Yasemin Bayram

Three-year review of bacteriological profile and antibiogram of burn wound isolates in Van, Turkey.

The risk of infection in burns is well-known. In recent decades, the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from burn patients has increased. For this reason, a retrospective study was conducted at Van Training and Research Hospital to analyze the bacterial isolates from the wounds of patients admitted to the Burn Unit and to determine the susceptibility patterns of the commonly cultured organisms over a 3-year period, January 2009 to December 2011. A total of 250 microorganisms were isolated from burn wounds of 179 patients. Our results revealed that the most frequent isolate was Acinetobacter baumannii (23.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.2%), Escherichia coli (10%) respectively. Multidrug-resistance has emerged as an important concern in our burn unit. Tigecycline, and colistin were found to be the most active drugs against Acinetobacter baumannii. Carbapenems and amikacin, were found to be the most active drugs against other gram negative bacteria. Vancomycin and linezolid were active against gram positive bacteria. Aggressive infection control measures should be applied to limit the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Identification and Determination of Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Brucella Strains Isolated from Patients in Van, Turkey by Conventional and Molecular Methods

Purpose: Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease and still constitutes a major public health problem. In this study, we aimed to identify biovars of Brucella strains isolated from clinical specimens taken from brucellosis patients from the Eastern Anatolia region as well determine the susceptibility of these isolates to tigecycline and azithromycin, drugs that may serve as alternatives to the conventional drugs used in the therapy. Materials and methods: Seventy-five Brucella spp. isolates were included in the study. All strains were identified by both conventional and molecular methods. Brucella Multiplex PCR kit (FC-Biotech, Code: 0301, Turkey) and B. melitensis biovar typing PCR kit (FC-Biotech, Code: 0302, Turkey) were used for molecular typing. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of all strains were determined by E-tests. Results: By conventional biotyping, 73 strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 and two strains as B. abortus biovar 3. Molecular typing results were compatible with conventional methods. The MIC50 and MIC90 values of doxycycline were 0.047 and 0.094; tigecycline 0.094 and 0.125; trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 0.064 and 0.19; ciprofloxacin 0.19 for both; streptomycin 0.75 and 1; rifampin 1 and 2 and azithromycin 4 and 8. According to the MIC values, doxycycline was found to be the most effective antibiotic, followed by tigecycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: Currently recommended antibiotics for the treatment of brucellosis such as doxycycline, rifampin, streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin were found to be still effective. While our results showed that tigecycline can be used an alternative agent in the treatment of brucellosis, azithromycin has not been confirmed as an appropriate agent for the treatment.

Correlation of Slime Production Investigated via Three Different Methods in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci with Crystal Violet Reaction and Antimicrobial Resistance

This study investigated slime production by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) using the standard tube (ST), Congo red agar (CRA) plate and Christensens tube (CT) methods, and compared the results with those of the crystal violet reaction (CVR) test. The potential correlation between slime production and antimicrobial resistance was also evaluated. In total, 205 CNS strains were isolated from biological samples: 92 (44.9%) were shown to produce slime by the ST method; 96 (46.8%) by the CRA plate method; 90 (43.9%) by the CT method; and 89 (43.4%) strains were CVR positive. Eighty-three (40.5%) CNS strains were positive for slime production by the ST, CRA and CT methods. The findings of the ST, CRA and CT test methods were consistent with each other but were not related to CVR positivity. Based on the ST method, rates of antibiotic resistance to several antimicrobial agents were higher in slime-positive strains than in slime-negative strains and, in some cases, this was statistically significant.

Antibiotics resistance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains isolated from various clinical specimens

BACKGROUND A limited number of antibiotics are recommended for the therapy of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections due to therapy difficulties caused by its numerous mechanisms of resistance. OBJECTIVES In this study conducted over a period of approximately 5 years we aimed to determine resistance rates of S. maltophilia based on drug classification recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. METHODS A total of 118 S. maltophilia strains isolated from various clinical specimens between January 2006 and June 2012 were included in the study. BD Phoenixautomated microbiology system (Becton Dickinson, USA) was utilized for species level identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. RESULTS Sixty seven of S. maltophilia strains were isolated from tracheal aspirate isolates, 17 from blood, 10 from sputum, 10 from wound and 14 from other clinical specimens. Levofloxacin was found to be the most effective antibiotic against S. maltophilia strains with resistance rate of 7.6%. The resistance rates to other antibiotics were as follows: chloramphenicol 18.2%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 20.3% and ceftazidime 72%. CONCLUSION The study revealed that S. maltophilia is resistant to many antibiotics. The treatment of infections caused by S. maltophilia should be preferred primarily as levofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and TMP-SXT, respectively.

Distribution of hepatitis C prevalence in individuals according to their age level in Eastern Turkey.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to the Flaviviridae virus family. Its reservoir is the human being. HCV is highly transmittable and is usually transmitted through blood transfusion, use of the same syringe between drug users, during sexual interaction and from mother to child. The course of HCV infection can develop subclinically without any clear symptoms. More than 50% of patients, however, develop chronic hepatitis, and subsequently a high percentage of these patients develop cirrhosis [1,2].

The spectrum of MEFV gene mutations and genotypes in Van province, the eastern region of Turkey, and report of a novel mutation (R361T)

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common hereditary inflammatory periodic disease, characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and abdominal pain, synovitis, and pleuritis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and distribution of Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene mutations in Van province of Eastern Anatolia and to compare them with the other studies from various regions of Turkey. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated MEFV gene mutations in 1058 pediatric patients with suspected FMF. The MEFV gene mutations were investigated using Sanger sequencing and the multiplex minisequencing technique. We identified 37 different genotypes and 16 different mutations. The four most common mutations and allelic frequencies were M694V (36.50%), E148Q (32.77%), V726A (14.09%), and M694I (4.41%). M694V was the most common mutation, and the M694I frequency was found to be higher compared to studies from other regions of Turkey. In addition, we identified a novel missense mutation (R361T, c.1082G>C) in exon 3 of the MEFV gene in a 12-year-old boy, who had a typical FMF phenotype. In conclusion, this study evaluated the distribution of MEFV gene mutations in children with FMF as the first study conducted in Van province, Eastern Anatolia.

Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of 496 children with brucellosis in Van, Turkey

Brucellosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide and remains an important human disease especially in developing countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of childhood brucellosis in Van province of Eastern Turkey. To our knowledge, this is the largest series of childhood brucellosis reported in the literature.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates by Years

Objective. Recently, community and hospital-acquired infections with Staphylococcus aureus have increased and raised antibiotic resistant isolates. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of S. aureus isolates over several years in various clinical specimens from our hospital. Materials and Methods. S. aureus strains from 2009 to 2014 were isolated from various clinical samples at Yuzuncu Yil University, Dursun Odabas Medical Center, Microbiology Laboratory, and their antibiotic susceptibility test results were retrospectively investigated. The isolates were identified by conventional methods, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed by the Phoenix (Becton Dickinson, USA) automated system method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. Results. A total of 1,116 S. aureus isolates were produced and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to 21% of all S. aureus isolates between 2009 and 2014. According to the results of susceptibility tests of all isolates of S. aureus, they have been identified as sensitive to vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, and levofloxacin. While the resistance rates to nitrofurantoin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were determined as 0.3%, 2.4%, and 6%, respectively, resistance rates to penicillin, erythromycin, rifampicin, gentamicin, and clindamycin were determined as 100%, 18%, 14%, 14%, and 11%, respectively. The highest percentage of methicillin resistance was determined as 30% in 2009, and the resistance was determined to have decreased in subsequent years (20%, 16%, 13%, 19%, and 21%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Currently, retrospective evaluations of causes of nosocomial infection should be done periodically. We think that any alteration of resistance over the years has to be identified, and all centers must determine their own resistance profiles, in order to guide empirical therapies. Reducing the rate of antibiotic resistance will contribute to reducing the cost of treatment.

Effect of inhaled steroids on laryngeal microflora

Abstract Conclusions As is known, this study is the first study to evaluate the effect of inhaled steroids on laryngeal microflora. The data support that ICS usage causes changes in the larynx microflora. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the alteration in larynx microbial flora of the patients treated with ICS comparing the culture results of a control group. In addition, laryngeal microflora was compared to the smears obtained from the vallecula and pharynx. Materials and methods The study included 39 patients (mean age = 45.56 ± 12.76 years) who had been using a corticosteroid inhaler and control group consisting of 27 persons (mean age = 43.07 ± 13.23 years). Culture samples were obtained from the pharynx, larynx, and vallecula in the patient and control groups, and they were evaluated in the microbiology laboratory. Obtained culture results were named by the same microbiologist according to the basic microorganism classification method. Results Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), Streptococcus viridians (VGS) and candida albicans were detected to grow significantly more in the patient group in all three anatomic localizations compared to the control group. Neisseria spp, basillus spp, and Non-viridans alpha-hemolytic streptococcus were detected to grow significantly more in the control group in all three anatomic localizations compared to the patient group.

Hematological findings in children with brucellosis

Brucellosis produces a variety of non‐specific hematological abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hematological findings in childhood brucellosis.