Mikrobiyol Bul
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Multicenter Study
[Investigation of bacterial and viral etiology in community acquired central nervous system infections with molecular methods].
In this multicenter prospective cohort study, it was aimed to evaluate the bacterial and viral etiology in community-acquired central nervous system infections by standart bacteriological culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Patients hospitalized with central nervous system infections between April 2012 and February 2014 were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical information of the patients were collected prospectively. ⋯ These data suggest that multiplex PCR methods may increase the isolation rate of pathogens in central nervous system infections. Existence of mixed pathogen growth is remarkable in our study. Further studies are needed for the clinical relevance of this result.
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Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) such as NS3 protease inhibitors is the first class of drugs used for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment. NS3 inhibitors (PI) with low genetic barrier have been approved to be used in the CHC genotype 1 infections, and in the treatment of compensated liver disease including cirrhosis together with pegile interferon and ribavirin. Consequently, the development of drug resistance during DAA treatment of CHC is a major problem. ⋯ Based on resistance and high resistance mutations, clinically significant mutations were defined in 10/88 (11%) of the patients. Our study shows that it is essential to analyse HCV NS3 protease inhibitors drug resistance before DAA treatment of CHC patients. On the other hand, our results pointed out that analysis of NS5A and NS5B genome region mutations may also be required in the near future.
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Acinetobacter baumannii, an aerobic, non-motile, gram-negative bacterium is an important nosocomial pathogen which shows resistance to the most antibiotics. Carbapenems are the most commonly used antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by this pathogen. However the emergence of resistance against carbapenems in an increasing rate generates serious problems for antimicrobial therapy. ⋯ The rest two pulsotypes [I (n= 1), J (n= 1)] were in close relation with the main cluster. No common outbreak isolate was detected, but the relationship between the majority of the strains pointed out that there was a cross contamination problem in our hospital. In conclusion blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-23 were detected as predominant genes responsible from carbapenem resistance in our clinical A.baumannii strains, and it was considered that the high prevalence of clones A and B may constitute a threat in terms of hospitalized patients.
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Influenza surveillance provides data about the characteristics of influenza activity, types, sub-types and antigenic properties of the influenza viruses in circulation in a region. Surveillance also provides for the preparation against potential influenza pandemics with the identification of the genetic properties of viruses and the mutant strains that could pose a threat. In this study, data in the scope of national influenza surveillance carried out by National Influenza Center, Turkey for five consecutive influenza seasons between 2010-2015, following the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus pandemic, have been presented and evaluated. ⋯ The positivity rates of other respiratory viruses which were also analyzed in the scope of sentinel influenza surveillance were similar to influenza positivity for all seasons except 2010-2011. This fact has emphasized that, those viruses were also responsible for influenza-like illness especially during the early and late phases of the season. In conclusion, monitoring of the antigenic and genetic characteristics of influenza viruses by surveillance studies is essential for the early detection of potential pandemic variants as well as to ensure similarities among the circulating strains and the corresponding vaccine strains.
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Flu caused by influenza viruses, is a serious public health problem all over the world with its high morbidity and mortality. Therefore World Health Organization (WHO) regularly collects the results of national influenza surveillance, evaluates the results and shares them on international portal. Thus, it provides the possibility of rapid prevention and preparation of countries that needs to be taken on the fight against the epidemic flu. ⋯ Antigenic characterization of influenza A viruses isolated in our laboratory was found compatible with the vaccine strains. In conclusion, surveillance studies are highly important for the determination of the effects of flu on public health and identification of the approaches for fighting with flu. In this sense, influenza surveillance of the countries are required to implement more effectively in an expanded field of scale.