Fatih Köksal

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections due to electronic faucets in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Aim:  To evaluate the role of electronic faucets in a newborn intensive care unit during a Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak.

Short-term Effect of Mastic Gum on Salivary Concentrations of Cariogenic Bacteria in Orthodontic Patients

OBJECTIVE To determine antibacterial activity of chewing mastic gum against the salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans, the total number of viable bacteria, and lactobacilli in patients undergoing therapy with fixed orthodontic appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the levels of S mutans, lactobacilli, and total cultivated bacteria were measured before and after chewing mastic gum. The antibacterial effects of chewing mastic gum against these microorganisms in saliva were compared with a placebo gum. The counts for orthodontically treated patients were evaluated before chewing gum; just after chewing gum; and after 45, 75, 105, and 135 minutes. Saliva samples taken from the patients were inoculated onto trypticase-yeast-cystine-bacitracin agar for mutans streptococci and onto Rogosa agar for lactobacilli. The agar plates were incubated for 48 hours anaerobically at 37 degrees C. The total number of viable bacteria was then counted. RESULTS Just after chewing the mastic gum for 15 minutes, a significant decrease of total bacteria and S mutans was observed (P < .001). The reduction in lactobacilli was not significant at later first stage (P > .05). However, at the end of 135 minutes, there were significantly fewer S mutans (P < .001), total viable bacteria (P < .001), and lactobacilli (P < .001) in the oral cavity after chewing mastic gum than after chewing paraffin (P < .001). The results show that chewing mastic gum decreased the total viable bacteria, S mutans, and lactobacilli in saliva in orthodontically treated patients with fixed appliances. CONCLUSION Chewing mastic gum might be useful in preventing caries lesions.

Detection of intestinal bacterial translocation in subclinical ischemia-reperfusion using the polymerase chain reaction technique.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection of bacterial translocation after subclinical ischemia reperfusion injuries in rats with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. METHODS Six-week-old weaning rats were divided into 3 groups. (1) Experiment rats (n = 20) were gavaged with 10(10) Escherichia coli followed by superior mesentery artery occluded for 10 minutes, then reperfused for 30 minutes. (2) Control rats (n = 20) received bacterial gavage. (3) Group 3 were sham rats (n = 20). After the procedure, 3 mL of blood was obtained from the portal vein. The terminal ileum and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) near the terminal ileum were removed. E. coli DNA was detected in blood and MLN samples by PCR, and histological changes were examined. RESULTS E. coli DNA detection in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group animals was 6 of 20 (30%) in the MLN and 2 of 20 (10%) in the blood. PCR was negative in all the rats in the control group and in the sham group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in the histological examination of rat intestines. CONCLUSION These data suggest that subclinical intestinal I/R injury results in bacterial translocation. Also, PCR is a highly sensitive and rapid method to detect the presence of microbial DNA.

Prevalence and genotypes of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens from patients with gastroduodenal pathologies in the Cukurova region of Turkey.

ABSTRACT The effects of Helicobacter pylori genotypes on clinical prognosis in the Cukurova region of Turkey were investigated by PCR. The prevalence of type I strains carrying the s1c allele, unlike in neighboring regions and countries, was found to be significantly higher in patients with gastritis and/or gastric ulcers (P = 0.001), and that of type I strains carrying the s1a allele was found to be significantly higher in patients with duodenal ulcers (P < 0.001). The cagA gene was strongly associated with the more virulent vacA genotypes (P < 0.001).

Short-term relative antibacterial effect of octenidine dihydrochloride on the oral microflora in orthodontically treated patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of common antiseptic mouth rinses and octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT). METHODS The antibacterial activities of antiseptics against total and cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species) in saliva were studied in vitro and in vivo. After unstimulated saliva was collected, one of the mouth rinse solutions was applied for 30seconds. Saliva samples were collected 15, 30, 60, and 120min later and evaluated for their bacterial count. RESULTS OCT had a significantly greater inhibitory effect on the studied bacteria than 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and 7.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex (PVP-I) from 15min to 120min following the application (p<0.01). The antiseptic efficacy of 0.2% CHX on total bacteria and Lactobacillus species was very similar to the efficacy observed with 7.5% PVP-I mouth solution from 15min up to 120min. Streptococcus mutans was completely inhibited by 0.15mg/ml PVP-I, 0.5mg/ml CHX, and 0.1mg/ml OCT concentrations, while Streptococcus salivarius was inhibited by 0.15mg/ml PVP-I, 2mg/ml CHX, and 0.8mg/ml OCT concentrations. Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis was inhibited with 0.00313mg/ml OCT, 30mg/ml PVP-I, and 0.0063mg/ml CHX concentrations. CONCLUSIONS OCT compared favorably with CHX and PVP-I in its antibacterial effects, both in vitro and in vivo (p<0.01).

NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter baumannii ST85 now in Turkey, including one isolate from a Syrian refugee

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), an acquired class B carbapenemase, is a significant clinical threat owing to the extended hydrolysis of β-lactams including carbapenems. Here, to the best of our knowledge we describe for the first time in Turkey two NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolates recovered from intensive care unit patients. The presence of blaNDM-1 was detected by PCR and confirmed by sequencing. The clonal relationship was assessed by PFGE and multilocus sequence typing. Both isolates were positive for blaNDM-1 and were attributed with the sequence type 85. One isolate was from a Syrian refugee, whereas the second was from a patient who had never travelled outside Turkey. Our findings confirmed that the rapid spread of NDM-1-producing Gram-negative organisms could become a major challenge for the treatment and control of healthcare-associated infections in our geographical area. They suggest also that NDM-1-producing strains and/or their genetic determinants are probably being imported from Syria to neighbouring countries.

Polymerase chain reaction of enterococcus faecalis and candida albicans in apical periodontitis from Turkish patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of two important pathogenic microorganisms associated with endodontic infections, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans, in root canal samples from patients with necrotic pulps or failed canal therapy by polymerase chain reaction method. Method: Microbial samples were obtained from 117 teeth with necrotic pulp tissues and 114 teeth with failed endodontic treatment. Results: E.faecalis were identified in 16% of the necrotic and 10% of the retreated root canal infections by PCR. C.albicans genome were identified in 20% and 11% of the necrotic and retreated root canal infections, respectively, by PCR. The frequencies of microbiota were not statistically different between necrotic and retreatment groups (p > 0.05, chi squared test). Conclusions: PCR analysis of teeth with periapical lesions revealed that E.faecalis was found in fewer patients than in previous studies. The C.albicans prevelance was consistent with previous reports. No statistical difference was found between primary and secondary root canal infections for C.albicans or E.faecalis. Key words:Primary root canal infection, secondary root canal infection, E.faecalis, C.albicans.

Chlamydophila Pneumoniae Infection in Adult Asthmatics Patients

Objectives: This study has attempted to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae (CP) infection in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 84 patients with stable asthma (58 males + 26 females; mean age ± SD; 37.3 ± 11.0 years), 22 patients with asthma exacerbation (17 males + 5 females; mean age ± SD; 33.2 ± 9.1 years), and 34 healthy adults (18 males + 16 females; mean age ± SD; 30.4 ± 11.5 years) were included in the study. Serum and throat wash samples were obtained from all patients and healthy controls 2 times, 1 month apart. Micro Immuno Fluorescence method for detecting CP antibodies in serum, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detecting presence of CP infection in the throat wash samples were used. Results: The frequency of PCR positivity for CP in throat wash samples was higher in the patients with stable asthma (28.6%) than in healthy control group (11.8%) (p < 0.01). However no significant difference was found between healthy control group and asthma exacerbated group (22.7%) (p > 0.05). In addition, seroprevalences of acute and chronic CP infections were not different between patient and control groups (p > 0.05). Serological acute infection for CP was not detected among patients with positive PCR results. In contrast, although not statistically significant, serologically chronic infection for CP was detected in 3 (60%) of 5 patients with asthma exacerbation, in 18 (75%) of 24 patients with stable asthma, and 2 (50%) of 4 with healthy controls (p > 0.05). Conclusion: CP infection detected by the PCR method was more prevalent among patients with stable asthma and chronic/persistant CP infection might have an important role in asthma pathogenesis.

New drugs for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Tuberculosis presents a grave challenge to health, globally instigating 1.5 million mortalities each year. Following the breakthrough of first-line anti-TB medication, the number of mortalities reduced greatly; nonetheless, the swift appearance of tuberculosis which was drug-resistant, as well as the capability of the bacterium to survive and stay dormant are a considerable problem for public health. In order to address this issue, several novel possible candidates for tuberculosis therapy have been subjected to clinical trials of late. The novel antimycobacterial agents are acquired from different categories of medications, operate through a range of action systems, and are at various phases of advancement. We therefore talk about the present methods of treating tuberculosis and novel anti-TB agents with their action method, in order to advance awareness of these new compounds and medications.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections in Turkish children with haemophilia.

We examined 41 Turkish children with haemophilia for evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis B surface antigen was found to be positive in 11 patients (26. 8%) and HCV‐specific antibody (anti‐HCV) was detected in 10 (24. 4%) patients. There was a close relationship of the number of transfusions of blood plasma to the presence of HCV specific antibody, but not to the serum markers of HBV infection. In countries where HBV infection is commonly seen and problems in transfusion practice continue, as in Turkey, children with haemophilia are at greater risk for HBV and HCV infections.