Zulal Ozkurt

Efficacy of oral ribavirin treatment in Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever: a quasi-experimental study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral ribavirin treatment in patients with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). METHODS In 2004, all patients diagnosed with CCHF were treated with oral ribavirin, however in 2003 none of the CCHF patients had been given treatment due to lack of confirmatory diagnostic information at that time in Turkey. In this study, patients treated with ribavirin in 2004 (n=126) were compared with ribavirin-untreated CCHF patients (n=92) in 2003. Patients only with a definitive diagnosis of CCHF (clinical symptoms plus the presence of specific IgM antibodies against CCHF virus and presence of viral antigen) were included in this study. RESULTS There was no difference in the case-fatality rate between treated and untreated patients (7.1% vs. 11.9%; P>0.05). A Cox Proportional Hazards regression analysis revealed that altered sensorium and prolonged international normalized ratio were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION Our results showed that oral ribavirin treatment did not improve the survival rate in CCHF patients. Ribavirin and supportive care are the only available choices for treatment of CCHF patients, but to ascertain the efficacy of ribavirin, more laboratory and observational studies are necessary and ultimately, to elucidate these conflicting results and evaluate the efficacy undoubtedly, a multicenter randomised controlled trial will be needed.

Anthrax in adults and children: A review of 132 cases in Turkey

Abstract.In this retrospective study, 132 cases of anthrax observed in a Turkish hospital over a 14-year period (October 1986 to October 2000) were evaluated with respect to clinical features, therapy, and outcome. The results show that anthrax is a disease of significance in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey. Preventive measures such as education of the population and vaccination of animals against anthrax would reduce the incidence of the disease.

Healthcare-associated Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Turkey, 2002-2014: a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study.

Healthcare-related transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a well-recognized hazard. We report a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study undertaken in Turkey in 2014 in nine hospitals, regional reference centres for CCHF, covering the years 2002 to 2014 inclusive. Data were systematically extracted from charts of all personnel with a reported health care injury/accident related to CCHF. Blood samples were tested for CCHF IgM/IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or viral nucleic acid detection by PCR after the injury. Fifty-one healthcare-related exposures were identified. Twenty-five (49%) of 51 resulted in laboratory-confirmed infection, with a 16% (4/25) overall mortality. The main route of exposure was needlestick injury in 32/51 (62.7%). A potential benefit of post-exposure prophylaxis with ribavirin was identified.

Anthrax in eastern Turkey, 1992-2004.

We investigated animal and human anthrax cases during a 13-year period in eastern Turkey. From 1992 to 2004, a total of 464 animal and 503 human anthrax cases were detected. Most cases occurred in summer. Anthrax remains a health problem in eastern Turkey, and preventive measures should be taken.

Incidence and risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus colonization in burn unit patients.

This study was aimed to identify the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization in burn patients, to collate risk factors for colonization and to determine the VRE resistance profile to different antimicrobial agents. This prospective study was carried out on the burn unit, during the period from September 2008 to January 2010, in 128 patients who were hospitalized at least 3 weeks or more. Periodic swabs were taken from burn wound, rectal, axillary, umblicaly and throat regions of the patients on admission and 7th, 14th, 21st days of hospitalization. Demographics and known risk factors were retrieved and assessed by statistical methods. Only 20 patients (15.6%) were colonized with enterococci on admission and these strains isolated from rectal, umblical and throat samples were sensitive to vancomycin. Initial VRE isolation was made in the first samples from the rectum of two patients on the 7th day. The rates of rectal, umblical, throat and axillary colonization increased to 21.9%, 3.1%, 3.1% and 3.1% at 28th day, respectively. VRE strains were the first isolated from burn wounds of only one patient (0.8%) on the 14th day and the colonization rate increased to 7.0% at the 28th day. Our study indicated that rectal colonization was seen more than other sites of colonization and was strictly correlate to colonizing enterococci between burn wound and other body regions. Multivariate analyses showed that glycopeptide use, burn depth and total burn surface area were independent risk factors for acquisition of VRE. All VSE strains were susceptible to teicoplanin, tigecycline and linezolid. VSE strains were more resistant to gentamicin and streptomycin, and VRE strains were more resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. The present study showed tigecycline and linezolid to be most active agents against VRE strains. The determined VRE colonization and risk factors of VRE acquisition are expected to be useful in establishing guidelines for preventing VRE infection in burn unit.

Global Alert: Zika Virus-an Emerging Arbovirus.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus of the Flavivirus genus, and it has an envelope and a single RNA molecule. In early 2016, the World Health Organization declared ZIKV infection to be an emerging global health threat. The major transmission route of the virus to humans is Aedes mosquitoes. ZIKV can be transmitted between humans by transplacental, perinatal, and sexual routes and via blood and body fluids. ZIKV infection usually results in a mild and self-limiting disease with low-grade fever, conjunctivitis, and periorbital edema. Neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, meningoencephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, acute myelitis, and transverse myelitis have been reported during ZIKV infection. Intrauterine and congenital ZIKV infections have strong teratogenic effects on the fetus. Intrauterine or congenital ZIKV infection can lead to microcephaly, ocular anomalies (such as macular atrophy, pigment mottling, and optic nerve anomalies), and cardiac anomalies (such as atrial or ventricular septal defect). Calcification in the brain between the cortical and subcortical areas, ventriculomegaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, corpus callosum hypoplasia, cortical/subcortical atrophy, delayed myelination, enlarged cisterna magna, and craniofacial disproportion have been reported as brain development defects. ZIKV infection usually results in a mild disease, and it does not require specific therapy. However, complications of infection during the early period of life are serious. Thus, many drugs have been investigated, and vaccine development studies have been conducted to prevent ZIKV infection. Vector control and personal protection from mosquito-borne transmission are important for decreasing the prevalence of ZIKV infection. In particular, pregnant residents or travelers to endemic areas should be carefully protected against mosquito-borne transmission.

Discharge criteria for Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever in endemic areas

• Risk for household contact transmission is low for Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

Prognostic Significance of Antithrombin Activity in Patients with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

OBJECTIVE Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an important complication of this disease, especially in severe and fatal cases. Antithrombin (AT) acts as an anticoagulant by inactivating thrombin, Factor IX, Factor X and Factor XI. We conducted this study to investigate the AT levels and their prognostic value in CCHF. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-eight confirmed CCHF patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of the disease was made by CCHF IgM and/or PCR positivity. Patients were grouped based on the severity criteria described previously. The patients with platelet counts <20 000×10(6) cell/L, white blood counts >10×10(9) cell/L, prothrombin times >60 seconds, aspartate aminotransferase levels >700 IU/L or alanine aminotransferase levels >900 IU/L were accepted as severe cases. Patients whose illnesses were self-limited and who did not require blood component replacement were accepted as mild cases, and patients who improved but required blood component replacement were accepted as moderate cases. Blood samples were obtained on the day that the patient had the lowest platelet count and before any thrombocyte replacement. The antithrombin activity was measured using a chromogenic substrate test (Diagnostica Stago STA Compact) at a research laboratory. RESULTS Twenty-two (78.6%) of the cases were mild, 3 (10.7%) were moderate, and 3 were (10.7%) severe. The mean AT value was 101% for mild cases, 116.6 % for moderate cases, and 88% for severe cases (p>0.05). Although there were no statistically significant differences between the AT values, the mean AT activity was lower in severe CCHF cases. CONCLUSION The AT activity may have been decreased in severe CCHF cases. Further studies with greater numbers of patients are required to determine the level of AT activity and its correlation with disease severity and the prognosis of CCHF.

Retrospective Evaluation of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Among First Trimester Pregnant Women Admitted to Nenehatun Maternity Hospital between 2013-2017 in Erzurum

OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in pregnant women who referred to Erzurum Nenehatun Hospital for antenatal care, and to compare our data with other regions of Turkey. METHODS In this retrospective study we evaluated Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG screening results of pregnant women who admitted to our hospital between January 2013 and December 2016 for antenatal care. The data was obtained from hospitals digital data system and patient folders. Blood samples were investigated in microbiology laboratory with Macro-ELISA (Architect System, Abbott Diagnostics, Germany) method. Anti-Toxoplasma IgM positive cases were also evaluated with anti-Toxoplasma IgG avidity test. The results were evaluated as case numbers and percentages. RESULTS In 151 (0.6%) of the 25525 pregnant women, who were aged between 18 and 45, Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM positivity was detected. In 5119 (31%) of the 16433 pregnant women, Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG positivity was detected. CONCLUSION Our data was similar to the rest of the country. We suppose that every pregnant women should be educated about the disease and the transmission routes to raise an awareness and while the ones in the risk group should be screened instead of the whole group.

Cutaneous Anthrax on Eyelid in a Pregnant Woman

A 32-year-old patient who was 17 weeks of pregnant referred to our hospital due to a lesion on the eyelid and swelling on her face. Patients history revealed that she helped her husband for slaughtering of a sick animal and contacted with the meat. A scabby lesion was detected on the inferior eyelid with hyperaemia around, central necrotic appearance and swelling. The diagnosis of anthrax was performed based on her epidemiological data, physical examination findings, and Bacillus anthracis were seen on direct preparation. This case was considered worthy to present since she was pregnant, the disease was located on the inferior eyelid, which is a rare place for location, and caused no complication or sequel either in mother or in baby.