Mikrobiyol Bul
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Listeria monocytogenes may lead to intrauterine infections which can be treated if diagnosed promptly. However, there is not a rapid routine screening test with high specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of listeriosis during pregnancy. We investigated the presence of different L. monocytogenes O antibodies for diagnosis of listeriosis in 275 paired maternal-cord sera using the agglutination test, and aimed to evaluate the correlation between poor pregnancy outcomes, level of L. monocytogenes serotype O antibodies and risk factors for listeriosis. ⋯ Risk factors such as non-specific febrile illness during pregnancy (p < 0.001), consumption of ready-made food (p = 0.008), consumption of raw milk and milk products (p < 0.001) were found to be related to the presence of > or = 1/320 titers of L. monocytogenes antibodies. The major limiting factor in this study was the inability to obtain second serum samples from the mothers and newborns following delivery, to confirm the diagnosis by seroconversion. These results emphasize the need for the development of rapid, simple and reliable tests, alternative to culture methods, for the early and proper diagnosis of Listeria infections during pregnancy.
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The aim of this study was to investigate a small tularemia outbreak in a village of Karamürsel county of Kocaeli province (located in North-west part of Turkey), between 22 January - 8 March 2005 and to present the anti-epidemic measures implemented. Following diagnosis of oropharyngeal tularemia in two patients living in the same village, a field investigation was performed at this region. All patients have undergone physical examination. ⋯ F. tularensis could not be grown in the cultures, however F. tularensis DNA was detected in the samples of the natural spring water by real time PCR. The patients were treated with streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, or doxycycline, and all the patients have recovered. The outbreak was taken under control after cleaning the spring water tank and chlorination of the water.
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After the detection of human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Eastern Turkey in January 2006, Turkish Ministry of Health has had declared "National Plans of Activity for Pandemic Influenza". All health-care facilities were recommended to develop contingency plans. Then the essential activities were started in August 2006 in Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine (Edirne, Trace region of Turkey), and institutional education about pandemic influenza and preventive measures was implemented to health care workers (HCWs). ⋯ Two workers (0.2%) had allergic skin reactions such as erythema and itching after vaccination. It can be concluded that influenza vaccination of the health care workers is a part of infection control policies and it is also a matter of patient safety. The implementation of necessary education programmes and attempts to emphasize the importance of vaccination of health care workers especially dealing with high risk patients, would be of crucial importance to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to influenza infections.