Ayse Erturk

Introduction and aim. COVID-19 causes an uncontrolled and generalized inflammatory response of the host immune system. Early recognition of the disease and early prediction of the clinical course are of great importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for mortality in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19. Material and methods. The patients, who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and whose CRP, albumin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte levels were documented within the first 24 hours after admission, were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors; the groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were developed to evaluate the CAR and the NLR as risk factors for mortality in COVID-19 patients. Results. One hundred and thirty patients were included in this study. The mean age of the survivor group (n=114) was 60±16 and 52% were male. The mean age of the non-survivor group (n=16) was 75±13 and 56% were male. In the non-survivor group, the CAR detected at the time of admission to the hospital was significantly higher compared to patients in the survivor group (p=0.026). Conclusion. As a result, the CAR, the NLR and LDH are independent risk factor indicators of mortality in hospitalized patients

Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitosis that is mostly asymptomatic. It can lead to severe clinical conditions in immunosuppressed patients and fetal infections. Since it is possible to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis with appropriate follow-up and treatment, our study aimed to determine the susceptible population and seroprevalence of our region and to evaluate the course of infections in this group. Material and Method: Patients who applied to our tertiary hospital in the last five years and to whose Anti Toxoplasma IgM and IgG tests were performed were included in our study. Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, the course of primary infection in pregnant women, the treatments applied, and also acute toxoplasmosis infections in non-pregnant patients were examined. Results: The seropositivity rate was found to be 30.7% (n=1703) in 5545 women included in the study, and the seropositivity rate was 31% (n=1399) in 4503 pregnant women. Sixteen pregnant women with primary infection were followed up in our hospital; one underwent medical abortion at the request of the family, and only four used the recommended treatment. Congenital toxoplasmosis was not detected in any newborn. Of the patients included, 26 (0.4%) were examined to investigate the etiology of fever, 37 (0.6%) for lymphadenopathy (LAP), and 29 (0.5%) for elevated liver enzymes. Among the patients with LAP, four (10.8%) were diagnosed with acute toxoplasmosis. Conclusion: As a result, it is important to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, to detect possible primary infections, especially in pregnant women, and ensure close monitoring of these patients.

Introduction: Vaccination is one of the preventive measures that should be taken against COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccination status and factors affecting vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) working in our hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by filling out a questionnaire form with face-to-face or snowball methods to HCWs in our hospital. The questionnaire is composed of 10 questions, including demographic information, occupation of the person, working in the pandemic unit, COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination information, contracting COVID-19, and hospitalization status. Full-dose vaccination was defined as four doses in total. Pp=0.051, p=0.00, p=0.004). The rate of full-dose vaccination was found to be statistically significantly higher in those who worked in the pandemic unit (39.4%) than in those who did not (27.9%), in those who had influenza vaccination (44.5%) than those who did not (32.2%), and also higher in doctors (61.8%) compared to nurses (31.7%) and other HCWs (27.2%) (p=0.002, p=0.04, p=0.000). The rate of having COVID-19 disease was higher in HCWs who were unvaccinated or vaccinated with a missing dose (63.2%) compared to HCWs who were vaccinated with a full dose (41%) (p=0.000). Conclusion: Full-dose vaccination reduces the rate of COVID-19 disease, and doctors are more inclined to have full-dose vaccination than nurses and other HCWs.

Antibiyotik direnci, sağlık hizmetiyle ilişkili enfeksiyonlarda (SHIE) önemli bir sorun olarak karşımıza çıkabilmektedir. Çalışmada aynı il içinde bulunan ikinci basamak hastane (2.BH) ile üçüncü basamak hastane (3.BH) yoğun bakım ünitelerindeki (YBÜ) SHİE hızlarının ve antimikrobiyal direnç oranlarının karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. 2.BH ve 3.BH’deki YBÜ’lerde, 1 Ocak 2017 – 31 Aralık 2019 tarihleri arasında, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) kriterlerine göre SHİE tanısı almış 18 yaş ve üzerindeki hastalar çalışmamıza dahil edilmiştir. SHİE insidans hızı, insidans dansitesi ve Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. ve Acinetobacter spp.’de karbapenem direnç oranları karşılaştırılmıştır. YBÜ’lerde 2.BH’de 158, 3.BH’de 519 SHİE gelişmiştir. SHİE insidans hızı 3.BH’deki YBÜ’lerde 2.BH’dekilerden daha yüksek bulunmuştur. 2.BH YBÜ’lerinde 2017-2019 yılları arasındaki karbapenem dirençli Klebsiella spp. oranları 3.BH’ye kıyasla istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı olarak daha yüksek saptanmıştır (p=0.001). Hastaneler arasında Pseudomonas spp. ve Acinetobacter spp.türlerinde karbapenem direnç oranları açısından istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıştır (sırasıyla p=0.723, p=0.267). Her iki hastanede de yıllar arasında karbapenem direnci oranlarında anlamlı bir değişiklik saptanmamıştır (p>0.05). 3.BH YBÜ’lerde SHİE hızı daha yüksek saptanmasına rağmen direnç oranları 2.BH’ye kıyasla daha düşük veya benzer bulunmuştur. Bu farkı inceleyen ileri çalışmalar antimikrobiyal direncin azalmasında yardımcı olabilir.

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.

To evaluate the index cases leading to the transmission of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Rize/Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine Education and Research Hospital with COVID-19 infection and the clinical features of infected HCWs. The first two COVID-19 test positive patients treated at Rize/Turkey between 10.03.2020 and 12.04.2020 and HCWs those who examined these two patients whose COVID-19 PCR test results were positive were included in this study. In Rize/Turkey, the first and second cases of positive COVID-19 which was recorded on 13.03.2020 on 25.03.2020, 27 HCWs (female, 63%, n = 17 and male, 37%, n = 10 and the mean age was 33.2 ± 6.9 years) who contacted during the treatment of these cases and became COVID-19 positive were examined. The median of symptom duration (days) of the HCWs was 5 days (range: 0–17 days). Fever, 55.6% (n = 15); malaise, 44.4% (n = 12); cough, 40.7% (n = 11); sore throat, 33.3% (n = 9); myalgia, 33.3% (n = 9); dyspnea, 14.8% (n = 4); diarrhea, 22.2% (n = 6); vomiting, 14.8% (n = 4); anosmia, 18.5% (n = 5); ageusia, 22.2% (n = 6) and headache, 37% (n = 10) of the cases. The rates of headache in female HCWs infected with COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher compared to men (52.9%). None of them had severe clinical situation requiring intensive care follow-up or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Laboratory measurements of HCWs were carried out at the first when they had symptoms and when they recovered, and results were compared accordingly. The thorax computerized tomography (CT) findings of HCWs were normal in 74.1% (n = 20) of total. HCWs were initially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Early measures provided by the Health authorities, access to diagnosis and treatment, and the young age average in HCWs prevented severe outcomes such as severe clinical course and mortality at the beginning of the outbreak.

Objective: The spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria causes serious problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. Recently, it has been shown that these resistance genes are also found in integrons. This study investigated the class 1, 2 integrons and the antibiotic-resistant genes in the infection agent Acinetobacter baumannii produced in respiratory tract samples.Material and Methods: The study involved 86 A. baumannii strains isolated from lower respiratory tract samples collected between March 2014 and March 2015 in the Intensive Care Units. Identification and antibiograms of the isolates were made using conventional methods and Vitek 2 Compact systems. The presence of integrons in strains was investigated by polymerase chain reaction method using specific primer pairs for class 1and class 2 integrase regions. All samples in which integron amplification was carried out were subjected to DNA sequence analysis both by cloning and as a PCR product. The resistance genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Isolates were obtained from specimens including tracheal aspirates (33.7%), bronchoalveolar lavage (29.1%), sputum (22.1%), bronchial washing fluid/bronchial brushing (4.7%), transbronchial biopsy (4.7%), pleural fluid (3.4%) and lung aspirates/abscess (2.3%). While resistance to imipenem, meropenem, ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftazidime, and piperacillin-tazobactam was determined in all isolates, resistance rates to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin and tigecycline were 97.7%, 93.0%, 60.5%, 53.5%and 9.3%, respectively. Colistin was the only antibiotic to which all strains were susceptible. The positivity rates of integrase I and II genes were 45.4%and 9.3%, respectively. Class 1 and 2 integron positivity rates in all isolates were 31.4%and 8.1%, respectively. blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M1, blaCTX-M2, blaOXA23, blaOXA40, blaOXA58 were 70.9%, 2.3%, 4.7%, 7.0%, 95.3%, 5.8%and 3.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Increasing association of multi drug resistant strains and integron resistant genes in A. baumannii infections will lead to the failure of antibiotic treatment strategies.