Mikrobiyol Bul
-
Dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV) are two of the globally prevalent vector-borne flaviviruses. Data on these viruses from Turkey is limited to a single study originating from the western, Aegean region of Turkey, where evidence for DENV exposure had been confirmed in residents and presence of hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies against YFV had been revealed. The aim of this study was to investigate the rates of seropositivity of DENV and YFV in blood donors from Central/Northern Anatolia, Turkey, for the demonstration of possible human exposure. ⋯ YFV IgM could not be demonstrated in any of the IgG reactive samples and PRNT was evaluated as negative. In conclusion, evidence for DENV exposure, presumably to DENV-2, was identified in residents from Central Anatolian provinces of Ankara and Konya for the first time, however, seroreactivity detected against YFV could not be confirmed by PRNT. These findings indicated that DENV or an antigenically-similar flavivirus was probably present in the study region and sporadic human exposure might have occurred.
-
This study was aimed to determine the rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) carriage in a neonatal intensive care unit in a Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 135 newborns were included in the study. Following 5 days stay in intensive care unit, samples were taken from nose and umbilicus for the detection of MRSA and cultivated in mannitol-salt agar and oxacillin-resistance screening agar (ORSAB), respectively. ⋯ Twenty eight (20.7%) of 135 newborns had nasal MRSA carriage, 30 (22.2%) of 135 had umbilical and 10 (7.4%) had both nasal and umbilical MRSA carriage. No rectal VRE carriage was found among the newborns. As a result, we suggest that periodical MRSA and VRE carriage investigation in the patients hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units is of outmost help to control and prevent nosocomial infections.
-
Arthropod-borne viral infections have recently gained considerable attention and importance as re-emerging infections in a global scale. West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of Flaviviridae, is an enveloped positive strand RNA virus that is usually transmitted to humans by the bite of Culicine mosquitoes. Although the majority of the human infections are asymptomatic, WNV may also cause febrile and neuro-invasive diseases. ⋯ In another case, intrathecal antibody synthesis against measles virus was demonstrated. Two cases (2/87; 2.3%) with WNV IgM positivity as the only serologic marker were identified as probable WNV infections and clinical features were discussed. In conclusion, in order to fully understand the impact of WNV and/or other flavivirus infections in Turkey, epidemiology and ecological features of these agents need to established.
-
Comparative Study
[Comparison of broth microdilution and E-test methods for the antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida spp. strains isolated from blood cultures].
The incidence of serious fungal infections, particularly invasive Candida infections exhibit an increasing trend in the last decades since the number of patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment is increasing. This situation eventually results in an increment in resistance to antifungal agents. The aim of this study was to compare the standard broth microdilution (BMD) and E-test methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species isolated from blood cultures in our hospital, against fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B. ⋯ These results indicated that the most frequently isolated Candida species among blood cultures was C. albicans, followed by C. parapsilosis and these isolates had low antifungal resistance rates. When voriconazol and caspofungin susceptibilities were considered, both E-test and BMD susceptibility results were in good aggreement in comparison to fluconazol and amphotericin B. E-test can be considered as a compatible method for the antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species compared to standard broth microdilution method.
-
Routine isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria present several difficulties leading to defects in the determination of local susceptibility patterns which will guide empirical treatment protocols. This study was carried out to identify the anaerobic bacteria isolated from various clinical materials obtained from the suspected patients with anaerobic infection and to determine the antibiotic susceptibilities against several antibiotics. One hundred clinical specimens (36 blood, 31 abscess, 12 peritoneal fluid, 7 joint fluid, 7 pleural fluid, 3 biopsies, 3 cerebrospinal fluids and 1 surgical wound) that were examined in our laboratory during March 20-October 30 2007, were included in the study. ⋯ While anaerobic gram-positive cocci (n = 7) were found to be sensitive to all antibiotics, the rate of resistance among anaerobic gram-negative bacilli were 75% (9/12) to penicillin, 33.3% (4/12) to clindamycin, 8.3% (1/12) to metronidazole. Among anaerobic gram-positive bacilli (n = 3), 2 were resistant to metronidazole, one to clindamycin and one to cefoxitin. The results of this first anaerobic antimicrobial susceptibility testing study performed at Konya area in Turkey revealed that penicillin was not appropriate in empirical treatment of anaerobic infections, clindamycin susceptibility should be tested before use, metronidazole and cefoxitin could be used in empirical treatment and imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam should be saved for the treatment of complicated infections and infections caused by resistant bacteria.