Bulent Sumerkan

Clinical manifestations, complications and treatment of brucellosis: a retrospective evaluation of 480 patients

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, laboratory findings, and therapeutic features of patients with brucellosis. The diagnosis was made by clinical findings, positive agglutination titer, and/or the isolation of Brucella species. Three hundred and twenty-two cases were acute, 121 sub-acute, 24 chronic, and 13 asymptomatic. Symptoms of patients were malaise in 432 (90%) patients, sweating in 405 (84.4%), arthralgia in 393 (81.9%), fever in 383 (79.8%), and back pain in 281 (58.5%). The most frequent findings were fever in 187 (39%) patients, hepatomegaly in 102 (21.3%), osteoarticular involvement in 91 (19%), splenomegaly in 68 (14.2%), nervous system involvement in 31 (6.5%) patients. Lymphocytosis was determined in 328 patients, anemia in 262 patients, thrombocytopenia in 35 patients, leukopenia in 37 patients, leukocytosis in 31 patients, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 282 patients. Cultures were positive in 194 (45%) patients and all strains were identified as Brucella melitensis . Various treatment regimens were given to patients. No therapeutic failure was observed. The time to defervescence ranged from 2 to 15 days. Relapse occurred in 26 of the 480 patients (5.4%). There was no correlation between relapse and positive culture or complications. Brucellosis can present various clinical forms in endemic areas and mimics several diseases.

Catheter-related bacteremia due to Kocuria rosea in a patient undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

BackgroundMicrococcus species may cause intracranial abscesses, meningitis, pneumonia, and septic arthritis in immunosuppressed or immunocompetent hosts. In addition, strains identified as Micrococcus spp. have been reported recently in infections associated with indwelling intravenous lines, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis fluids, ventricular shunts and prosthetic valves.Case presentationWe report on the first case of a catheter-related bacteremia caused by Kocuria rosea, a gram-positive microorganism belonging to the family Micrococcaceae, in a 39-year-old man undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation due to relapsed Hodgkin disease. This uncommon pathogen may cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients.ConclusionsThis report presents a case of Kocuria rosea catheter related bacteremia after stem cell transplantation successfully treated with vancomycin and by catheter removal.

Factors influencing survival in patients with multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter bacteraemia.

OBJECTIVES The incidence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter strains is increasing and therapeutic options are limited. However, controversy exists regarding the mortality attributable to antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical features and outcomes of patients with MDR Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex (Acb complex) bacteraemia and determine the factors influencing survival by using 14-day mortality as the main outcome measure. METHODS An observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Turkey from February 2007 to March 2008. Only one bacteraemic episode from one patient was included in the study. RESULTS A total of 100 clinically significant Acb complex bacteraemic episodes were detected. The overall mortality was 63% in 14 days. According to univariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, haematological malignancy, unknown source of bacteraemia, septic shock, resistance to carbapenems, and inappropriate empirical therapy were associated with mortality amongst patients with Acb complex bacteraemia. Multivariate analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.22-1.76), carbapenem resistance (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19-1.89), and septic shock (RR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.23-1.85) were independent risk factors for 14-day mortality. CONCLUSION Although severe underlying diseases play an important role in the clinical outcome of patients with Acb complex bacteraemia, carbapenem resistance and inappropriate therapy are of great concern. Special attention should be paid to infection control practices in the hospitals where MDR Acinetobacter infections are endemic, and well-controlled prospective clinical trials are needed to determine the optimal antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients suspected of having MDR Acinetobacter bacteraemia.

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pyogenes: results of a multicentre study in Turkey

The in vitro activities of several antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (283), Haemophilus influenzae (272), Moraxella catarrhalis (179) and Streptococcus pyogenes (256) were determined in a multicentre study with the participation of five hospitals from four cities in Turkey. Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae was evaluated using the E-test and the remaining agents by disk diffusion. For S. pneumoniae overall 25.8% of the isolates were intermediately and 3.9% were highly resistant to penicillin and resistance to chloramphenicol, azithromycin and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) was 3.8, 2.1 and 55.4%, respectively. Seven percent of H. influenzae produced beta-lactamase and all were susceptible to cefotaxime and azithromycin; the highest rate of resistance, 23.5%, was for TMP/SMX. Eighty-one percent of M. catarrhalis isolates produced beta-lactamase, 18.4% were resistant to TMP/SMX and all were susceptible to sulbactam/ampicillin combination. Resistance to chloramphenicol and azithromycin of S. pyogenes was 2.2 and 1.9%, respectively.

Doxycycline plus streptomycin versus ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin in spinal brucellosis [ISRCTN31053647]

BackgroundThe optimal treatment regimen and duration of the therapy is still controversial in spinal brucellosis. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy, adverse drug reactions, complications and cost of ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin versus doxycycline plus streptomycin in the treatment of spinal brucellosis.MethodsThe patients diagnosed as spinal brucellosis between January 2002 to December 2004 were enrolled into the study. Patients were enrolled into the two antimicrobial therapy groups (doxycycline plus streptomycin vs. ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin) consecutively. For the cost analysis of the two regimens, only the cost of antibiotic therapy was analysed for each patient.ResultsDuring the study period, 31 patients with spinal brucellosis were enrolled into the two antimicrobial therapy groups. Fifteen patients were included in doxycycline plus streptomycin group and 16 patients were included in ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin group. Forty-two levels of spinal column were involved in 31 patients. The most common affected site was lumbar spine (n = 32, 76%) and involvement level was not different in two groups. Despite the disadvantages (older age, more prevalent operation and abscess formation before the therapy) of the patients in the ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin group, the duration of the therapy (median 12 weeks in both groups) and clinical response were not different from the doxycycline plus streptomycin. The cost of ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin therapy was 1.2 fold higher than the cost of doxycycline plus streptomycin therapy.ConclusionClassical regimen (doxycycline plus streptomycin), with the appropriate duration (at least 12 weeks), is still the first line antibiotics and alternative therapies should be considered when adverse drug reactions were observed.

Comparative activity of carbapenem testing: the COMPACT study

OBJECTIVES Doripenem is a new carbapenem recently introduced into Europe. The COMParative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study compared the susceptibility of common Gram-negative bacilli causing serious infections in hospitalized patients with doripenem, imipenem and meropenem. METHODS Gram-negative isolates (4498 total: 2171 Pseudomonas species; 1910 Enterobacteriaceae; and 417 other Gram-negative bacilli) were collected from 80 centres in 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa during 2008-09. The MICs of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem were determined using Etest methodology and broth microdilution. Susceptibility was interpreted according to CLSI, EUCAST and FDA breakpoints. RESULTS The MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem for all isolates were 8, ≥64 and 32 mg/L, respectively. Doripenem had the lowest MIC(90) for Pseudomonas species at 16 mg/L, with imipenem and meropenem values of ≥64 mg/L. Enterobacteriaceae were highly susceptible to all three carbapenems, with MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem of 0.06, 0.5 and 0.12 mg/L, respectively. Other Gram-negative isolates, predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii, were resistant to all three carbapenems (MIC(90) ≥64 mg/L). Susceptibility to doripenem was observed in 14.9% of isolates resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem. CONCLUSIONS Doripenem showed excellent activity against Gram-negative isolates; generally it was more active than imipenem and at least as good as meropenem. Against Pseudomonas species, doripenem was more active than both imipenem and meropenem, with doripenem susceptibility observed for some imipenem- and/or meropenem-resistant isolates.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 40 isolates of Bacillus anthracis isolated in Turkey

Forty clinical isolates of Bacillus anthracis were studied. The MIC(90) values of penicillin G, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and levofloxacin were 0.016, 0.03, 0.06, 0.06 and 0.12 mg/l, respectively. Susceptibilities suggest that the quinolones may also be considered as an alternative therapy for anthrax.

Disseminated nocardiosis due to unusual species: Two case reports

Pulmonary nocardiosis is the major clinical manifestation of human nocardiosis and disseminated infection can be seen in immunocompromised patients. N. asteroides is the predominant pathogen associated with disseminated diseases. We report 2 cases of pulmonary nocardiosis admitted with disseminated infection, caused by rare species of Nocardia: Nocardia transvalensis and Nocardia cyriacigeorgica.

Brucella Peritonitis in a Patient on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis with Acute Brucellosis

Peritonitis is an uncommon complication of brucellosis. Brucella peritonitis in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients has not been reported before. A male patient is presented with peritonitis caused by Brucella melitensis who was on CAPD. The source of infection was thought to be unpasteurized, unsalted cheese eaten a month before the onset of symptoms. At the beginning, antibiotic therapy with doxycyline and rifampicin led to a rapid clinical improvement, with disappearance of the organism in the peritoneal fluid. However, peritonitis relapsed after discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. Successful management required a combination of medical therapy and removal of the Tenckhoff catheter.

Clonal diversity and high prevalence of OXA-58 among Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from blood cultures in a tertiary care centre in Turkey.

Genotypic diversity, antimicrobial susceptibilty, and presence of OXA-genes were assessed in 100 nosocomial Acinetobacter strains from a tertiary-care hospital, Turkey. Ninety-eight isolates were identified by AFLP library identification to Acinetobacter baumannii. Furthermore, the isolates were divided into 30 AFLP clusters and single strains at a similarity cut-off level of 90%, the defined strain level. Most of these clusters grouped together in larger clusters at a lower similarity level, indicating diversification beyond the strain level. At a similarity level of 80%, the A. baumannii isolates were allocated to eight clusters of multiple isolates (A, C, D, E, G, H, J, L) and 3 single isolates (B, F, I). Comparison of the isolates to those of the Leiden AFLP database revealed that the large cluster H (41 isolates) corresponded to a tentative novel international clone previously identified both by AFLP and MLST (CC15). Clusters D and E grouped with European (EU) clone II isolates, and cluster J with those EU clone I. Clusters A, C, G, and L could not be identified to any international clone. MLST of selected isolates of the major clusters corroborated the clone allocation by AFLP, except for the tested cluster A isolate which was identified to CC2 (EU clone II). Carbapenem resistance of 75 A. baumannii isolates was associated with the blaOXA-58-like gene or blaOXA-51-like with ISAba1 upstream. Altogether, 99% of the Acinetobacter isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) and 77% extensively drug resistant (XDR). The findings show that multiple strains and clones MDR and XDR A. baumannii were endemic in the hospital.