Metin Otkun

In-Vitro Efficacy of Synergistic Antibiotic Combinations in Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Strains

Purpose Combination antibiotic treatment is preferred in nosocomial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). In vitro synergism tests were used to choose the combinations which might be used in clinic. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic efficacy of synergistic antibiotic combinations in multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Materials and Methods Synergistic efficacies of ceftazidime-tobramycin, piperacillin/tazobactam-tobramycin, imipenem-tobramycin, imipenem-isepamycin, imipenem-ciprofloxacin and ciprofloxacin-tobramycin combinations were investigated by checkerboard technique in 12 multiple-resistant and 13 susceptible P. aeruginosa strains. Results The ratios of synergy were observed in ceftazidime-tobramycin and piperacillin/tazobactam-tobramycin combinations as 67%, and 50%, respectively, in resistant strains, whereas synergy was not detected in other combinations. The ratios of synergy were observed in ceftazidime-tobramycin, piperacillin/tazobactam-tobramycin, imipenem-tobramycin, imipenem-ciprofloxacin and imipenem-isepamycin combinations as 31%, 46%, 15%, 8%, 8%, and respectively, in susceptible strains, whereas synergy was not detected in ciprofloxacin-tobramycin combination. Antagonism was not observed in any of the combinations. Conclusion Although the synergistic ratios were high in combinations with ceftazidime or piperacillin/tazobactam and tobramycin, the concentrations in these combinations could not usually reach clinically available levels. Thus, the solution of the problems caused by multiple resistant P. aeruginosa should be based on the prevention of the development of resistance and spread of the causative agent between patients.

The epidemiology of hepatitis a virus infection in children, in Edirne, Turkey

Turkey is a middle endemic area with respect to Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. However, the frequency of this infection varies due to socio-economic differences in various regions. The aim of this study was to detect the most likely age of exposure to HAV and factors affecting infection rates among children living in Edirne. A sample of 645 children between the ages of 0–19 living in Edirne were tested for total anti-HAV levels using ELISA method. A questionnaire on socio-economic status (SES), possible risk factors, and place of residence was completed for each child. Anti-HAV seropositivity was found to be 4.4, 25, 37.3 and 43.2%, in 2–5, 6–10, 11–14 and 15–19 age groups, respectively. Seropositivity was found to be increasing with age (p < 0.05). According to logistic regression analysis results; mothers education, SES of family, history of hepatitis in primary family members and the number of brothers or sisters were determined as factors increasing the seropositivity of HAV. Furthermore, HAV infection risk was found to be a decreasing function of income that is higher the income less likely the infection. These results showed that HAV infection rate in Edirne is in middle endemicity and the most likely way of exposure is transmission from family members. Although it requires further cost-effectiveness studies, our results indicate that applying the HAV vaccination in early childhood would be beneficial to decrease the prevalence of the infection and prevent HAV epidemics.

Predictive factors for occupational bloodborne exposure in Turkish hospitals

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to evaluate the epidemiology of percutaneous injury and/or mucosa exposure (PME) with blood or other body fluids that poses serious risks for health care workers (HCWs). METHODS An analytic, cross-sectional, countrywide survey study was conducted to describe the extent of and predictive factors for PME among HCWs in hospital settings in Turkey, with total of 5258 HCW participants from 30 hospitals in 19 cities throughout the country. RESULTS The respondent group included 41.3% nurses, 29.0% doctors, 9.3% laboratory workers, and 20.3% paramedics. The survey found that 50.1% of the participants reported at least 1 occupational PME in the previous year. Doctors (2.57/person/year) and nurses (2.56/person/year) had the highest PME incidents. In the multivariate analysis, working at a surgical site (P = .000), being a doctor (P = .000), being a nurse (P=.000), young age (P = .025), and living in a poor region (P = .005) were significant factors for high occupational exposure. The presence of a health office for HCWs at the hospital (P = .000) and working at a university hospital (P = .003) were significant predictors of less occupational exposure. Overall, the mean number of PME incidents was 2.16/person/year. CONCLUSION Along with the other well-known predictive factors, regional economic status and a health office for HCWs are preventive factors for PME exposure of HCWs.

Exposure time to hepatitis B virus and associated risk factors among children in Edirne Turkey.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Turkey, but the main routes of transmission were not well established. This study aims to detect the exposure time to HBV and associated risk factors among children. In a sampling group of children aged 0-19 years living in Edirne, antiHBc, antiHBs and HBsAg were screened by the microELISA method. A questionnaire was also completed for each child. In 717 children that were included in the study, the total antiHBc seropositivity was 5.4% and was 1.8, 0.8, 1.7, 6.8, 11.8% in 0-1, 2-5, 6-10, 11-14, 15-19 years age groups respectively. The overall HBsAg seropositivity was 1.7%. The risk of HBV infection increased after the age of 10 years (OR 7.79, 95% CI 3.01-20.16). Collective circumcision was the only independent factor according to regression analysis. Children living in Edirne should be vaccinated against HBV before reaching 11 years of age.

Surgical site infection rates in 16 cities in Turkey: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey. METHODS Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs. Surgical procedures (SPs) were classified into 22 types according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria. RESULTS We recorded 1879 SSIs, associated with 41,563 SPs (4.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.3-4.7). Among the results, the SSI rate per type of SP compared with rates reported by the INICC and CDC NHSN were 11.9% for ventricular shunt (vs 12.9% vs 5.6%); 5.3% for craniotomy (vs 4.4% vs 2.6%); 4.9% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (vs 4.5 vs 2.9); 3.5% for hip prosthesis (vs 2.6% vs 1.3%), and 3.0% for cesarean section (vs 0.7% vs 1.8%). CONCLUSIONS In most of the 22 types of SP analyzed, our SSI rates were higher than the CDC NHSN rates and similar to the INICC rates. This study advances the knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Turkey, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions.

First case report of empyema caused by Beauveria bassiana.

Infections with Beauveria bassiana are extremely rare in humans. A 51‐year‐old man was admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Thoracic wall resection with lobectomy was applied and empyema has developed after prolonged air leakage. B. bassiana was isolated in pleural fluid. The patient improved without antifungal therapy after thoracotomy with securing of air leakage.

Resistance to macrolides in Group A streptococci from the European section of Turkey: genetic and phenotypic characterization

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibilities to macrolides of Group A streptococcal isolates from the European section of Turkey. In the case of resistant isolates, the patterns and genetic mechanisms of erythromycin resistance were studied. Seven (2.7%) of the 260 isolates were resistant to erythromycin. Four of them showed the M phenotype and harboured mefA genes whereas three isolates showed the inducible macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B resistance phenotype and harboured ermTR genes. In the European section of Turkey, the current resistance rate of Group A streptococci to macrolides remains low.

Sporotrichosis, a disease rarely reported from Turkey, and an overview of Turkish literature.

Sporothrix schenckii causes clinical cutaneous forms consisting of lymphangitic, localised, disseminated or extracutaneous forms of sporotrichosis. Cutaneous form caused by the agent entering the body through the skin after trauma is the most frequently seen sporotrichosis form and it progresses in the form of either nodular lymphangitic lesions or localised (fix) lesions (da Rosa AC et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2005; 52: 451–9; Schamroth JM, Grieve TP, Kellen P. Int J Dermatol 1988; 27: 28–30). Causative agent entering the body through skin causes erythematous, ulcerative or verrucous nodules and lesions generally progress to nodular lymphangitic cutaneous sporotrichosis (Kwon-Chung KJ, Bennett JE. Medical Mycology, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia–London, 1992: 707–29). Lymphangitic sporotrichosis (nodular lymphangitic cutaneous sporotrichosis) accounts for 70–80% of the total number of the cases (Vismer HF, Hull PR. Mycopathologia 1997; 137: 137–43). The case presented in this paper is that of patient with a sporotrichosis in nodular lymphangitic cutaneous form which developed after the prick of a thorn in hand.

Nosocomial infections and risk factors in intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the types nosocomial infections (NIs) and the risk factors for NIs in the central intensive care unit (ICU) of Trakya University Hospital. The patients admitted to the ICU were observed prospectively by the unit-directed active surveillance method based on patient and the laboratory over a 9-month-period. The samples of urine, blood, sputum or tracheal aspirate were taken from the patients on the first and the third days of their hospitalization in ICU; the patients were cultured routinely. Other samples were taken and cultured if there was suspicion of an infection. Infections were considered as ICU-associated if they developed after 48 hours of hospitalization in the unit and 5 days after discharge from the unit if the patients had been sent to a different ward in the hospital. The rate of NIs in 135 patients assigned was found to be 68%. The most common infection sites were lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, bloodstream, catheter site and surgical wound. Hospitalization in ICU for more than 6 days and colonization was found to be the main risk factor for NIs. Prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy, as well as frequently changed nasogastric catheterization, were found to be risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections. For bloodstream infections, both prolonged insertion of and frequent change of arterial catheters, and for urinary tract infections, female gender, period and repeating of urinary catheterization were risk factors. A high prevalence rate of nosocomial infections was found in this study. Invasive device use and duration of use continue to greatly influence the development of nosocomial infection in ICU. Important factors to prevent nosocomial infections are to avoid long hospitalization and unnecessary device application. Control and prevention strategies based on continuing education of healthcare workers will decrease the nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit.

Characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from intensive care unit

The study looked at the antimicrobial resistance patterns, serotypes, molecular types, metallo beta-lactamase, and chromosomal betalactamase enzymes of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the patients and the staffs of the intensive care unit. P. aeruginosa isolates from the patients as nosocomial pathogens and from the staffs were evaluated for their susceptibilities to the antimicrobials by the disk diffusion and E-test methods. Metallo beta-lactamase enzymes were investigated by E-test, the inducibility of β - lactamase enzymes were detected by the disk antagonism test. Serotyping was performed by slide agglutination method. The P. aeruginosa isolates were typed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Twenty-five P. aeruginosa strains from the patients and three from the staffs were isolated. Fifteen P. aeruginosa, eleven of which composed of MDR bacteria, were found in serogroup E, 7 strains in G, 4 strains in B, and 1 strain in serogroup A. In all 12 bacteria in the MDR and serogroup E, metallo beta-lactamase enzyme was found to be positive. And in other 15 strains, except the bacterium which could not be serotyped, chromosomal beta-lactamase was found to be positive. The result of the molecular typing showed PFGE A pattern. In conclusion, a pattern in PFGE which included bacteria from MDR and serogroup E, G which was observed in the P. aeruginosa strains which was isolated from the staff’s hands and from the 5 patients, and PFGE F pattern were found to be observed the most. Finally, the two different clonal strains were found to be established in the intensive care.