Yeliz Tanriverdi Cayci

Antimicrobial activity of plant extract Ankaferd Blood Stopper.

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) was assessed on 102 clinical isolates from both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria and four standard strains, including MRSA ATCC 43300, MSSA ATCC 25923, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and E. coli ATCC 35218. ABS was significantly active against all bacteria investigated.

Effect of 1-(1-Naphtylmethyl)-piperazine, an Efflux Pump Inhibitor, on Antimicrobial Drug Susceptibilities of Clinical Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates

In this study, the effects of 1-(1-naphtylmethyl)-piperazine (NMP), an efflux pump inhibitor, on antimicrobial drug susceptibilities of 42 clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were investigated by the disc diffusion method. The inhibition zone diameters of antibiotic discs were tested in the presence and absence of NMP and then these zone diameters were compared. Presence of NMP restored ciprofloxacin susceptibility in 15 intermediate and 2 resistant isolates. One ciprofloxacin resistant isolate became intermediate in the presence of NMP. One isolate resistant to gentamicin became intermediate with NMP. Interestingly, one isolate susceptible to meropenem became resistant in the presence of NMP. Although NMP increased the inhibition zone diameters of some of the tested antibiotics against the resistant isolates, the increase was not enough to restore susceptibility. In conclusion, the presence of NMP increases the zone diameters of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Intermediate strains become susceptible but the resistant isolates do not.

Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with Behçet's disease: association with disease activity over a long-term follow-up.

Background  There is a need for a laboratory marker that correlates with the clinical activity of Behçet’s disease (BD).

A rapid detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by a nitrate reductase assay on blood agar

The susceptibility of 49 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates to isoniazid (INH) and rifampisin (RIF) (28 multi-drug resistant-tuberculosis samples) was determined by a nitrate reductase assay (NRA) on blood agar. Agreement between the NRA and other testing methods was found to be 93.8% for both INH and RIF. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for INH were 92.8%, 94.2%, 86.6% and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for RIF were 90.4%, 96.4%, 95% and 93.1%. In conclusion, we show here that blood agar can be used effectively for the NRA test.

An evaluation of false-positive rifampicin resistance on the Xpert MTB/RIF

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is one of the most significant causes of mortality and morbidity. Early diagnose is important especially in multiple drug resistant tuberculosis to avoid transmission. Traditional techniques requires at least one to three weeks for diagnosis of tuberculosis. Diagnostic delays with multiple drug resistant tuberculosis are associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased transmission The Xpert MTB/RIF assay is one of the new diagnostic device for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and rapid detection of rifampicin resistance. OBJECTIVE We assessed the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for detecting rifampicin resistance using phenotypic drug susceptibility tests as automated BD MGIT 960. METHODS Total of 2136 specimens were included in the study. Xpert MTB/RIF testing was performed on samples, using version 4 cartridges, according to the manufacturers recommendations. The MTBC culture and first-line phenotypic DST were performed in automated BD MGIT 960 (Becton & Dickinson, USA) according to the recommendations of the manufacturer. Agar proportion was used in the case of inconsistency for rifampicin resistance. FINDINGS Thirty-four samples (19 respiratory and 15 nonrespiratory samples) were determined as positive for M. tuberculosis complex by Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid GeneXpert® System, USA). Xpert MTB/RIF assay detected 4/34 (11.7%) specimens as rifampicin resistant. One of the rifampicin resistant isolates was determined susceptible in MGIT 960 automated system. This isolate was also tested with agar proportion method and found susceptible to rifampicin. MAIN CONCLUSION The Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be used as first-line assay for the detection of M. tuberculosis. However, microbiologists must be aware of the limitations of the assay.

Evaluation of crystal violet decolorization assay for minimal inhibitory concentration detection of primary antituberculosis drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

In this study we evaluated the crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for detection of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antituberculosis drugs. 53 isolates were tested in this study and 13 of them were multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates. The antibiotics concentrations were 2-0.06 mg/L for isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) and were 16-0.25 mg/L for streptomycin (STM) and ethambutol (EMB). Crystal violet (CV-25 mg/L) was added into the microwells on the seventh day of incubation and incubation was continued until decolorization. Decolorization of CV was the predictor of bacterial growth. Overall agreements for four drugs were detected as 98.1%, and the average time was detected as 9.5 ± 0.89 day after inoculation. One isolate for INH and two isolates for STM were determined resistant in the reference method, but susceptible by the CVDA. One isolate was susceptible to EMB by the reference method, but resistant by the CVDA. All results were concordant for RIF. This study shows that CVDA is a rapid, reliable and suitable for determination of MIC values of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. And it can be used easily especially in countries with limited-sources.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Endemic Heracleum platytaenium Boiss. from Turkey

The compositions of the essential oil of Heracleum platytaenium Boiss. aerial parts, grown in Turkey were determined by GC-MS. Twenty-two compounds (95.24 %) were determined. The major compounds in the oil were found to be octyl acetate (85.53 %), octyl hexanoate (3.06 %), (Z)-4-octenyl acetate (1.60 %) and octyl octanoate (1.24 %). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil extracted from H. platytaenium against various yeast and bacteria species using the disc diffusion method was investigated during the present study. The extract exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Candida glabrata with inhibition zones varying between 12-32 mm. In contrast, the growth of all the tested bacteria were not affected by the extract. In conclusion, this study confirms that H. platytaenium essential oil could be considered as a natural anticandidal source.

Investigation of the frequency of rotavirus and adenovirus in acute gastroenteritis cases

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the prevalance of rotavirus and adenovirus, and their distribution according to gender, age and season, retrospectively in patients with acute gastroenteritis. Materials and methods: Samples from 2355 patients with suspected acute gastroenteritis, sent from different clinics and policlinics to Microbiology Laboratuary between January 2014 and June 2015 were investigated. Rotavirus and adenovirus antigens were investigated in stool samples using the kit Rota-Adeno Card Test which uses a colored chromatographic method. Results:Rotavirus was detected in 129 of 1101 (11.7%) specimens and adenovirus was detected in 42 of 1254 (3.3%) specimens. Two specimens were positive for both of the viruses. Positivity for rotavirus and adenovirus was determined mostly in winter and spring and at 13 -24 months of age. There was no statistically significant difference between adenovirus and rotavirus antigen positivity regarding age and seasons (p>0.05). Conclusion: Investigation of rotavirus and adenovirus antigens in stool samples is important for epidemiological purposes and preventing the use of unnecessary antibiotics. Pam Med J 2017;(1):61-65

Comparison of nosocomial candidemia of pediatric and adult cases in 2-years period at a Turkish university hospital.

OBJECTIVE Although there are limited numerous reports of candidemia in adults, data on paediatrics are stil limeted. The aim of the present study was to compare the aetiology and risk factors of nosocomial candidemia among the paediatric and adults in our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study includes the patients hospitalised and diagnosed as fungemia at Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital between June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2009 whose blood cultures sent to our microbiology laboratory. After fungal growth was observed in blood cultures, the yeast cells were inoculated onto Saboraud glucose agar. The colonies were identified by conventional yeast identification methods and ID 32C yeast identification system according to the manifacturers instructions. RESULTS During this period 51 paediatric and 69 adults were studied. The most common yeast form was Candida albicans (43.3%) followed by C. parapsilosis (25.0%) and C. tropicalis (17.5%). Although the non-albicans Candida species represent more than half (56.7%) of all candidemic cases C. albicans was the most common frequent etiologic agent. There was no statistically significant difference between patient age (paediatric and adult) and distribution of Candida species (p>0.05) Neoplasia (in adults) and prematurity (in paediatrics) were the main underlying diseases. Predisposing factors and mortality rates were not different among paediatrics and adults. CONCLUSION We reinforce the necessity of continous epidomiologic surveillance to follow the dynamics of candidemia.