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2019 yılının son günlerinde, Çin’in Hubei eyaletinden etiyolojisi bilinmeyen ardışık pnömoni vakaları bildirilmeye başlanmış ve daha sonra SARS-CoV2 olarak adlandırılacak olan bu yeni tip Coronavirüs kısa sürede tüm dünyaya hızla yayılarak bir pandemiye dönüşmüştür. Bu süreçte tedavide birçok yeni molekül ile birlikte steroidlerin de kullanım sıklığı artmıştır. Steroidlerin pek çok yan etkisi bulunmaktadır ve femur başı avasküler nekrozu steroidlerin uzun süreli kullanımı sonucu görebildiğimiz önemli yan etkilerinden biridir. Bu yazıda COVID-19 pnömonisi nedeniyle yoğun bakım ünitesi ve ardından serviste izlenen bir hastada kısa süreli steroid kullanımı sonucu gelişen bilateral femur başı avasküler nekrozu olgusu sunulmuştur.

Comparative validation and clinical performance data are essential for the reliable interpretation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody test results. This study aimed to assess the performance of six SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunoassays in the context of different disease severities. Four automated chemiluminescence immunoassays (Access [Beckman Coulter], Architect [Abbott], Atellica-IM [Siemens], and Elecsys [Roche]) as well as two ELISA assays (SARS-CoV-2 IgG-S1-based and NCP IgG [Euroimmun]) were evaluated using samples from 143 patients as well as 50 pre-pandemic control serum samples. Accuracy and precision tests were performed for validation purposes. Overall sensitivity ranged between 73.38-88.65% and was higher in spike protein-based assays, while the specificity was >= 98% in all immunoassays. The clinical performance of the immunoassays differed depending on disease severity and target antigen. For instance, the IgG response was lower for samples taken = 20 days post-symptom onset (94.80%). Moreover, moderate disease levels led to the highest levels of IgG. Higher levels of antibodies were detected in the clinically moderate disease group. In asymptomatic and mild groups, more antibody positivity was detected with spike protein-based assays. All the assays tested could be used to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG. However, spike based assays revealed relatively higher sensitivity rates than nucleoprotein-based assays, particularly in cases of asymptomatic and mild disease.

Objectives: In this study, we report the immune response to the BNT162b2 vaccine and CoronaVac vaccine after a two-dose vaccination and the effects of conventional drugs, immunosuppressive drugs, and new-generation therapies on vaccine responses in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Patients and methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted with 94 patients (65 males, 29 females; mean age: 42.7±12.1 years; range, 19 to 69 years) between May 2021 and January 2022. The immunogenicity of the two-dose regimens of the BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccines in adult patients with RMD was analyzed according to disease and treatments. Serum immunoglobulin G antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) spike proteins were measured four weeks after the second dose of vaccines. Results: Patients on regimens including mycophenolate, rituximab, and steroids were less likely to develop an antibody response (p=0.001, p=0.06, and p=0.001, respectively). Impairment of vaccine response by other conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and by anti-tumor necrosis factor treatments was not shown. Younger participants appeared more likely to develop an antibody response. The CoronaVac vaccine was less likely to develop an antibody response compared to the BNT162b2 vaccine (p=0.002). Systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis had the lowest antibody titers compared to other RMDs. Conclusion: Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab, and steroids should be warned about the risk of a suboptimal vaccine response. If possible, vaccination strategies should be changed, and the dose modification of drugs should be made during the vaccination. Further studies are required to determine the responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and optimization of vaccine response in patients with RMDs.

Introduction: The new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and caused a pandemic. Unusual clinic of viral pneumonia caused by this virus was named COVID-19 and pandemic was declared on 11 March 2020 by World Health Organization. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric and adult patients who were admitted to Ege University Faculty of Medicine (EUFM) Hospital, Izmir, Turkey with COVID-19 findings between March 2020 and February 2021 and whose diagnosis was confirmed by the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Materials and Methods: Age and gender characteristics of the patients were screened according to the services and months they admitted to the hospital, and the severity of infection was evaluated in three groups as mild, moderate and severe. In the severe patient group, the relationship between the common comorbid diseases observed in the community and survival status of patients were also evaluated. All statistical analysis performed by SPSS V.26,0. Results: One year from the start of the pandemic, 75851 people applied to the EUFM Hospital with the suspicion of COVID-19. The age median of the patients who applied was 39 (age-range;0-96) and 50.7% were male patients. SARS-CoV-2 were detected in a total of 7951 (10.5%, median age 39) patients, of them 4044 (10.5%) were male and 3907 (10.5%) were female (p= 0.796). All of the patients, 66577 (87.8%) were adults and 9274 (12.2%) were children. The rate of positivity for SARS-CoV2 in pediatric and adult groups were 7.7% (n= 716) and 10.9% (7235), respectively (p= 0.000). The percentage of patients who were classified as mild, moderate, and severe were 92.7%, 3.4%, and 3.9%, respectively. As a result of paired comparisons for all three level case groups, a statistically significant difference was found between mild cases and others (p= 0.000). However, there was no statistically significant difference between moderate and severe cases (p= 0.298). The mild-moderate-severe clinical level distributions were 3721 (50.4%), 142 (52.7%), 181 (58.7%) in male, 3653 (49.5%), 127 (47.2%), 127 (41.2%) in female, respectively (p= 0.014). All severe clinical level patients, 234 (76%) were intensive care patients. Smoking, obesity, hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic renal failure (CRF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),malignancy, and chemotherapy p values were found 0.037, 0.001, 0.052, 0.025, 0.003, 0.004, 0.006, 0.558, 0.355, 0.056, respectively. Conclusion: As a result, in a one-year period, COVID-19 showed up a mild illness in both the pediatric and adult groups without the need for hospitalization. In the community, women and men were equally infected with COVID-19, but severe-clinical-level disease was more common in men and over 60 years of age. Mortality rates were found to be high, especially in patients treated in intensive care. Smoking, obesity, DM, CAD, CHF, CRF comorbidities and being ≥60 years old, associated with poor prognosis and death. Due to the Izmir earthquake at the end of October, COVID-19 peaked in Izmir, in November 2020.

Background CoronaVac, an inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, has been shown to be well tolerated with a good safety profile in individuals aged 18 years and older in phase 1/2 trials, and provided a good humoral response against SARS-CoV-2. We present the interim efficacy and safety results of a phase 3 clinical trial of CoronaVac in Turkey. Methods This was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Volunteers aged 18-59 years with no history of COVID-19 and with negative PCR and antibody test results for SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled at 24 centres in Turkey. Exclusion criteria included (but were not limited to) immunosuppressive therapy (including steroids) within the past 6 months, bleeding disorders, asplenia, and receipt of any blood products or immunoglobulins within the past 3 months. The K1 cohort consisted of health-care workers (randomised in a 1:1 ratio), and individuals other than health-care workers were also recruited into the K2 cohort (randomised in a 2:1 ratio) using an interactive web response system. The study vaccine was 3 mu g inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virion adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide in a 0.5 mL aqueous suspension. Participants received either vaccine or placebo (consisting of all vaccine components except inactivated virus) intramuscularly on days 0 and 14. The primary efficacy outcome was the prevention of PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 at least 14 days after the second dose in the per protocol population. Safety analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04582344) and is active but no longer recruiting. Findings Among 11 303 volunteers screened between Sept 14, 2020, and Jan 5, 2021, 10 218 were randomly allocated. After exclusion of four participants from the vaccine group because of protocol deviations, the intention-to-treat group consisted of 10 214 participants (6646 [65.1%] in the vaccine group and 3568 [34.9%] in the placebo group) and the per protocol group consisted of 10 029 participants (6559 [65.4%] and 3470 [34.6%]) who received two doses of vaccine or placebo. During a median follow-up period of 43 days (IQR 36-48), nine cases of PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 were reported in the vaccine group (31.7 cases [14.6-59.3] per 1000 person-years) and 32 cases were reported in the placebo group (192.3 cases [135.7-261.1] per 1000 person-years) 14 days or more after the second dose, yielding a vaccine efficacy of 83.5% (95% CI 65.4-92.1; p, TUSEB, We are grateful to all participants who volunteered to be part of this study and to all members of the clinical research teams of the participating sites. We thank TUSEB for funding the study and Omega-CRO for the statistical analyses and production of figures, and providing the study protocol. We also thank the members of the data and safety monitoring board for their contributions in the safe execution of this study.

Background/aim: This study aimed to retrospectively analyse patients with foreign body (FB) injuries in our hospital and to present a patient with missed penetrating sponge FB injury. Materials and methods: This study lasted 12 years (2008-2020) and reviewed all patients with FB injuries who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) of our hospital. Along with our overall results, we present a case with missed penetrating sponge FB injury in detail. Results: Approximately 377 patients were included in the study (age: 28.3 +/- 18.3 years, m/f: 229/148). The foot (n = 148, 39.3%) and the hand (n = 143, 37.9%) were the most frequently injured body parts. Regarding FB types, sewing needles (n = 140, 37.1%), metal pieces (n = 91, 24.1%), and glass (n = 80, 21.2%) were the most frequently observed objects. Most of the patients were injured at home, often by needles or glass. The injury-admission mean time was 7.38 +/- 2.5 days. FBs were frequently removed in the ED (n = 176, 46.7%). Plain radiography is the first line in identifying FBs. Soft tissue infection was the most common complication. MRIs were much useful than USGs in detecting the missed penetrating sponge injury of the single patient in the study. Conclusion: For diagnosis of FBs, besides recording the patient's history, obtaining a two-sided radiogram is of great importance. For nonradiolucent or deeply located FBs, further clinical or radiological investigation must be considered to avoid complications. Although most of the FBs can be removed in the ED, patients may require hospitalisation and operation for FB removal, depending upon FB location and age.

Introduction: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic disease frequently transmitted by tick bite and accompanied by fever and bleeding. It may cause important public health problems. Besides clinical symptoms and epidemiological history, blood count and biochemical test results are the first clues for CCHF. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate 16 patients who were followed and treated due to CCHF in our hospital. Materials and Methods: The patients who were followed up and treated with CCHF between 2009-2019 in our clinic were evaluated retrospectively in terms of demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, presence of tick history, laboratory parameters, necessity of blood products replacement, hospitalization periods, ribavirin treatment and one-month survival. Results: Sixteen patients [ten females, six males, mean age 50.37 ± 18.01 (min: 18-max: 79)] with the diagnosis of CCHF were included into the study. Presenting complaints were fever (16/16, 100%), fatigue (16/16, 100%), bleeding (9/16, 56.2%), petechial rash (7/16, 43.7%). nausea and vomiting (6/16, 37.5%). There was a history of tick contact in 14 cases (87.5%) but not in two cases. Supportive treatment was applied to all cases, and droplet and contact isolation were applied. Blood product replacement was performed in five patients (31.2%), and ribavirin was administered in nine patients (56.2%). Mortality rate was 6.3% (1/16). Conclusion: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is an endemic disease in our country. Especially in spring and summer months, patients with fever and cytopenia on hemogram should be questioned, and tick contact should be sought.

İnsan immünyetmezlik virüsü (HIV) ile infekte olan hastalarda malignite görülme riski artmıştır. Hodgkin dışı lenfomalar, Kaposi sarkomu ve servikal kanser kazanılmış immünyetmezlik sendromu (AIDS) tanımlayıcı hastalıklar içinde yer almaktadır. Hodgkin dışı lenfomalar içinde en sık difüz büyük B hücreli lenfoma görülmektedir. AIDS ilişkili hodgkin dışı lenfoma tanılı hastanın tedavisinin planlanmasında, kombine antiretroviral tedavi alıyor olması iyi prognoz yönünden oldukça yararlıdır. Bu nedenle yukarıdaki tanıları alan hasta gruplarında HIV tarama testi yapılmalıdır. Farklı bir bakış açısı ile değerlendirilecek olursa HIV ile infekte hastalar pek çok bölüme farklı kliniklerle başvurabilmektedir. Bu nedenle tüm hekimlerin AIDS tanımlayan hastalıklar açısından bilgi ve farkındalık sahibi olması gereklidir. Erken tanı ile tedavi başarısı yüksek olan bu hastalıkta hekimlerin bilinci büyük önem taşımaktadır. Ne yazık ki halen geç tanı almış olgularla karşılaşılmaktadır. Bu yazıda, difüz büyük B hücreli lenfoma tanısıyla dört aydır kemoterapi tedavisi gören ve febril nötropeni tablosunda konsülte edilen, geç HIV infeksiyonu tanısı alan bir olgu sunulmuştur., Malignancy risk is increased in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Kaposi’s sarcoma and cervical cancer are among the AIDS-defining diseases. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Taking combined antiretroviral therapy is associated with good prognosis in the treatment of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Therefore, HIV screening test should be requested in patient groups with the above-mentioned diagnoses. If evaluated from a different perspective, HIV-infected patients can apply to many departments with different clinics. For this reason, all physicians should have knowledge and awareness in terms of AIDS-defining diseases. The awareness of physicians is of great importance in this disease, which has a high success rate with early diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, cases with late diagnosis are still encountered. In this article, a patient treated with chemotherapy for four months with the diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, who consulted us as febrile neutropenia and was diagnosed with late HIV infection is presented.

Objectives: It is not always possible to determine a clear relationship between the DNA level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and histology. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between HBV-DNA level and liver histopathology in patients with chronic hepatitis. Materials and Methods: Between 2008 and 2016, 361 patients diagnosed with chronic HBV infection were retrospectively examined with age, sex, hepatitis B e antigen status, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV-DNA levels and liver biopsy scores according to modified Ishak criteria. Patients were divided into five groups (, Amaç: Hepatit B virüs (HBV)-DNA düzeyi ile histoloji arasında her zaman net bir ilişki saptamak mümkün olmamaktadır. Bu çalışmada kronik hepatit tanılı hastalarda HBV-DNA düzeyi ile karaciğer histopatolojisi arasındaki ilişkinin ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: 2008-2016 yılları arasında kronik hepatit B tanılı 361 hastanın; yaş, cinsiyet, hepatit B e antijeni durumu, alanin aminotransferaz (ALT) ve HBV-DNA düzeyleri ile modifiye Ishak kriterlerine göre karaciğer biyopsi skorları retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. HBV-DNA düzeyi ile grade/stage skorları arasındaki istatistiksel ilişkinin araştırılması açısından hastalar, HBV-DNA düzeyine göre 5 gruba (

Aim: Occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids, and sharp injuries, poses a significant risk to blood-borne infections for healthcare workers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serology of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection and determine the knowledge level of healthcare workers about the risk of occupational exposure.Materials and Methods: 89 healthcare workers who applied to Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic were evaluated with a questionnaire about knowledge levels of occupational injury and attitudes though screening their status by serological test along with Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection.Results: 66 of the participants (74%) were female and 23 (26%) were male. The mean age was 39.94 ± 12.54 years (min-max; 24-66 years). 41 people (46%) who defined occupational injuries were identified with a history of 56 injuries. Of these, 19 (34%) had needlestick injury, 22 (39%) had penetrating stab wounds, and 15 (27%) had blood/patient excretion on the eye. As a result of injuries, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV transmission were not observed.Conclusion: Due to the possibility of mucosal contact with blood or body fluids, we think that it is important to inform healthcare workers in terms of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV transmission and raise awareness through practices aimed at reducing these injuries., Amaç: Kesici delici alet yaralanmaları yanında kan ve diğer potansiyel enfekte vücut sıvılarıyla her türlü mesleki maruziyet sağlık çalışanları için kan yoluyla bulaşan enfeksiyonlar açısından önemli bir risk teşkil etmektedir. Bu çalışmada sağlık çalışanlarının bilgi düzeyleri ve mesleki maruziyet riski nedeniyle Hepatit A, Hepatit B, Hepatit C ve HIV enfeksiyonu yönünden serolojik değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı.Gereç ve Yöntem: Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları polikliniğine başvuran 89 sağlık çalışanının 10 soruluk bir anket ile mesleki yaralanma, bilgi düzeyleri ve tutumları ile birlikte Hepatit A, Hepatit B, Hepatit C ve HIV enfeksiyonu yönünden durumları serolojik testle değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Çalışanların 66’sı (%74) kadın, 23’ü (%26) erkek olup, yaş ortalaması 39.94± 12.54 yıl (min-maks;24-66) idi. Mesleki yaralanma tanımlayan 41 kişi (%46) 56 yaralanma öyküsü tanımlandı. Bunların 19’u (%34) iğne batması, 22’si (%39) kesici delici alet yaralanması, 15’i (%27) göze kan/ hasta çıkartısı sıçraması şeklindeydi. Bu yaralanmalar sonucu hepatit B, hepatit C ve HIV bulaşı olmadığı test sonuçları ile görüldü.Sonuç: Kan ya da vücut sıvılarıyla mukozal temas ihtimali olması nedeniyle hepatit B, hepatit C ve HIV bulaşı açısından sağlık çalışanlarının bilgilendirilmesi ve bu yaralanmaları azaltmaya yönelik uygulamalarla farkındalık yaratılmasının önemli olduğunu düşünmekteyiz.

Candidemia may present as severe and life-threatening infections and is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with 30-day mortality in patients with candidemia. A multi-center prospective observational study was conducted in seven university hospitals in six provinces in the western part of Turkey. Patient data were collected with a structured form between January 2018 and April 2019. In total, 425 episodes of candidemia were observed during the study period. Two hundred forty-one patients died within 30 days, and the 30-day crude mortality rate was 56.7%. Multivariable analysis found that SOFA score (OR: 1.28, CI: 1.154–1.420, p < 0.001), parenteral nutrition (OR: 3.9, CI: 1.752–8.810, p = 0.001), previous antibacterial treatment (OR: 9.32, CI: 1.634–53.744, p = 0.012), newly developed renal failure after candidemia (OR: 2.7, CI: 1.079–6.761, p = 0.034), and newly developed thrombocytopenia after candidemia (OR: 2.6, CI: 1. 057–6.439, p = 0.038) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Central venous catheter removal was the only factor protective against mortality (OR: 0.34, CI:0.147–0.768, p = 0.010) in multivariable analysis. Candidemia mortality is high in patients with high SOFA scores, those receiving TPN therapy, and those who previously received antibacterial therapy. Renal failure and thrombocytopenia developing after candidemia should be followed carefully in patients. Antifungal therapy and removing the central venous catheter are essential in the management of candidemia. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

[No abstract available]

Background: In this cross-sectional, international study, we aimed to analyze vector-borne and zoonotic infections (VBZI), which are significant global threats. Method: VBZIs’ data between May 20–28, 2018 was collected. The 24 Participatingcountries were classified as lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income. Results: 382 patients were included. 175(45.8%) were hospitalized, most commonly in Croatia, Egypt, and Romania(P = 0.001). There was a significant difference between distributions of VBZIs according to geographical regions(P < 0.001). Amebiasis, Ancylostomiasis, Blastocystosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, Toxoplasmosis were significantly more common in the Middle-East while Bartonellosis, Borreliosis, Cat Scratch Disease, Hantavirus syndrome, Rickettsiosis, Campylobacteriosis, Salmonellosis in Central/East/South-East Europe; Brucellosis and Echinococcosis in Central/West Asia; Campylobacteriosis, Chikungunya, Tick-borne encephalitis, Visceral Leishmaniasis, Salmonellosis, Toxoplasmosis in the North-Mediterranean; CCHF, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Malaria, Taeniasis, Salmonellosis in Indian Subcontinent; Lassa Fever in West Africa. There were significant regional differences for viral hemorrhagic fevers(P < 0.001) and tick-borne infections(P < 0.001), and according to economic status for VBZIs(P < 0.001). The prevalences of VBZIs were significantly higher in lower-middle income countries(P = 0.001). The most similar regions were the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle-East, the Indian Subcontinent and the North-Mediterranean, and the Middle-East and North-Mediterranean regions. Conclusions: Regional and socioeconomic heterogeneity still exists for VBZIs. Control and eradication of VBZIs require evidence-based surveillance data, and multidisciplinary efforts.

Aim: Echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus species, is an important zoonotic disease causing major health problems in humans and animals. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory parameters, radiological, serological, pathological, and treatment protocols of followed-up cases of hydatidosis. Methods: A total of 550 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst disease were included in this study. Patients who were positive for one or more of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or indirect hemagglutination test, pathological results, or radiological findings were examined. The data analyzed were collected from nine centers between 2008 and 2020. Records were examined retrospectively. Results: Among the patients, 292 (53.1%) were women and 258 (46.9%) were men. The patients' mean age was 44.4 +/- 17.4 years. A history of living in rural areas was recorded in 57.4% of the patients. A total of 435 (79.1%) patients were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain in 277 (50.4%), listlessness in 244 (44.4%), and cough in 140 (25.5%) patients. Hepatomegaly was found in 147 (26.7%), and decreased breath sounds were observed in 124 (22.5%) patients. Radiological examination was performed in all cases and serological methods were also applied to 428 (77.8%) patients. The most frequently applied serological test was IHA (37.8%). A single cyst has been found in 66% patients. Hepatic involvement occurred in 327 (59.4%), pulmonary involvement was found in 128 (23.3%), whereas both of them were recorded in 43 (7.8%) patients. Splenic involvement was only detected in nine (1.6%) patients. Echinococcus granulosus (72.5%) was most frequently detected. Cyst diameters of 56.9% of the patients were in the range of 5-10 cm. A total of 414 (75.2%) patients received albendazole as an antiparasitic. Mortality was noted in nine (1.6%) patients. Conclusion: Echinococcosis is an important public health problem in Turkey. It can affect the social, economic, and political structures of the community. Public education and awareness are extremely important.

OZTURK, ANIL MURAT/0000-0001-8674-8877; Tasbakan, meltem/0000-0002-4689-720X, WOS:000512305000020, The rate of opportunistic infections has decreased with highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV infected patients. HIV can be diagnosed concurrently with opportunistic infections. in this paper, it was aimed to present a 39-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with HIV while being followed-up for necrotizing skin soft tissue infection and necrotizing pneumonia. Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from deep wound culture, but no agent was isolated from blood cultures and lower respiratory tract samples of the patient. Considering his clinical condition, anti-HIV was requested from the patient for possible immunodeficiency. The test result was positive. CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13-64 get tested for HIV as part of routine health care. For those with specific risk factors such as patients presenting with frequent recurrent infections, testing for HIV should come to mind.

In this study, we aimed to investigate retrospectively the patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the terms of demographic findings, antibiotic sensitivity patterns and clinical features along with the treatment options. This study was performed at a tertiary-care educational university hospital. Adult (>18 years old) patients diagnosed with culture proven UTI due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (between December 2016 to December 2017) were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed with the VITEK 2 system (bioMerieux). Resistance to imipenem, ertapenem, and meropenem was tested by E-test (bioMerieux). the results were interpreted according to the EUCAST criteria. A total number of 100 patients (34% female, mean age 61.69 +/- 1.65 years) were included in this study. One month all-cause mortality rate was 19%. Microbiologic eradication rate was 88.7% while it was significantly higher in combination therapy (65/70 vs. 14/19, p = 0.019) and carbapenem long-lasting (4 h) infusion subgroups (54/56 vs. 2/56, p = 0.005). Relapse and reinfection rates were 61.7 and 29.7%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis for mortality risk factors resulted as history of ertapenem usage (OR: 4.74, 95% CI: 0.678-33.201, p = 0.117), lack of microbiologic eradication (OR: 21.7, 95% CI: 1.906-247.375, p = 0.013) and ICU stay (OR: 54.8, 95% CI: 4.145-726.324, p = 0.002). Combination, carbapenem long-lasting infusion and double carbapenem therapies seem to result in higher microbiologic eradication rates and thus may effect the mortality rates of these group of patients. Randomized-controlled studies should be performed in this critical patient group to confirm these results.

WOS: 000488951800014, Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection generally occurs during childhood/early adolescence and is usually an asymptomatic or mild and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent patients. Mononucleosis-like syndrome due to primary CMV may occur in middle-aged or advanced-aged adults, though rare. Three middle-aged patients from the same family admitted to our clinic with acute CMV infection. Two of the three cases were hospitalized, CMV antibodies were examined and at the same time the third case had an acute CMV infection. CMV transmission among middle-aged family members Is very rare. This study reports three cases of acute CMV infection and it's transmission from person to person in the same family.

Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus and norovirus in patients admitted to Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital with acute diarrhea in a period of about one year. Materials and Methods: Between September 2016-August 2017, stool specimens were collected from 408 (341 pediatric and 67 adult) patients with acute diarrhea. The age range of the patients was between one month to 84 years (median: 3 years, mean: 10.25 years). Stool specimens were obtained from 206 (50.5%) outpatients and 202 (49.5%) inpatients. Stool specimens of patients with acute gastroenteritis were tested by real time PCR BD MAX™ Enteric Viral Panel (BD Diagnostics, Baltimore, MD, USA). This is an automated in vitro diagnostic test used for the qualitative detection of norovirus (genotype I and II) and rotavirus species in stool specimens. In this multiplex PCR system, viral nucleic acid is extracted from the specimen and it undergoes reverse transcription to generate complementary DNA (cDNA). The target cDNA is amplified using real time PCR and then analyzed to detect the presence or absence of each virus in the panel. Results: Of the 408 specimens tested, 223 (54.7%) were positive for one or more gastrointestinal viruses. Of the 223 positive samples, 184 (45.1%) were rotavirus, 26 (6.4%) were norovirus genotype II, 1 (0.2%) was norovirus genotype I, and 12 (2.9%) were rotavirus/ norovirus genotype II. Of the 223 positive samples, 121 (54.3%) were outpatients and 102 (45.7%) were inpatients (p= 0.094). The rate of positivity for the rotavirus in pediatric and adult groups were 48.4% (165/341) and 46.3% (31/67) (p= 0.751), respectively. Rotavirus positivity was highest in the months of March (75%), February (70%) and January (60%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the rate of positivity for rotavirus and norovirus were found as 48% and 10%, respectively in fecal samples sent to the laboratory by viral acute gastroenteritis, especially in winter. There was no significant difference between the positivity rates of the inpatients or outpatients and the positivity rates of the pediatric or adult patients.

Introduction: Fungal infections are vital problems worldwide and their incidence have increased along with changing patient profile. Particularly candida species is still the most commonfungal agent, and the significance of non-albicans candida species have gained importance in recent years. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate retrospectively the risk factors and distribution of candida species in patients with invasive candida infections, who were treated with anidulafungin., Materials and Methods: In the first three years (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014) when anidulafungin came out in our country, we retrospectively evaluated the data of the patients with invasive candida infections who were treated by anidulafungin for more than 48 hours in seven university hospitals. Data were recorded to the case report forms., Results: Two hundreds and fifty-seven patients were included into the study. Fifty-six percent of the patients were male and mean age was 58.57 +/- 19.5 years. Two hundreds and three patients (79%) were hospitalized in intensive care units, 37 (14.3%) in internal medicine services, and 17 (0.07%) in surgery services. As previously described, we detected antibiotic usage in the last month (%96.9), presence of urinary catheter (90.3%) and presence of central venous catheter (82.1%) as risk factors for invasive candida infections. More than half of the patients (57.1%) with central venous catheter had candidemia. Sixty-six (47.7%) of the blood isolates were Candida albicans, 33 (23.7%) were Candida parapsilosis, 17 (12.2%) were Candida tropicalis and 13 (9.4%) were Candida glabrata. During follow up, 64.5% of 124 patients whose catheters couldn't be taken off and 47.6% of 86 patients whose catheters could be taken off died. During anidulafungin treatment, one anaphylaxis, one skin eruption and one thrombocytopenia were seen as side effects., Conclusion: In our study, we found that removal of central venous catheter of the patients with candidemia was a positive effect on mortality. We suggest that patients with candidemia, insisting on catheter removal besides antifungal treatment is necessary. We observed that anidulafungin is an effective and safe choice in invasive candida infections.

WOS: 000461755700006, Introduction: Foot ulcer is an undesirable result of diabetes. Alterations in the foot muscular structures with reduced pain sensation disrupt the normal push mechanism of the foot and cause an increase in the plantar face pressure. In this case, plantar area ulcers occur. Long-term and non-healing ulcers lead to infection and amputation. Many studies have shown that methods of reducing pressure and load in the wound area are beneficial. Although it is shown that the gold standard application is total contact casting, circular closed plaster application is not recommended because it cannot be followed in infected cases. Follow-up of the wound could be possible by opening a window in the wound site on the casting. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of plastering by opening a window at the lesion site in patients with infected diabetic foot wounds. Materials and Methods: Between 01 February 2012-01 June 2018, cases of plantar ulceration, no wound healing by other methods and follow-up total contact casting were screened retrospectively among the cases that applied to the Diabetic Foot Council of Ege University Medical Faculty. Wound area, wound discharge and infection scores of the wound were identified before and after the application of the cast. Total contact cast complications were recorded. Results: There were a total of 21 cases on whom total contact cast was performed (6 female, 15 male). Mean duration of DM was 16.9 +/- 7.7 years. The average duration of cast for all patients was 31.9 +/- 22.6 days and the average number of applications was 3.2 +/- 2.2. Wound drainage before casting was purulent in 17 patients (81%) and serous in 4 patients (19%). Before total contact cast, wound area was 22.5 +/- 14.6 cm(2). Mean post-casting wound area was 8.6 +/- 16.9 cm(2) (p=0.001). Sixteen (76.2%) cases's wounds were completely closed after casting. Conclusion: The most feared outcome of diabetic foot injuries after insufficient and improper care is amputation. The effective reduction of pressure and burden in the wound area with total contact casting is extremely important in the healing of diabetic wounds. Total contact cast applied with a window on the ulcer site is a useful method for healing both the lesion and infection in infected diabetic foot ulcers.

We aimed to explore factors for optimizing antimicrobial treatment in emergency departments. A single-day point prevalence survey was conducted on January 18, 2020, in 53 referral/tertiary hospitals in 22 countries. 1957 (17%) of 11557 patients presenting to EDs had infections. The mean qSOFA score was 0.37 +/- 0.74. Sepsis (qSOFA >= 2) was recorded in 218 (11.1%) patients. The mean qSOFA score was significantly higher in low-middle (1.48 +/- 0.963) compared to upper-middle (0.17 +/- 0.482) and high-income (0.36 +/- 0.714) countries ( P < 0.001). Eight (3.7%) patients with sepsis were treated as outpatients. The most common diagnoses were upper-respiratory (n = 877, 43.3%), lower-respiratory (n = 316, 16.1%), and lower-urinary (n = 201, 10.3%) infections. 1085 (55.4%) patients received antibiotics. The most-commonly used antibiotics were beta-lactam (BL) and BL inhibitors (n = 307, 15.7%), third-generation cephalosporins (n = 251, 12.8%), and quinolones (n = 204, 10.5%). Irrational antibiotic use and inappropriate hospitalization decisions seemed possible. Patients were more septic in countries with limited resources. Hence, a better organizational scheme is required.

Aim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) changed the delivery of medical education in Turkey by moving to an emergency remote teaching system and led to many challenges for future doctors. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on medical students, to assess their anxiety level and their main anxiety sources related to this pandemic. Methods A Google Form was distributed to medical students using the virtual snowball sampling method. The form included the Beck Anxiety Inventory and additional 19 questions on sociodemographic characteristics, perceived level of knowledge about the epidemic, self‐risk perceptions of COVID‐19 and their anxiety levels about some other topics related to COVID‐19. Results Overall, 3105 medical students with a mean age of 22.37 ± 2.46, took the survey. Amongst the participants, only 32% of the students defined their knowledge about the precautions that should be taken during an epidemic disease as acceptable. Students reported highest anxiety level for the continuing spread of COVID‐19 in Turkey and transmitting coronavirus to another person. Clinically significant anxiety prevalence was 23.2%. Regression analysis revealed that factors that increased the risk of being anxious included being female, being other than a 5th‐year student, thinking that being a medical student would increase the risk of coronavirus transmission or being uncertain about it, being exposed to a patient with COVID‐19 or being uncertain about it, being anxious about the continuing spread of COVID‐19 in Turkey, being anxious about acquiring COVID‐19, being anxious for graduating and being on active duty, being anxious about a medical training interruption. Conclusion Our results suggest that anxiety is prevalent amongst Turkish medical students during the COVID‐19 pandemic and they have a weak preparedness for a pandemic such as COVID‐19. Based on our results, new strategies should be implemented for medical education and for alleviating students’ anxiety levels.

Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to obtain information about the perspectives of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (IDCM) specialists on online education applications and web-based seminars, and their usage and utilization rates Materials and Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, online survey responses of the IDCM specialists in who were members of Infectious Diseases Clinical Microbiology Specialty Society of Turkey (EKMUD) were evaluated

Üriner sistem enfeksiyonlarında dirençli mikroorganizmalarla kolonizasyon ve enfeksiyonların sıklığı gün geçtikçe artmaktadır. Karbapeneme dirençli Gram negatif bakterilere bağlı enfeksiyonlarda tedavide zorluklarla karşılaşılmaktadır. Bu enfeksiyonlarda nefrotoksik ve nörotoksik yan etkilerine rağmen kolistin tek seçenek olarak kalabilmektedir. Myroides spp. Gram negatif ve nonfermentatif bir basil olup Flavobacteriaceae ailesindendir. İnsanlarda nadiren enfeksiyona neden olabilen fırsatçı bir patojendir. Bu etken çok sayıda antibiyotik grubuna direnç gösterebilir, bu nedenle tedavisi zor olabilmektedir. Eski bir antibiyotik olan kolistin, dirençli Gram negatif etkenlerle olan enfeksiyonlarda parenteral tedavi yanında menenjit tedavisinde intratekal ve pnömoni tedavisinde ise inhaler yolla da kullanılmaktadır. İntravezikal uygulaması ile ilgili de olgu düzeyinde bildiriler mevcuttur. Bu çalışmada, idrar kültüründe Myroides spp. üremesi görülen asemptomatik bakteriürisi olan ve üriner girişim planı olan bir olguda başarı ile sonuçlanan bir intravezikal kolistin tedavi uygulaması sunulmuştur.

Background/aim: The aim of this descriptive article is to share the experience in Ege University, Turkey with favipiravir in the treatment of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Materials and methods: This retrospective descriptive study included patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who presented with or developed severe pneumonia. Results: Forty patients who completed a full course (at least 5 days) of favipiravir were included in the study. At baseline, 30 (75%) patients required treatment for respiratory distress. Thirty-three patients (82.5%) were discharged from the hospital with full recovery, 6 patients (15%) died and 1 case (2.5%) was still at the intensive care unit (ICU) when this paper was written. Conclusion: This study provides relevant information for the treatment of COVID-19, suggesting that favipiravir was associated with significant clinical and laboratory improvements in the majority of the patients, is a safe drug with no serious side effects and would merit further investigation.

Background/aim: In tuberculsosis (TB), miRNA has been used as a biomarker to distinguish between healthy individuals and TB patients. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the association of the miRNA and cytokine expression levels, the course of tuberculosis infection, clinical forms and response to treatment, and (ii) the effects of genotypic features of bacteria on the course of tuberculosis and the relationship between miRNA and cytokine expressions and bacterial genotypes. Materials and methods: A total of 200 cases (100: culture positive active tuberculosis, 50: quantiferon positive latent tuberculosis infection and 50: quantiferon negative healthy controls) were included in the study. For the tuberculosis group at the time of admission and after treatment, for the latent tuberculosis infection and healthy control groups at the time of admission, miRNA and cytokine expressions were determined. Genotyping of M.tuberculosis isolates was performed by spoligotyping method. Results: While, in the comparison of miRNA expressions between the pretreatment patient group and the healthy control group, there was a statistically significant decrease in the expression of miR-454-3p, miR-15a-5p, miR-590-5p, miR-381, and miR-449a in the Pulmonary TB group, there was no significant change in miRNA expression in extrapulmonary TB patients. When the cytokine expressions of the patient group and the healthy control group were compared before treatment, the expressions of all cytokines in the patient group decreased. However, the only cytokine that showed a significantly lower expression was IL12A in PTB patients. Conclusion: There is no significant relationship between the clinical course of the disease, cytokine and miRNA expression, and the genotype of the bacteria., Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [115S333], This study was supported by grant 115S333 by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) .

Background/Aims: Despite surgical advances in liver transplantation and effective prophylactic strategies, posttransplant infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and management of infections because of developing immunosuppression is difficult and adversely affects mortality. This study aimed to review bacterial and fungal infections in patients after liver transplantation and to reveal the resistance rates. Materials and Methods: A total of 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2017 and February 2018 were evaluated retrospectively with regard to demographic characteristics, causes of transplantation, conditions that may lead to infection, postoperative infections, pathogens, and resistance patterns. Results: of the 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 48 (44.8%) had an infection. Bacterial infections were detected in 41% of the patients, and fungal infections were found in 13%. When we compared living and cadaveric transplants in terms of infection development, these rates were found to be 53% and 33%, respectively (p=0.034). No statistically significant results could be obtained when evaluating conditions such as sex, presence of underlying primary disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease MELD score, diabetes status, total parenteral nutrition, and risk factors for infection. Conclusion: After liver transplantation, infections are often seen in the first month of the postoperative period. Knowing the most common pathogens and resistance states in this process reduces infection-related deaths by providing appropriate treatment regimens at the right time., Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol Special Soc Turkey

In solid organ transplant recipients, it is recommended that the necessary vaccinations be completed at least 4 weeks before transplant. Chickenpox infection in adulthood can lead to serious clinical conditions such as pneumonia, hepatitis, and central nervous system infections. Herein, the case of chickenpox in a 36-year-old female patient with renal transplantation for end-stage renal disease due to vesicoureteral reflux 11 years previously and without a history of chickenpox or its vaccination before and after transplantation is reported. In this case, because of the development of thrombocytopenia associated with intravenous acyclovir, treatment was successfully concluded with oral valacyclovir.

Introduction: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic disease frequently transmitted by tick bite and accompanied by fever and bleeding. It may cause important public health problems. Besides clinical symptoms and epidemiological history, blood count and biochemical test results are the first clues for CCHF. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate 16 patients who were followed and treated due to CCHF in our hospital. Materials and Methods: The patients who were followed up and treated with CCHF between 2009-2019 in our clinic were evaluated retrospectively in terms of demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, presence of tick history, laboratory parameters, necessity of blood products replacement, hospitalization periods, ribavirin treatment and one-month survival. Results: Sixteen patients [ten females, six males, mean age 50.37 ± 18.01 (min: 18-max: 79)] with the diagnosis of CCHF were included into the study. Presenting complaints were fever (16/16, 100%), fatigue (16/16, 100%), bleeding (9/16, 56.2%), petechial rash (7/16, 43.7%). nausea and vomiting (6/16, 37.5%). There was a history of tick contact in 14 cases (87.5%) but not in two cases. Supportive treatment was applied to all cases, and droplet and contact isolation were applied. Blood product replacement was performed in five patients (31.2%), and ribavirin was administered in nine patients (56.2%). Mortality rate was 6.3% (1/16). Conclusion: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is an endemic disease in our country. Especially in spring and summer months, patients with fever and cytopenia on hemogram should be questioned, and tick contact should be sought.