medeiros, Eduardo A/0000-0002-6205-259X; ROMERO LOPEZ-ALBERCA, CRISTINA/0000-0001-5856-8668; Salomao, Reinaldo/0000-0003-1149-4598; ozdemir, sonay incesoy/0000-0003-2863-901X; Meco, Basak Ceyda/0000-0003-2951-9634; Horoz, Ozden Ozgur/0000-0001-7590-650X; Horhat, Florin George/0000-0001-6133-0204; Kazi, Mohammad Mukhit/0000-0003-3824-5540; Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; Abouqal, Redouane/0000-0002-6117-4341; Leblebicioglu, Hakan/0000-0002-6033-8543; Garcell, Humberto Guanche/0000-0001-7279-0062; Kendirli, Tanil/0000-0001-9458-2803; de Souza, Maria Cecilia B V/0000-0003-0318-3087; Sanaei Dashti, Anahita/0000-0002-2827-3575; UNAL, SERHAT/0000-0003-1184-4711; alvarez Moreno, carlos Arturo/0000-0001-5419-4494; Barahona G., Nayide/0000-0003-3559-6900; Rodriguez Ferrer, Marena Luz/0000-0002-8053-8454; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-0502-432X; Kaya, Sehnaz/0000-0003-0002-1517; ERDEVE, OMER/0000-0002-3193-0812; Gonzalez Martinez, Marisela del Rocio/0000-0003-1474-736X; Gikas, Achilleas/0000-0002-8455-9631; Baylan, Orhan/0000-0002-6529-7824; Mitrev, Zan/0000-0001-7859-8821; yildizdas, dincer/0000-0003-0739-5108; Ngo, Quy Chau/0000-0002-6787-2757; Duszynska, Wieslawa/0000-0002-5880-4904; KAYA, ZEYNEP/0000-0002-8468-2103; Dragan, Barbara/0000-0003-3108-4211; Gupta, Umesh/0000-0001-7717-1404; Navarro Fuentes, Karla Reyna/0000-0002-6894-8872; zali, Mohammadreza/0000-0002-9027-4560; Morocho Tutillo, Diego Rolando/0000-0002-4974-7856; El Kholy, Amani/0000-0002-0645-7664; Kanj, Souha/0000-0001-6413-3396; Assiri, Abdullah/0000-0002-5605-2876; Unal, Necmettin/0000-0002-9440-7893; Jayatilleke, Kushlani/0000-0002-3931-6630; KARABAY, OGUZ/0000-0003-1514-1685 WOS: 000341307100001 PubMed: 25179325 We report the results of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2007-December 2012 in 503 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the 6-year study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 605,310 patients hospitalized in the INICC's ICUs for an aggregate of 3,338,396 days. Although device utilization in the INICC's ICUs was similar to that reported from ICUs in the U.S. in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals: the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC's ICUs, 4.9 per 1,000 central line days, is nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.9 per 1,000 central line days reported from comparable U. S. ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher (16.8 vs 1.1 per 1,000 ventilator days) as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.5 vs 1.3 per 1,000 catheter days). Frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (42.8% vs 10%) and imipenem (42.4% vs 26.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (71.2% vs 28.8%) and imipenem (19.6% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC's ICUs compared with the ICUs of the CDC's NHSN. Copyright (C) 2014 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902 WOS: 000343068800019 PubMed: 25539553 Background/aim: Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. In this study we aimed to find out seroprevalences and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C in adults in Duzce. Materials and methods: The sample of study was determined with a cluster-type sampling method. The study included 1321 people, consisting of 667 women and 654 men who were 18 years or older. A questionnaire about demographic information and risk factors was applied. Results: Seroprevalences of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV were 4.8%, 9.4%, and 0.7%, respectively. HBsAg seroprevalences were found to be statistically higher in the dental visit group (8.9% versus 4.0%, P = 0.002) and in people living within the same house with hepatitis B carriers (11.5% versus 4.6%, P = 0.036). Living in Duzce during the 1999 earthquake and staying in prefabricated houses after the earthquake were not risk factors of HBsAg carriage. Conclusion: HBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalences in Duzce were in parallel with the previous data from Turkey and a low ratio of anti-HBs appeared. Identifying risk groups with large epidemiological screening studies and vaccination of nonimmune people are essential.

Kronik hepatit C (KHC) tanısıyla pegile interf eron alf a (PEG IFN-alf a) tedavisi başlanan 55 yaşında erkek hasta, teda- visinin 42. haf tasında alt dudakta ve oral mukozada ülsere lezyon gelişmesi nedeniyle kliğimize başvurmuştur. Lezyonlardan alınan biyopsi sonucunda ülseratif oral liken planus (OLP) saptanmıştır. OLP, etiyolojisi tam olarak bilinmeyen, deri ve mükoz membranları tutabilen bir hastalıktır. İnterf eron tedavisi sonucu alevlenen veya yeni ortaya çıkan OLP vakaları litera- türde bildirilmiştir. PEG IFN-alf aya bağlı oral mukoza lezyonları ile birlikte dudakta da ülseratif liken planus gelişebileceği göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır. A 55 year-old male patient was ref erred to our outpatient clinic with ulcerative lesions on her lower lip and oral muco- sa in 42th week of pegylated interf eron alpha (PEG IFN-alpha) treatment f or chronic hepatitis C. Ulcerative oral lichen planus (OLP) was diagnosed with the biopsy obtained f rom the lesions. OLP cases, that result, recur or exacerbate as a result of interf eron therapy, have been presented in literature. It should be taken into account that ulcerative lichen planus on lips may also develop in addition to oral mucosal lesions caused by PEG IFN-alpha.

This prospective study was carried out in two university hospitals between January 2000 and December 2002. The diagnosis of brucellosis was made with compatible clinical findings, positive Brucella agglutination 1/160 titres, and/or the isolation of Brucella species. The patients were followed up without intervention. One hundred and thirty-eight patients with active brucellosis were evaluated. Of the participants, 79 (57.2%) cases were acute, 23 (16.7%) sub-acute and 36 (26.1%) chronic. Brucella melitensis was isolated in the specimens of 24 (26.9%) out of 89 patients. The most frequent symptoms were fever (78.3%), arthralgia (77.5%) and sweating (72.5%). The most common physical findings were fever (40.6%), splenomegaly (36.2%), and hepatomegaly (26.8%). The osteoarticular involvement was found in 64 patients (46.4%). Ten (7.5%) patients had orchiepididymitis. Meningitis, pulmonary involvement, endocarditis, and hepatitis were found in five (3.6%), three (2.1%), two (1.5%) and one (0.7%) patient, respectively. Relative lymphomonocytosis was found in 80 cases (58.8%), anaemia in 46 (33.3%) and leucopoenia in 30 cases (21.7%). Clinical relapse was observed in 14 patients (10.1%).

A retrospective study was conducted to examine the laboratory, clinical features and outcome of 206 adult acute bacterial meningitis patients (218 episodes) during the years 1985-1996. Pneumonia (8.7 per cent), head trauma (7.8 per cent) and chronic otitis media (6.0 per cent) were identified as the main predisposing factors for acute bacterial meningitis. Aetiology was described only in 61 episodes (28.0 per cent). Streptococcus pneumonia was the most commonly identified pathogen overall, causing 33 of the 218 episodes (15.2 per cent). Antibiotic treatment before admission was given to 48.4 per cent of patients. On admission, the following symptoms of meningitis were predominant: 83 per cent had neck stiffness, 81 per cent had a headache and 73 per cent had fever. Case fatality rate was 27.1 per cent (59 patients). The important factors in mortality were as follows: old age, a long duration of symptoms before admission, a lack of neck stiffness, obtunded mental state on admission, low glucose levels in first CSF, low CSF/blood glucose ratio, and abnormality in computerised tomography scanning.

Ten adult patients with recurrent bacterial meningitis (RBM) of 22 episodes were diagnosed and treated at the Dicle University Hospital from January 1990 to December 1995. Apart from 22 episodes of RBM these patients had an additional 25 episodes treated at other hospitals. The RBM attacks developed after closed head trauma in four patients, asplenia and chronic otitis media in one patient, chronic otitis media and oto-mastoiditis in one patient, chronic maxillar sinusitis in one patient, chronic mastoiditis in one patients, and suppurative foci of facial bones caused by shrapnel pieces and no predisposing condition in one patient. In 10 RBM episodes, Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or blood culture, and in one episode Proteus vulgaris was isolated from CSF and otitis media suppuration. In the four episodes both cultures were negative, but direct microscopy showed Gram-positive diplococci on Gram-staining. Three of the patients died from meningitis-related complications.

Yalcin, Ata Nevzat/0000-0002-7243-7354; dursun, oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902; Dursun, Oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; Leblebicioglu, Hakan/0000-0002-6033-8543; Unal, Necmettin/0000-0002-9440-7893 WOS: 000325254600011 PubMed: 23623158 Background: We evaluate the effectiveness of a multidimensional infection control approach for the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in 10 hospital members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from 10 cities of Turkey. Methods: A before-after prospective active surveillance study was used to determine rates of CAUTI. The study was divided into baseline (phase 1) and intervention (phase 2). In phase 1, surveillance was performed applying the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network. In phase 2, we implemented a multidimensional approach that included bundle of infection control interventions, education, surveillance and feedback on CAUTI rates, process surveillance, and performance feedback. We used random effects Poisson regression to account for clustering of CAUTI rates across time periods. Results: The study included 4,231 patients, hospitalized in 13 ICUs, in 10 hospitals, in 10 cities, during 49,644 patient-days. We recorded a total of 41,871 urinary catheter (UC)-days: 5,080 in phase 1 and 36,791 in phase 2. During phase 1, the rate of CAUTI was 10.63 per 1,000 UC-days and was significantly decreased by 47% in phase 2 to 5.65 per 1,000 UC-days (relative risk, 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.4-0.7; P value = .0001). Conclusion: Our multidimensional approach was associated with a significant reduction in the rates of CAUTI in Turkey. Copyright (C) 2013 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Foundation to Fight against Nosocomial Infections Funding for the activities carried out at INICC headquarters were provided by the corresponding author, Victor D. Rosenthal, and the Foundation to Fight against Nosocomial Infections.

UNAL, SERHAT/0000-0003-1184-4711; Yalcin, Ata Nevzat/0000-0002-7243-7354; Dursun, Oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902; Leblebicioglu, Hakan/0000-0002-6033-8543; dursun, oguz/0000-0001-5482-3780; Topeli, Arzu/0000-0002-5874-9087 WOS: 000316641000020 PubMed: 23355330 Purpose To evaluate the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional approach on the reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult patients hospitalized in 11 intensive care units (ICUs), from 10 hospitals, members of the INICC, in 10 cities of Turkey. Methods A prospective active before-after surveillance study was conducted to determine the effect of the INICC multidimensional approach in the VAP rate. The study was divided into two phases. In phase 1, active prospective surveillance of VAP was conducted using the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Health Safety Network, and the INICC methods. In phase 2, we implemented the multidimensional approach for VAP. The INICC multidimensional approach included the following measures: (1) bundle of infection control interventions, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback of VAP rates, and (6) performance feedback of infection control practices. We compared the rates of VAP obtained in each phase. A time series analysis was performed to assess the impact of our approach. Results In phase 1, we recorded 2,376 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days, and in phase 2, after implementing the multidimensional approach, we recorded 28,181 MV-days. The rate of VAP was 31.14 per 1,000 MV-days during phase 1, and 16.82 per 1,000 MV-days during phase 2, amounting to a 46 % VAP rate reduction (RR, 0.54; 95 % CI, 0.42-0.7; P value, 0.0001.) Conclusions The INICC multidimensional approach was associated with a significant reduction in the VAP rate in these adult ICUs of Turkey. Foundation to Fight against Nosocomial Infections The authors thank the many health care professionals at each member hospital who assisted with the conduct of surveillance in their hospital, including the surveillance nurses, clinical microbiology laboratory personnel, and the physicians and nurses providing care for the patients during the study; without their cooperation and generous assistance this INICC would not be possible; Mariano Vilar, Debora Lopez Burgardt, Santiago Suarez, Cecilia Cappelini, Denise Brito, Eugenia Manfredi, Luciana Soken, Dario Pizzuto, Yuan Ding, Katie Saunders, and Isaac Kelmeszes who work at INICC headquarters in Buenos Aires, for their hard work and commitment to achieve INICC goals; the INICC country coordinators (Altaf Ahmed, Carlos A. Alvarez Moreno, Anucha Apisarnthanarak, Luis E. Cuellar, Bijie Hu, Hakan Leblebicioglu, Eduardo A. Medeiros, Yatin Mehta, Lul Raka, Namita Jaggi, and Toshihiro Mitsuda); the INICC Advisory Board (Carla J. Alvarado, Gary L. French, Nicholas Graves, William R. Jarvis, Patricia Lynch, Dennis Maki, Russell N. Olmsted, Didier Pittet, Wing Hong Seto, Syed Sattar, and William Rutala), who have so generously supported this unique international infection control network; and specially to Patricia Lynch, who inspired and supported us to follow our dreams despite obstacles. The funding for the activities carried out at INICC head quarters were provided by the corresponding author, Victor D. Rosenthal, and Foundation to Fight against Nosocomial Infections.

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902 WOS: 000296092400005 PubMed: 21757384 Objective: To evaluate the validity of a weekly point-prevalence survey (WPS) by comparing it with a prospective-active incidence survey (PIS). Methods: WPS and PIS were conducted at a tertiary referral hospital between January and December 2006. Each Wednesday, an infection control team reviewed all clinical records of patients with hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) by WPS. Routine PIS was conducted with daily visits by the same team. The Rhame and Sudderth formula was used for converting the data between WPS and PIS. Results: During the study period, 1287 HAIs were detected in 37 466 patients by WPS. The mean observed prevalence and calculated prevalence were 5.42% and 5.45%, respectively. The reanimation intensive care unit (ICU) (49.4%) and burns unit (27.6%) had the highest prevalence rates. Pneumonia (0.94%) and urinary tract infections (0.37%) were the most frequent infections. Overall 602 HAIs were detected in 545 patients by PIS. The mean observed incidence and calculated incidence were 2.42/1000-admissions and 2.41/1000-admissions, respectively. The Critical care ICU (37.0/1000-admissions) and burns unit (24.8/1000-admissions) had the highest incidences of HAI. Pneumonia (0.64/1000-admissions) and urinary tract infections (0.37/1000-admissions) were the most frequent infections. Conclusions: This study confirms a close relationship between prevalence and incidence data. WPS may be a useful method for following HAIs when PIS cannot be performed. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902; NAS, Kemal/0000-0002-5845-0851 WOS: 000267573700009 PubMed: 20023340 We have presented a patient of 71-year-age with brucellar spondylodiscitis, involving the cervical spine, especially the C3-C4 segment. The patient had painful percussion of the cervical spine and passive mobilization of the neck, decreased range of motion, and cervical paravertebral tenderness; but no abnormalities observed on neurological examination. Wright agglutination test for brucella was positive at 1/320. Cervical localization for brucellar spondylodiscitis is an unusual case and should be detected and treated as early as possible. In endemic regions, spinal involvement of brucellosis should be considered in cases with fever, neck and low back pain.

Geyik, Mehmet Faruk/0000-0002-0906-0902 WOS: 000263789900025 PubMed: 19211432 …

WOS: 000270427000018, PubMed: 19513734, The infection of bone that contains bone marrow called osteomyelitis, and is caused by different microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic value and accuracy of cultures of material from a sinus track compared with those of cultures of bone specimens that have been controversial. Prospective study was conducted at Hospital University of Dicle, a 1,090-bed university-based hospital located in DiyarbakA +/- r, Turkey. Between May 2005 and September 2006, sinus-track cultures were compared with those of bone cultures from 43 patients with chronic osteomyelitis. The patients' mean age was 30.6 +/- A 3.6 years, and 29 (67%) male and 14 (33%) female. Organisms isolated from bone cultures were Staphylococcus 69% (29/42), Escherichia coli 9.5% (4/42), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9.5% (4/42), Proteus mirabilis 7% (3/42), respectively. Cultures of sinus track and bone specimens gave identical results in 38% of patients. The value of bone culture in the therapy of osteomyelitis must be emphasized; it is the only reliable means of determining the responsible agent, up on which the antibiotic therapy is based. The correlation between sinus track and bone cultures was 38%, i.e., failure in the treatment for 6 patients out of 10.

Although the commonest manifestation of Salmonella infection is acute gastroenteritis, infection may spread to the blood-stream may and the illness can present with focal lesions in almost any organ with or without septicemia. We describe here a case of Salmonella typhi infection of a sacroiliac joint that was cured with ciprofloxacin therapy for six weeks. The patient was immunologically normal. Salmonella etiology was not suspected in this case, and the diagnosis was made only after bacterial isolation. Physicians should be aware of this rare manifestation of Salmonella infection, especially in endemic areas.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes is a well-known cause of a variety of clinical infections including local symptoms such as tonsillopharyngitis, cervical lymphadenitis, otitis media, cellulites, erysipelas, as well as more severe diseases such as scarlet fever, osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome. However, acute bacterial meningitis caused by this pathogen is unusual. Objective: We report a case of group A streptococcus (GAS) meningitis in a previously healthy woman with a dramatically rapid course and fatal outcome. Case: A 41-year-old previously healthy woman presented a history of fever, headache, vomiting, and sore throat of three days’ duration. Neurological examination revealed diminished consciousness and neck rigidity. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was turbid with10,000 leukocytes/mm3. Direct examination of CSF showed Gram-positive cocci in chains, and cultures yielded S. pyogenes. Blood cultures yielded growth of S. pyogenes. The patient was treated initially with ceftriaxone (4 g/day) and the control CSF examination was not changed on the third day, so vancomycin (2 g/day) was added to the treatment; however, she died on the fourth day of the treatment. Conclusion: S. pyogenes meningitis is uncommon and the incidence seems to be persistently low; nevertheless, clinicians should be aware that sporadic cases may occur and may have a fulminant course with a relevant neurological sequel.

Background: The Widal test is the most common, specific and quick diagnostic method available in the world for diagnosis of typhoid fever; however, false negativity is one of the obstructive features of the test. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associated factors with Widal test negativity in an endemic area., Methods: Widal test negativity was retrospectively analyzed among culture-proven typhoid fever cases. The potential features including age, gender, previous antibiotic usage, duration of symptoms, leucopoenia, hematocrit value, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated for association with Widal test negativity., Results: A total of 166 culture-proven typhoid fever cases (93 or 56.0% males) were included in the study. The mean age +/- SD was 23.3 +/- 10.6 years. Mean time of interval between first symptom and test performance time was 10.6 +/- 7.8 days. The Widal test (STO and/or STH) was found positive in 75 cases (45.2%). The statistical analyses revealed that none of these variables were significant for false negativity of the Widal test. Age was found to be a possible factor for a false negative Widal test (p=0.06)., Conclusion: Of existing compatible clinical findings, age should be considered in cases of Widal test negativity.

The aim of this study was to present a unique case of intramedullary brucellar granuloma (IBG) and to discuss the diagnosis and management. To our knowledge, only one case of thoracic IBG has been reported previously, and our case is the first in cervical spine. A 35-year-old female patient was admitted with headache, pain and weakness in her four extremities. She had no gastrointestinal symptoms and fever. She had been diagnosed with Brucella meningitis 3 months ago and a triple therapy of doxycyclin, rifampicin and trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol (TMP/SMZ) had been started. Medical history revealed that she had ingested raw cheese and taken her medication improperly. Loss of strength was detected in her four extremities, which led us to assume the formation of a mass lesion at cervical level. Therefore, we performed a magnetic resonance imaging scan and found enhancement of an intramedullary mass lesion at cervical 1–2 level. Diagnosis of neurobrucellosis was confirmed by titer of >1/160 Brucella antibodies both in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Based on these findings, brucellar granuloma of cervical spine was diagnosed and a combination therapy of doxycyclin, TMP/SMZ and rifampicin was administered for additional 6 months. At the ninth month of treatment, the patient recovered both radiologically and clinically. Our case is unique, in terms of cervical IBG formation. The excellent response to antimicrobial therapy in our patient suggests that, a trial of medical treatment for 6 months may be effective in such cases.

To compare the efficacy of a combination of a-interferon (IFN-a) and lamivudine with IFN-a alone in the treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Sixty-eight treatment-naove patients with HBeAg-positive CHB were randomized to receive either 9 MU of IFN-a2a three times a week and lamivudine 100 mg daily (Group 1), or IFN-a2a alone in the same dosage (Group 2), for 12 months. Serum ALT, HBeAg, anti-HBe and HBV DNA were tested at the end of treatment and 6 months later. Complete response was defined as normal ALT, negative HBeAg and negative HBV DNA, six months after stopping treatment.Of the 68 patients, 64 completed the study. In Group 1 (n=31), mean (SD) ALT levels decreased from 124 (59) IU/L to 39 (18) IU/L at 12 months; corresponding values in Group 2 (n=33) were 128 (57) and 56 (11) IU/L (p0.05). Absence of HBV DNA at the end of treatment was more common in Group 1 (28/31) than in Group 2 (22/33; p0.022). The number of patients with seroconversion to anti-HBe (4/31 [13%] vs. 4/33 [12%], respectively; p0.05), as also those with complete response (4/31 [13%] and 4/33 [12%], respectively; p0.05) six months after completion of treatment was similar in Group 1 and Group 2.Combination treatment with IFN-a and lamivudine was better than IFN-a monotherapy in normalization of ALT and clearance of HBV DNA; however, it did not have a better sustained response rate than IFN-a alone.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii treatment on preventing bacterial translocation in an obstructive jaundice animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty adult rats were divided into five groups: group 1 – the sham-operated group; group 2 – the common bile duct ligation group; group 3 – the S. boulardii group; group 4 – the ampicillin-sulbaktam group; and group 5 – the S. boulardii plus ampicillin-sulbaktam group. The saline, antibiotics and S. boulardii were given, respectively, for a 7-day period as a single dose per day via temporary orogastric intubation. Seven days following the obstructive jaundice, the animal had laparatomy under sterile conditions. Segments of ileum were removed for histopathological examination. Blood, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were taken for microbiological culture. RESULTS Bacterial translocation rates were 0% in the sham-operated group, 83% in group 2, 42% in group 3, 42% in group 4 and 33% in group 5. Bacterial translocation significantly increased in group 2 compared to groups 3, 4 and 5 (P = 0.001). The bacterial counts (CFU/g) of group 2 were significantly higher than those of groups 3, 4 and 5 (P = 0.001). Histopathological examination of ileum specimens revealed a significant decrease in the heights of villi in groups 2–5 compared to the sham-operated group (P = 0.001). The mean villus height in groups 3 and 5 was significantly higher than that of group 4 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS S. boulardii was found to be effective in the successful control of translocation and improvement of intestinal barrier function.

We conducted a case-control study to assess risk factors for typhoid fever in Diyarbakir, Turkey, a region where transmission of Salmonella typhi is endemic. We prospectively identified febrile patients from Diyarbakir and the surrounding area who were admitted to hospital. Cases were defined as patients who had S. typhi isolated from at least one blood culture. Sixty-four cases with blood culture-confirmed S. typhi were identified between May 2001 and May 2003. In total, 128 age- and sex-matched controls selected from neighbourhoods as cases were enrolled. We hypothesized that consumption of raw vegetables contaminated with sewage would be associated with an increased risk of typhoid fever. Conditional logistic regression modelling revealed that living in a crowded household (OR 3·31, 95% CI 1·58–6·92, P=0·002), eating cig kofte (a traditional raw food) (OR 5·29, 95% CI 2·20–12·69, P=0·000) and lettuce salad (OR 3·55, 95% CI 1·52–8·28, P=0·003) in the 15 days prior to symptoms onset was independently associated with typhoid fever. We conclude that living in a crowded household and consumption of raw vegetables outside the home increase the risk of typhoid fever in this region.

The goal of this study was to develop a simple prediction rule for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. A model for the prediction of patients with typhoid fever at hospital admission was derived and validated by assigning weighted point values to independent predictive factors associated with a diagnosis of typhoid fever at hospital admission. Patient demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were used to compare patients with blood culture-confirmed typhoid fever with patients with fever of unknown origin. The model was derived and validated in two separate cohorts of patients from Dicle University Hospital in Diyarbakir, Turkey. A total of 371 patients were enrolled. A diagnostic index score was created using seven independent predictive factors associated with typhoid fever at hospital admission: age

A case-control study was performed using the records of patients hospitalized for typhoid fever at Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey, between 1994 and 1998. Case patients with enteric perforation were compared with control patients with typhoid fever but no enteric perforation. Risk factors for perforation were determined using logistic regression modeling. Forty case patients who had surgery because of typhoid enteric perforation were compared with 80 control patients. In univariate analyses, male sex (p = 0.01), age (p = 0.01), leukopenia (p = 0.01), inadequate antimicrobial therapy prior to admission (p = 0.01), and short duration of symptoms (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with perforation. In multivariate analysis, male sex (odds ratio (OR) = 4.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37, 14.09; p = 0.01), leukopenia (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 1.46, 10.33; p = 0.04), inadequate treatment prior to admission (OR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.14, 18.35; p = 0.03), and short duration of symptoms (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.35; p = 0.001) were significant predictors of perforation. A short duration of symptoms, inadequate antimicrobial therapy, male sex, and leukopenia are independent risk factors for enteric perforation in patients with typhoid fever.

Objective Risk factors of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) caused by central venous catheter (CVC) use at a university hospital were evaluated. Design A prospective, observational, hospital-wide study was conducted. Setting The study was conducted at a university hospital with 1050 beds. Methods Nontunneled catheters were used, and double or triple lumen was observed. Catheters were cultured by semi-quantitative method, and blood cultures were performed if necessary. All epidemiologic and clinical data were recorded without intervention during the study. Results Over a 1-year period, the study assessed 389 CVCs inserted in 367 patients (mean age 50.9 ± 18.1 years; 215 [58.6%] men, 152 [41.4%] women). Duration of catheterization was 12.0 ± 9.9 days. CVCs were inserted into either the subclavian vein (N = 263; 67.6%) or the jugular vein (N = 128; 32.4%). In 250 episodes (64.3%), antibiotics were used concomitantly. CR-BSI was found in 43 of all CVCs (11.1%). The rate of CR-BSI per 1000 catheter-days was 9.21 for the whole cohort. In multivariable analysis, only renal failure (OR 4.83; CI 1.32-17.66; P = .017) was found to be a risk factor for CR-BSI. Conclusion Renal failure was an independent risk factor for CR-BSI.