Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Turkey: a modeling study

Background

To effectively control the HIV epidemic and meet global targets, policymakers recommend the rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our study aims to investigate the effect of rapid ART programs on individuals diagnosed with HIV, considering varying coverage and initiation days after diagnosis, and compare it to standard-of-care ART treatment in Turkey.

Methods

We used a dynamic compartmental model to simulate the dynamics of HIV infection in Turkey. Rapid treatment, defined as initiation of ART within 7 days of diagnosis, was contrasted with standard-of-care treatment, which starts within 30 days of diagnosis. This study considered three coverage levels (10%, 50%, and 90%) and two rapid periods (7 and 14 days after diagnosis), comparing them to standard-of-care treatment in evaluating the number of HIV infections between 2020 and 2030.

Results

Annual HIV incidence and prevalence for a 10-year period were obtained from model projections. In the absence of a rapid ART program, the model projected approximately 444,000 new HIV cases while the number of cases were reduced to 345,000 (22% reduction) with 90% of diagnosed cases included in the rapid ART program. Similarly, 10% and 50% rapid ART coverage has resulted in 3% and 13% reduction in HIV prevalence over a 10-year period.

Conclusion

Rapid ART demonstrates the potential to mitigate the increasing HIV incidence in Turkey by reducing the number of infections. The benefit of the rapid ART program could be substantial when the coverage of the program reaches above a certain percentage of diagnosed population.

The diagnostic utility of the "Thwaites' system" and "lancet consensus scoring system" in tuberculous vs. non-tuberculous subacute and chronic meningitis: multicenter analysis of 395 adult patients

BACKGROUND

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) represents a diagnostic and management challenge to clinicians. The "Thwaites' system" and "Lancet consensus scoring system" are utilized to differentiate TBM from bacterial meningitis but their utility in subacute and chronic meningitis where TBM is an important consideration is unknown.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study of adults with subacute and chronic meningitis, defined by symptoms greater than 5 days and less than 30 days for subacute meningitis (SAM) and greater than 30 days for chronic meningitis (CM). The "Thwaites' system" and "Lancet consensus scoring system" scores and the diagnostic accuracy by sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of receiver operating curve (AUC-ROC) were calculated. The "Thwaites' system" and "Lancet consensus scoring system" suggest a high probability of TBM with scores ≤4, and with scores of ≥12, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 395 patients were identified; 313 (79.2%) had subacute and 82 (20.8%) with chronic meningitis. Patients with chronic meningitis were more likely caused by tuberculosis and had higher rates of HIV infection (P < 0.001). A total of 162 patients with TBM and 233 patients with non-TBM had unknown (140, 60.1%), fungal (41, 17.6%), viral (29, 12.4%), miscellaneous (16, 6.7%), and bacterial (7, 3.0%) etiologies. TMB patients were older and presented with lower Glasgow coma scores, lower CSF glucose and higher CSF protein (P < 0.001). Both criteria were able to distinguish TBM from bacterial meningitis; only the Lancet score was able to differentiate TBM from fungal, viral, and unknown etiologies even though significant overlap occurred between the etiologies (P < .001). Both criteria showed poor diagnostic accuracy to distinguish TBM from non-TBM etiologies (AUC-ROC was <. 5), but Lancet consensus scoring system was fair in diagnosing TBM (AUC-ROC was .738), sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 89.3%.

CONCLUSION

Both criteria can be helpful in distinguishing TBM from bacterial meningitis, but only the Lancet consensus scoring system can help differentiate TBM from meningitis caused by fungal, viral and unknown etiologies even though significant overlap occurs and the overall diagnostic accuracy of both criteria were either poor or fair.

Portraying infective endocarditis: results of multinational ID-IRI study

Infective endocarditis is a growing problem with many shifts due to ever-increasing comorbid illnesses, invasive procedures, and increase in the elderly. We performed this multinational study to depict definite infective endocarditis. Adult patients with definite endocarditis hospitalized between January 1, 2015, and October 1, 2018, were included from 41 hospitals in 13 countries. We included microbiological features, types and severity of the disease, complications, but excluded therapeutic parameters. A total of 867 patients were included. A total of 631 (72.8%) patients had native valve endocarditis (NVE), 214 (24.7%) patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), 21 (2.4%) patients had pacemaker lead endocarditis, and 1 patient had catheter port endocarditis. Eighteen percent of NVE patients were hospital-acquired. PVE patients were classified as early-onset in 24.9%. A total of 385 (44.4%) patients had major embolic events, most frequently to the brain (n = 227, 26.3%). Blood cultures yielded pathogens in 766 (88.4%). In 101 (11.6%) patients, blood cultures were negative. Molecular testing of vegetations disclosed pathogens in 65 cases. Overall, 795 (91.7%) endocarditis patients had any identified pathogen. Leading pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus (n = 267, 33.6%), Streptococcus viridans (n = 149, 18.7%), enterococci (n = 128, 16.1%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 92, 11.6%)) displayed substantial resistance profiles. A total of 132 (15.2%) patients had cardiac abscesses; 693 (79.9%) patients had left-sided endocarditis. Aortic (n = 394, 45.4%) and mitral valves (n = 369, 42.5%) were most frequently involved. Mortality was more common in PVE than NVE (NVE (n = 101, 16%), PVE (n = 49, 22.9%), p = 0.042).

Brucellosis in pregnancy: results of multicenter ID-IRI study

Brucellosis in pregnant women is reported to be associated with obstetric complications (OCs), and adequate data for human brucellosis during pregnancy are largely lacking. We performed this multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical course, treatment responses, and outcomes of brucellosis among pregnant women. The study period comprised a 14-year period from January 2002 to December 2015. All consecutive pregnant women diagnosed with brucellosis in 23 participating hospitals were included. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome data along with the assessment data of the neonate were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Data of 242 patients were analyzed. The OC rate was 14.0% (34/242) in the cohort. Of the 242 women, 219 (90.5%) delivered at term, 3 (1.2%) had preterm delivery, 15 (6.2%) aborted, and 5 (2.1%) had intrauterine fetal demise. Seventeen (7.0%) of the newborns were considered as low birth weight. Spontaneous abortion (6.1%) was the commonest complication. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths and pertinent sequelae or complications were not detected in the newborns. Splenomegaly (p = 0.019), nausea and/or vomiting (p < 0.001), vaginal bleeding (p < 0.001), anemia (blood hemoglobin < 11 g/dL; p < 0.001), high level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (> 41 IU/L; p = 0.025), oligohydramnios on ultrasonography (p = 0.0002), history of taking medication other than Brucella treatment during pregnancy (p = 0.027), and Brucella bacteremia (p = 0.029) were the significant factors associated with OCs. We recommend that pregnant women with OC or with fever should be investigated for brucellosis if they live in or have traveled to an endemic area.

Hydrocephalus and vasculitis delay therapeutic responses in tuberculous meninigitis: Results of Haydarpasa-III study

AIMS

There is no report on the factors affecting the resolution of symptoms related to meningitis during treatment of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Thus, we examined the factors associated with early therapeutic responses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This multicenter study included 507 patients with microbiologically confirmed TBM. However, 94 patients eligible for the analysis were included in this study from 24 centers. Six out of 94 patients died and the statistical analysis was performed with 88 survivors. Early and late responder groups were compared in the statistical analysis. P < 0.05 were considered to show a significant difference.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, the presence of vasculitis (P = 0.029, OR = 10.491 [95% CI, 1.27-86.83]) was found to be significantly associated with a delayed fever response whereas hydrocephalus was associated with altered mental status for >9 days duration (P = 0.005, OR = 5.740 [95% CI, 1.68-19.57]). According to linear regression analysis, fever was significantly persisting (>7 days) in the presence of vasculitis (17.5 vs. 7, P< 0.001) and hydrocephalus (11 vs. 7, P = 0.029). Hydrocephalus was significantly associated with persisting headache (21 vs. 12, P = 0.025), delayed recovery of consciousness (19.5 vs. 7, P = 0.001), and a delay in complete recovery (21 vs. 14, P = 0.007) in the linear regression analysis. Following institution of treatment, the complaints seemed to disappear in up to 2 weeks among TBM survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of hydrocephalus or vasculitis, one week of anti-tuberculosis treatment seems to be adequate for the resolution of TBM symptoms. Hydrocephalus and vasculitis delay the resolution of TBM symptoms in response to antimycobacterial treatment.

Central nervous system infections in the absence of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis

Previous multicenter/multinational studies were evaluated to determine the frequency of the absence of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in patients with central nervous system infections, as well as the clinical impact of this condition. It was found that 18% of neurosyphilis, 7.9% of herpetic meningoencephalitis, 3% of tuberculous meningitis, 1.7% of Brucella meningitis, and 0.2% of pneumococcal meningitis cases did not display cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Most patients were not immunosuppressed. Patients without pleocytosis had a high rate of unfavorable outcomes and thus this condition should not be underestimated.

The burden and epidemiology of community-acquired central nervous system infections: a multinational study

Risk assessment of central nervous system (CNS) infection patients is of key importance in predicting likely pathogens. However, data are lacking on the epidemiology globally. We performed a multicenter study to understand the burden of community-acquired CNS (CA-CNS) infections between 2012 and 2014. A total of 2583 patients with CA-CNS infections were included from 37 referral centers in 20 countries. Of these, 477 (18.5%) patients survived with sequelae and 227 (8.8%) died, and 1879 (72.7%) patients were discharged with complete cure. The most frequent infecting pathogens in this study were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 206, 8%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 152, 5.9%). Varicella zoster virus and Listeria were other common pathogens in the elderly. Although staphylococci and Listeria resulted in frequent infections in immunocompromised patients, cryptococci were leading pathogens in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. Among the patients with any proven etiology, 96 (8.9%) patients presented with clinical features of a chronic CNS disease. Neurosyphilis, neurobrucellosis, neuroborreliosis, and CNS tuberculosis had a predilection to present chronic courses. Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, M. tuberculosis, and S. pneumoniae were the most fatal forms, while sequelae were significantly higher for herpes simplex virus type 1 (p < 0.05 for all). Tackling the high burden of CNS infections globally can only be achieved with effective pneumococcal immunization and strategies to eliminate tuberculosis, and more must be done to improve diagnostic capacity.

Tetanus in adults: results of the multicenter ID-IRI study

Tetanus is an acute, severe infection caused by a neurotoxin secreting bacterium. Various prognostic factors affecting mortality in tetanus patients have been described in the literature. In this study, we aimed to analyze the factors affecting mortality in hospitalized tetanus patients in a large case series. This retrospective multicenter study pooled data of tetanus patients from 25 medical centers. The hospitals participating in this study were the collaborating centers of the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI). Only adult patients over the age of 15 years with tetanus were included. The diagnosis of tetanus was made by the clinicians at the participant centers. Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital's Review Board approved the study. Prognostic factors were analyzed by using the multivariate regression analysis method. In this study, 117 adult patients with tetanus were included. Of these, 79 (67.5%) patients survived and 38 (32.5%) patients died. Most of the deaths were observed in patients >60 years of age (60.5%). Generalized type of tetanus, presence of pain at the wound area, presence of generalized spasms, leukocytosis, high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values on admission, and the use of equine immunoglobulins in the treatment were found to be statistically associated with mortality (p < 0.05 for all). Here, we describe the prognostic factors for mortality in tetanus. Immunization seems to be the most critical point, considering the advanced age of our patients. A combination of laboratory and clinical parameters indicates mortality. Moreover, human immunoglobulins should be preferred over equine sera to increase survival.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

BACKGROUND

We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

METHODS

During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days.

RESULTS

Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs.

CONCLUSIONS

Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically.

Cranial imaging findings in neurobrucellosis: results of Istanbul-3 study

OBJECTIVE

Neuroimaging abnormalities in central nervous system (CNS) brucellosis are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of imaging abnormalities in neurobrucellosis and to identify factors associated with leptomeningeal and basal enhancement, which frequently results in unfavorable outcomes.

METHODS

Istanbul-3 study evaluated 263 adult patients with CNS brucellosis from 26 referral centers and reviewed their 242 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 226 computerized tomography (CT) scans of the brain.

RESULTS

A normal CT or MRI scan was seen in 143 of 263 patients (54.3 %). Abnormal imaging findings were grouped into the following four categories: (a) inflammatory findings: leptomeningeal involvements (44), basal meningeal enhancements (30), cranial nerve involvements (14), spinal nerve roots enhancement (8), brain abscesses (7), granulomas (6), and arachnoiditis (4). (b) White-matter involvement: white-matter involvement (32) with or without demyelinating lesions (7). (c) Vascular involvement: vascular involvement (42) mostly with chronic cerebral ischemic changes (37). (d) Hydrocephalus/cerebral edema: hydrocephalus (20) and brain edema (40). On multivariate logistic regression analysis duration of symptoms since the onset (OR 1.007; 95 % CI 1-28, p = 0.01), polyneuropathy and radiculopathy (OR 5.4; 95 % CI 1.002-1.013, p = 0.044), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum glucose rate (OR 0.001; 95 % CI 000-0.067, p = 0.001), and CSF protein (OR 2.5; 95 % CI 2.3-2.7, p = 0.0001) were associated with diffuse inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, 45 % of neurobrucellosis patients had abnormal neuroimaging findings. The duration of symptoms, polyneuropathy and radiculopathy, high CSF protein level, and low CSF/serum glucose rate were associated with inflammatory findings on imaging analyses.

Managing atypical and typical herpetic central nervous system infections: results of a multinational study

There have been many studies pertaining to the management of herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME), but the majority of them have focussed on virologically unconfirmed cases or included only small sample sizes. We have conducted a multicentre study aimed at providing management strategies for HME. Overall, 501 adult patients with PCR-proven HME were included retrospectively from 35 referral centres in 10 countries; 496 patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis using a PCR assay yielded herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 DNA in 351 patients (70.8%), HSV-2 DNA in 83 patients (16.7%) and undefined HSV DNA type in 62 patients (12.5%). A total of 379 patients (76.4%) had at least one of the specified characteristics of encephalitis, and we placed these patients into the encephalitis presentation group. The remaining 117 patients (23.6%) had none of these findings, and these patients were placed in the nonencephalitis presentation group. Abnormalities suggestive of encephalitis were detected in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 83.9% of the patients and in electroencephalography (EEG) in 91.0% of patients in the encephalitis presentation group. In the nonencephalitis presentation group, MRI and EEG data were suggestive of encephalitis in 33.3 and 61.9% of patients, respectively. However, the concomitant use of MRI and EEG indicated encephalitis in 96.3 and 87.5% of the cases with and without encephalitic clinical presentation, respectively. Considering the subtle nature of HME, CSF HSV PCR, EEG and MRI data should be collected for all patients with a central nervous system infection.

Infections in travellers returning to Turkey from the Arabian peninsula: a retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study

Mass gatherings pooling people from different parts of the world—the largest of which is to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for Hajj—may impose risks for acquisition and dissemination of infectious diseases. A substantial number of pilgrims to Hajj and Umrah are Turkish citizens (456,000 in 2014) but data are lacking on scale of the problem. We did a retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study in Turkey to explore the range of infections among inpatients who had recently returned from the Arabian Peninsula. Our inclusion criteria were patients who had acquired an infection during their trip to an Arabian Peninsula country, or who became symptomatic within 1 week of their return. The data were collected retrospectively for January 1, 2013 and March 1, 2015. 185 Turkish patients were recruited to the study across 15 referral centers with travel associated infectious diseases after returning from Arabian Peninsula countries (predominantly Saudi Arabia 163 [88.1 %] for religious purposes 162 [87.5 %]). Seventy four (40.0 %) of them were ≥ 65 years old with numerous comorbidities including diabetes (24.3 %) and COPD (14.1 %). The most common clinical diagnosis was respiratory tract infections (169 [91.5 %]), followed by diarrheal diseases (13 [7 %]), and there was one case of MERS-CoV. Patients spent a median of 5 (3–7) days as hospital inpatients and overall mortality was 1.1 %. Returning travellers from the Arabian Peninsula present as inpatients with a broad range of infectious diseases similar to common community acquired infections frequently seen in daily medical practices in Turkey.

Comparison of brucellar and tuberculous spondylodiscitis patients: results of the multicenter "Backbone-1 Study"

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

No direct comparison between brucellar spondylodiscitis (BSD) and tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TSD) exists in the literature.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare directly the clinical features, laboratory and radiological aspects, treatment, and outcome data of patients diagnosed as BSD and TSD.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective, multinational, and multicenter study was used.

PATIENT SAMPLE

A total of 641 (TSD, 314 and BSD, 327) spondylodiscitis patients from 35 different centers in four countries (Turkey, Egypt, Albania, and Greece) were included.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The pre- and peri- or post-treatment spinal deformity and neurologic deficit parameters, and mortality were carried out.

METHODS

Brucellar spondylodiscitis and TSD groups were compared for demographics, clinical, laboratory, radiological, surgical interventions, treatment, and outcome data. The Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for group comparisons. Significance was analyzed as two sided and inferred at 0.05 levels.

RESULTS

The median baseline laboratory parameters including white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher in TSD than BSD (p<.0001). Prevertebral, paravertebral, epidural, and psoas abscess formations along with loss of vertebral corpus height and calcification were significantly more frequent in TSD compared with BSD (p<.01). Surgical interventions and percutaneous sampling or abscess drainage were applied more frequently in TSD (p<.0001). Spinal complications including gibbus deformity, kyphosis, and scoliosis, and the number of spinal neurologic deficits, including loss of sensation, motor weakness, and paralysis were significantly higher in the TSD group (p<.05). Mortality rate was 2.22% (7 patients) in TSD, and it was 0.61% (2 patients) in the BSD group (p=.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that TSD is a more suppurative disease with abscess formation requiring surgical intervention and characterized with spinal complications. We propose that using a constellation of constitutional symptoms (fever, back pain, and weight loss), pulmonary involvement, high inflammatory markers, and radiological findings will help to differentiate between TSD and BSD at an early stage before microbiological results are available.

Antituberculosis drug resistance patterns in adults with tuberculous meningitis: results of haydarpasa-iv study

Background

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to antituberculosis drugs is an increasingly common clinical problem. This study aimed to evaluate drug resistance profiles of TBM isolates in adult patients in nine European countries involving 32 centers to provide insight into the empiric treatment of TBM.

Methods

Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 142 patients and was tested for susceptibility to first-line antituberculosis drugs, streptomycin (SM), isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF) and ethambutol (EMB).

Results

Twenty of 142 isolates (14.1 %) were resistant to at least one antituberculosis drug, and five (3.5 %) were resistant to at least INH and RIF, [multidrug resistant (MDR)]. The resistance rate was 12, 4.9, 4.2 and 3.5 % for INH, SM, EMB and RIF, respectively. The monoresistance rate was 6.3, 1.4 and 0.7 % for INH, SM and EMB respectively. There was no monoresistance to RIF. The mortality rate was 23.8 % in fully susceptible cases while it was 33.3 % for those exhibiting monoresistance to INH, and 40 % in cases with MDR-TBM. In compared to patients without resistance to any first-line drug, the relative risk of death for INH-monoresistance and MDR-TBM was 1.60 (95 % CI, 0.38–6.82) and 2.14 (95 % CI, 0:34–13:42), respectively.

Conclusion

INH-resistance and MDR rates seemed not to be worrisome in our study. However, considering their adverse effects on treatment, rapid detection of resistance to at least INH and RIF would be most beneficial for designing anti-TB therapy. Still, empiric TBM treatment should be started immediately without waiting the drug susceptibility testing.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 43 countries for 2007-2012. Device-associated module

We report the results of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2007-December 2012 in 503 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the 6-year study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 605,310 patients hospitalized in the INICC's ICUs for an aggregate of 3,338,396 days. Although device utilization in the INICC's ICUs was similar to that reported from ICUs in the U.S. in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals: the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC's ICUs, 4.9 per 1,000 central line days, is nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.9 per 1,000 central line days reported from comparable U.S. ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher (16.8 vs 1.1 per 1,000 ventilator days) as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.5 vs 1.3 per 1,000 catheter days). Frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (42.8% vs 10%) and imipenem (42.4% vs 26.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (71.2% vs 28.8%) and imipenem (19.6% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC's ICUs compared with the ICUs of the CDC's NHSN.

Evaluation of tularaemia courses: a multicentre study from Turkey

In this multicentre study, which is the largest case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the features of tularaemia to provide detailed information. We retrospectively included 1034 patients from 41 medical centres. Before the definite diagnosis of tularaemia, tonsillitis (n = 653, 63%) and/or pharyngitis (n = 146, 14%) were the most frequent preliminary diagnoses. The most frequent clinical presentations were oropharyngeal (n = 832, 85.3%), glandular (n = 136, 13.1%) and oculoglandular (n = 105, 10.1%) forms. In 987 patients (95.5%), the lymph nodes were reported to be enlarged, most frequently at the cervical chain jugular (n = 599, 58%), submandibular (n = 401, 39%), and periauricular (n = 55, 5%). Ultrasound imaging showed hyperechoic and hypoechoic patterns (59% and 25%, respectively). Granulomatous inflammation was the most frequent histological finding (56%). The patients were previously given antibiotics for 1176 episodes, mostly with β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (n = 793, 76%). Antituberculosis medications were provided in seven (2%) cases. The patients were given rational antibiotics for tularaemia after the start of symptoms, with a mean of 26.8 ± 37.5 days. Treatment failure was considered to have occurred in 495 patients (48%). The most frequent reasons for failure were the production of suppuration in the lymph nodes after the start of treatment (n = 426, 86.1%), the formation of new lymphadenomegalies under treatment (n = 146, 29.5%), and persisting complaints despite 2 weeks of treatment (n = 77, 15.6%). Fine-needle aspiration was performed in 521 patients (50%) as the most frequent drainage method. In conclusion, tularaemia is a long-lasting but curable disease in this part of the world. However, the treatment strategy still needs optimization.

Predictors of fatality in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection among adults

Background

The fatality attributed to pandemic influenza A H1N1 was not clear in the literature. We described the predictors for fatality related to pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection among hospitalized adult patients.

Methods

This is a multicenter study performed during the pandemic influenza A H1N1 [A(H1N1)pdm09] outbreak which occurred in 2009 and 2010. Analysis was performed among laboratory confirmed patients. Multivariate analysis was performed for the predictors of fatality.

Results

In the second wave of the pandemic, 848 adult patients were hospitalized because of suspected influenza, 45 out of 848 (5.3%) died, with 75% of fatalities occurring within the first 2 weeks of hospitalization. Among the 241 laboratory confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 patients, the case fatality rate was 9%. In a multivariate logistic regression model that was performed for the fatalities within 14 days after admission, early use of neuraminidase inhibitors was found to be protective (Odds ratio: 0.17, confidence interval: 0.03-0.77, p = 0.022), nosocomial infections (OR: 5.7, CI: 1.84-18, p = 0.013), presence of malignant disease (OR: 3.8, CI: 0.66-22.01, p = 0.133) significantly increased the likelihood of fatality.

Conclusions

Early detection of the infection, allowing opportunity for the early use of neuraminidase inhibitors, was found to be important for prevention of fatality. Nosocomial bacterial infections and underlying malignant diseases increased the rate of fatality.

Gram-negative bacilli causing infections in an intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Istanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to demonstrate the changing epidemiology of infecting microorganisms and their long-term resistance profiles and to describe the microbiological point of view in anti-infective management of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 5,690 isolates of Gram-negative bacilli were included in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the disk diffusion method and Vitek 2 system. Chi-square tests were used for hypothesis testing.

RESULTS

The most frequently isolated organisms were A. baumannii (37.3%), P. aeruginosa (30.3%), Enterobacter spp. (10.4%), E. coli (10.4%), and Klebsiella spp. (8.9%). A. baumannii was the most frequently isolated organism from the respiratory tract (43.4%); the susceptibility rates for imipenem and meropenem decreased to 7% and 6% (p < 0.0001), respectively. The percentage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii isolates continuously increased from 18.7% in 2004 to 69% in 2011 (p < 0.0001), whereas MDR P. aeruginosa isolates increased from 1.5% to 22% (p < 0.0001). Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella isolates emerged in 2010 and increased to 20% in the next year. The rates of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the ICU was very high in 2011 - 50% for E. coli and 80% for Klebsiella strains.

CONCLUSION

The most common isolated Gram-negative bacillus in our study was A. baumannii and that the prevalence of MDR isolates has increased markedly over. Accordingly, the comparison of antibiotic resistance of other pathogens in 2004 and 2011 displayed an increasing trend. These data imply the urgent need for new and effective strategies in our hospital and in the region.

The features of infectious diseases departments and anti-infective practices in France and Turkey: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to assess the infectious diseases (ID) wards of tertiary hospitals in France and Turkey for technical capacity, infection control, characteristics of patients, infections, infecting organisms, and therapeutic approaches. This cross-sectional study was carried out on a single day on one of the weekdays of June 17-21, 2013. Overall, 36 ID departments from Turkey (n = 21) and France (n = 15) were involved. On the study day, 273 patients were hospitalized in Turkish and 324 patients were followed in French ID departments. The numbers of patients and beds in the hospitals, and presence of an intensive care unit (ICU) room in the ID ward was not different in both France and Turkey. Bed occupancy in the ID ward, single rooms, and negative pressure rooms were significantly higher in France. The presence of a laboratory inside the ID ward was more common in Turkish ID wards. The configuration of infection control committees, and their qualifications and surveillance types were quite similar in both countries. Although differences existed based on epidemiology, the distribution of infections were uniform on both sides. In Turkey, anti-Gram-positive agents, carbapenems, and tigecycline, and in France, cephalosporins, penicillins, aminoglycosides, and metronidazole were more frequently preferred. Enteric Gram-negatives and hepatitis B and C were more frequent in Turkey, while human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and streptococci were more common in France (p < 0.05 for all significances). Various differences and similarities existed in France and Turkey in the ID wards. However, the current scene is that ID are managed with high standards in both countries.

Liver involvement in patients with brucellosis: results of the Marmara study

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that primarily affects the reticuloendothelial system. But, the extent of liver damage in due course of the disease is unclear. This study included 325 brucellosis patients with significant hepatobiliary involvement identified with microbiological analyses from 30 centers between 2000 and 2013. The patients with ≥5 times of the upper limit of normal for aminotransferases, total bilirubin level ≥2 mg/dl or local liver lesions were enrolled. Clinical hepatitis was detected in 284 patients (87.3 %) and cholestasis was detected in 215 (66.1 %) patients. Fatigue (91 %), fever (86 %), sweating (83 %), arthralgia (79 %), and lack of appetite (79 %) were the major symptoms. Laboratory tests showed anemia in 169 (52 %), thrombocytopenia in 117 (36 %), leukopenia in 81 (25 %), pancytopenia in 42 (13 %), and leukocytosis in 20 (6 %) patients. The most commonly used antibiotic combinations were doxycycline plus an aminoglycoside (n = 73), doxycycline plus rifampicin (n = 71), doxycycline plus rifampicin and an aminoglycoside (n = 27). The duration of ALT normalization differed significantly in three treatment groups (p < 0.001). The use of doxycycline and an aminoglycoside in clinical hepatitis showed better results compared to doxycycline and rifampicin or rifampicin, aminoglycoside, doxycycline regimens (p < 0.05). However, the length of hospital stay did not differ significantly between these three combinations (p > 0.05). During the follow-up, treatment failure occurred in four patients (1 %) and relapse was seen in three patients (0.9 %). Mortality was not observed. Hepatobiliary involvement in brucellosis has a benign course with suitable antibiotics and the use of doxycycline and an aminoglycoside regimen seems a better strategy in select patients.

The interrelations of radiologic findings and mechanical ventilation in community acquired pneumonia patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicentre retrospective study

BACKGROUND

We evaluated patients admitted to the intensive care units with the diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) regarding initial radiographic findings.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study was held. Chest x ray (CXR) and computerized tomography (CT) findings and also their associations with the need of ventilator support were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 388 patients were enrolled. Consolidation was the main finding on CXR (89%) and CT (80%) examinations. Of all, 45% had multi-lobar involvement. Bilateral involvement was found in 40% and 44% on CXR and CT respectively. Abscesses and cavitations were rarely found. The highest correlation between CT and CXR findings was observed for interstitial involvement. More than 80% of patients needed ventilator support. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) requirement was seen to be more common in those with multi-lobar involvement on CXR as 2.4-fold and consolidation on CT as 47-fold compared with those who do not have these findings. Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) need increased 8-fold in patients with multi-lobar involvement on CT.

CONCLUSION

CXR and CT findings correlate up to a limit in terms of interstitial involvement but not in high percentages in other findings. CAP patients who are admitted to the ICU are severe cases frequently requiring ventilator support. Initial CT and CXR findings may indicate the need for ventilator support, but the assumed ongoing real practice is important and the value of radiologic evaluation beyond clinical findings to predict the mechanical ventilation need is subject for further evaluation with large patient series.

Surveillance, control and management of infections in intensive care units in Southern Europe, Turkey and Iran--a prospective multicenter point prevalence study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the features of intensive care units (ICUs), their antimicrobial resistance patterns, infection control policies, and distribution of infectious diseases from central Europe to Mid-West Asia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional point prevalence study was performed in 88 ICUs from 12 countries. Characteristics of ICUs, patient and antibiotic therapy data were collected with a standard form by infectious diseases specialists.

RESULTS

Out of 749, 305 patients at least with one infectious disease were assessed and 254 patients were reported to have coexistent medical problems. When primary infectious diseases diagnoses of the patients were evaluated, 69 had community-acquired, 61 had healthcare-associated, and 176 had hospital-acquired infections. Pneumonia was the most frequent ICU infection seen in half of the patients. Distribution of frequent pathogens was as follows: Enteric Gram-negatives (n = 62, 28.8%), Acinetobacter spp. (n = 47, 21.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 29, 13.5%). Multidrug resistance profiles of the infecting microorganisms seem to have a uniform pattern throughout Southern Europe and Turkey. On the other hand, active and device-associated infection surveillance was performed in Turkey more than Iran and Southeastern Europe (p < 0.05). However, designing antibiotic treatment according to culture results was highest in Southeastern Europe (p < 0.05). The most frequently used antibiotics were carbapenems (n = 92, 30.2%), followed by anti-gram positive agents (vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline; n = 79, 25.9%), beta-lactam/beta lactamase inhibitors (n = 78, 25.6%), and extended-spectrum cephalosporins (n = 73, 23.9%).

CONCLUSION

ICU features appears to have similar characteristics from the infectious diseases perspective, although variability seems to exist in this large geographical area.

Withdrawal of Staphylococcus aureus from intensive care units in Turkey

BACKGROUND

In the past, Staphylococcus aureus infections have displayed various patterns of epidemiologic curves in hospitals, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to characterize the current trend in a nationwide survey of ICUs in Turkey.

METHODS

A total of 88 ICUs from 36 Turkish tertiary hospitals were included in this retrospective study, which was performed during the first 3 months of both 2008 (period [P] 1) and 2011 (P2). A P value ≤.01 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Although overall rates of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and device-associated infection densities were similar in P1 and P2, the densities of HAIs due to S aureus and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) were significantly lower in P2 (P < .0001). However, the proportion of HAIs due to Acinetobacter was significantly higher in P2 (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of S aureus infections is declining rapidly in Turkish ICUs, with potential impacts on empirical treatment strategies in these ICUs.

Update on treatment options for spinal brucellosis

We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of antibiotic regimens and optimal duration of therapy in complicated and uncomplicated forms of spinal brucellosis. This is a multicentre, retrospective and comparative study involving a total of 293 patients with spinal brucellosis from 19 health institutions. Comparison of complicated and uncomplicated spinal brucellosis was statistically analysed. Complicated spinal brucellosis was diagnosed in 78 (26.6%) of our patients. Clinical presentation was found to be significantly more acute, with fever and weight loss, in patients in the complicated group. They had significantly higher leukocyte and platelet counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels, and lower haemoglobulin levels. The involvement of the thoracic spine was significantly more frequent in complicated cases. Spondylodiscitis was complicated, with paravertebral abscess in 38 (13.0%), prevertebral abscess in 13 (4.4%), epidural abscess in 30 (10.2%), psoas abscess in 10 (3.4%) and radiculitis in 8 (2.7%) patients. The five major combination regimens were: doxycycline 200 mg/day, rifampicin 600 mg/day and streptomycin 1 g/day; doxycycline 200 mg/day, rifampicin 600 mg/day and gentamicin 5 mg/kg; doxycycline 200 mg/day and rifampicin 600 mg/day; doxycycline 200 mg/day and streptomycin 1 g/day; and doxycycline 200 mg/day, rifampicin 600 mg/day and ciprofloxacin 1 g/day. There were no significant therapeutic differences between these antibiotic groups; the results were similar regarding the complicated and uncomplicated groups. Patients were mostly treated with doxycycline and rifampicin with or without an aminoglycoside. In the former subgroup, complicated cases received antibiotics for a longer duration than uncomplicated cases. Early recognition of complicated cases is critical in preventing devastating complications. Antimicrobial treatment should be prolonged in complicated spinal brucellosis in particular.

Imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Istanbul, Turkey: risk factors for severe course and mortality

We describe the epidemiological, clinical features and risk factors for the morbidity and mortality of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases during the last 10 years in Istanbul, Turkey. The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of cases in six tertiary care hospitals in Istanbul between 2002 and 2012 were analysed. Seventy patients (65 males, five females; median age 37; range: 14-84) were included. Sixty-five (93%) patients had travelled to African countries and the remaining five to other malarious countries. Seventeen (24%) had a history of previous malarial episodes; eight (13%) developed recrudescence during the first month; 22 (31%), 17 (24%), 20 (29%) and three (4%) cases had cerebral malaria, cholestatic icterus, malarial hepatitis and respiratory distress syndrome on admission, respectively. Six of 12 patients with severe falciparum malaria died. Clinically, the presence of alteration in mental status, icterus, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and malarial hepatitis were statistically significant for the development of severe malaria and mortality. Recrudescence should not be forgotten, especially in uncomplicated cases.

Imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Istanbul, Turkey: risk factors for severe course and mortality

We describe the epidemiological, clinical features and risk factors for the morbidity and mortality of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases during the last 10 years in Istanbul, Turkey. The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of cases in six tertiary care hospitals in Istanbul between 2002 and 2012 were analysed. Seventy patients (65 males, five females; median age 37; range: 14-84) were included. Sixty-five (93%) patients had travelled to African countries and the remaining five to other malarious countries. Seventeen (24%) had a history of previous malarial episodes; eight (13%) developed recrudescence during the first month; 22 (31%), 17 (24%), 20 (29%) and three (4%) cases had cerebral malaria, cholestatic icterus, malarial hepatitis and respiratory distress syndrome on admission, respectively. Six of 12 patients with severe falciparum malaria died. Clinically, the presence of alteration in mental status, icterus, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and malarial hepatitis were statistically significant for the development of severe malaria and mortality. Recrudescence should not be forgotten, especially in uncomplicated cases.

Mortality indicators in community-acquired pneumonia requiring intensive care in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is a fatal disease. This study was conducted to describe an outcome analysis of the intensive care units (ICUs) of Turkey.

METHODS

This study evaluated SCAP cases hospitalized in the ICUs of 19 different hospitals between October 2008 and January 2011. The cases of 413 patients admitted to the ICUs were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall 413 patients were included in the study and 129 (31.2%) died. It was found that bilateral pulmonary involvement (odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-5.7) and CAP PIRO score (OR 2, 95% CI 1.3-2.9) were independent risk factors for a higher in-ICU mortality, while arterial hypertension (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9) and the application of non-invasive ventilation (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5) decreased mortality. No culture of any kind was obtained for 90 (22%) patients during the entire course of the hospitalization. Blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, and non-bronchoscopic lavage cultures yielded enteric Gram-negatives (n=12), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n=10), pneumococci (n=6), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=6). For 22% of the patients, none of the culture methods were applied.

CONCLUSIONS

SCAP requiring ICU admission is associated with considerable mortality for ICU patients. Increased awareness appears essential for the microbiological diagnosis of this disease.

Management of Brucella endocarditis: results of the Gulhane study

Brucella endocarditis (BE) is a rare but life-threatening complication of human brucellosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the course of BE along with the therapeutic interrelations. A total of 53 patients with BE hospitalised in 19 health institutions between 2006 and 2011 were included in the Gulhane study. Diagnosis of brucellosis was established by either isolation of Brucella sp. or the presence of antibodies, and the definition of endocarditis was made according to Duke's criteria. There were four treatment groups: ceftriaxone combined with oral antibiotics (Group 1); aminoglycosides combined with oral antibiotics (Group 2); oral antibiotic combinations (Group 3); and aminoglycoside plus ceftriaxone combined with an oral antibiotic (Group 4). Involvement rates of the aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves were 49.1%, 43.4% and 5.7%, respectively. Thirty-two patients (60.4%) had an underlying cardiac valvular problem, including previous prosthetic valve replacement (n=18). Medical treatment was provided to 32 patients (60.4%), whilst concordant medical and surgical approaches were provided to 21 patients (39.6%). Mortality in Group 1 was 15% (3/20), whilst in Group 2 it was 5.3% (1/19). In Group 3, 25.0% (3/12) of the cases died, whereas none of the cases in Group 4 died. In conclusion, mortality increased 47-fold with pericardial effusion and 25-fold due to congestive heart failure that developed after BE. Although mortality was lower in the aminoglycoside-containing arm (Groups 2 and 4), statistical analysis could not be performed owing to the small number of patients.

Alterations in bacterial spectrum and increasing resistance rates in isolated microorganisms from device-associated infections in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Istanbul (2004-2010)

The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of device-associated infection (DAI) and the change in profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of the causative microorganisms in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU), as well as to evaluate the effect of a new nationwide hospital infection control program (NHICP), which has been implemented in Turkey. In this study, 5,772 patients that were hospitalized for a total of 43,658 days acquired 1,321 DAIs, with an overall rate of 30.2% per 1,000 ICU days. Between 2004 (before the NHICP) and 2010, the incidence densities of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) decreased from 10.2 to 5.7 per 1,000 device-days (P < 0.0001), and central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CVC-BSI) decreased from 5.3 to 2.1 per 1,000 device-days (P < 0.0001). However, ventilator-associated pneumonia increased from 27.0 to 31.5 per 1,000 device-days. Multidrug-resistant species rates increased from 5.8% to 76.6% (P < 0.0001) for Acinetobacter spp. and from 6.8% to 53.1% (P < 0.0001) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae rate increased from 23.1% to 54.2% (P = 0.01); the vancomycin-resistance rate among Enterococcus spp. increased from 0% in 2004 to 12.5% in 2010 (P = 0.0003). In conclusion, while a significant decrease was achieved in the incidences of CAUTI and CVC-BSI, the NHICP was not completely effective in our ICU. The high incidence of DAI and the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms indicate that further interventions are urgently needed.

Evaluation of microbiological spectrum and risk factors of cellulitis in hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN

Cellulitis is a common soft tissue infection and the severity of disease vary from mild to life threatening. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate age, sex, site of infection, microbiological spectrum and the risk factors of cellulitis in hospitalized patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data were retrospectively obtained by the review of 185 hospitalized patients who were diagnosed as cellulitis between 2003 and 2009 in the departments of dermatology, infectious diseases, internal medicine and surgery clinics of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey). The diagnosis was done by infectious diseases and dermatology specialists in all patients who were included to this study. Demographic findings, wound-blood cultures and risk factors of the patients with cellulitis were evaluated.

RESULTS

Eighty-six were female, 99 were male of total 185 patients, and the mean age of them was 48 ± 27 (14-85). The leg was the involved site in 69% of the patients. The most frequent isolated bacteria from wound cultures were methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus 31.5%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12.6%, and Escherichia coli 12.3%. However, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus 32.5%, methicillin-resistant S. aureus 22.5%, coagulase-negative staphylococci 17.5% were detected from blood cultures. There was not any underlying risk factor in 104 (55.3%) patients. The risk factors observed in the other 81 patients were previous surgery or open wound 29 (35.8%), diabetes mellitus 19 (26.6%), cardiovascular diseases 16 (19.7%), immunosuppression 11 (13.5%), lymphoedema 6 (7.4%).

CONCLUSION

In the patients hospitalized for cellulitis, the most frequently isolated microorganism from the wound and blood cultures was S. aureus and the most frequently detected risk factors were to have an open wound and previous surgery. Especially when the patients had risk factors, it was observed that the bacterial spectrum was broader and the clinical presentation was severe. The wound and blood cultures should be performed simultaneously for the microbiological diagnosis and the appropriate management of cellulitis.

Neurobrucellosis: clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic features and outcome. Unusual clinical presentations in an endemic region

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection and has endemic characteristics. Neurobrucellosis is an uncommon complication of this infection. The aim of this study was to present unusual clinical manifestations and to discuss the management and outcome of a series of 18 neurobrucellosis cases. Initial clinical manifestations consist of pseudotumor cerebri in one case, white matter lesions and demyelinating syndrome in three cases, intracranial granuloma in one case, transverse myelitis in two cases, sagittal sinus thrombosis in one case, spinal arachnoiditis in one case, intracranial vasculitis in one case, in addition to meningitis in all cases. Eleven patients were male and seven were female. The most prevalent symptoms were headache (83%) and fever (44%). All patients were treated with rifampicin, doxycycline plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ceftriaxone. Duration of treatment (varied 3-12 months) was determined on basis of the CSF response. In four patients presented with left mild sequelae including aphasia, hearing loss, hemiparesis. In conclusion, although mortality is rare in neurobrucellosis, its sequelae are significant. In neurobrucellosis various clinical and neuroradiologic signs and symptoms can be confused with other neurologic diseases. In inhabitants or visitors of endemic areas, neurobrucellosis should be kept in mind in cases that have unusual neurological manifestations.

One day surgery for pilonidal disease

BACKGROUND

There are numerous surgical options for pilonidal disease. We practice "D" excision technique with a suction drain under local anesthesia as a 1 day surgery procedure.

METHODS

54 patients had pilonidal surgery between March 2001 and December 2003. "D" excision with a suction drain under local anesthesia was performed. An attention was given not to make a wide excision. Tracks lying outside the excised area were removed by the same technique with small "D" incisions. Subcutaneous tissues were sutured with absorbable interrupted sutures in layers. The wound was closed subcutaneously with running monofilament non-absorbable suture. All the operations were performed as 1 day surgery procedure. 33 of 54 patients had been reached by call on March 2009.

RESULTS

Recurrence was seen in four of 54 patients (7.4%). Follow-up of two of these four patients have been uneventful after the second operation. Infection developed in two patients (3.7%) and caused a wound dehiscence. Both patients healed without any problems. All of the patients were able to return to their daily activities on the 3-5 postoperative day.

CONCLUSION

"D" excision technique as a 1 day surgery procedure for pilonidal disease is performed with a low complication and recurrence rate (Ref. 19).

Intraoperative Frozen Section for Margin Assessment in Breast Conserving Surgery

Background and Aims:

When excisional biopsy or lumpectomy is performed without margin assessment in early breast cancer, further surgery are required if positive margins exist. We evaluated the role of the intraoperative frozen section in breast conserving surgery (BCS). Clinicopathologic factors associated with re-excision were searched.

Material and Methods:

190 tumors in 186 patients with early invasive breast cancer treated by BCS. Breast tumor was excised with 2 cm macroscopic margin, and microscopic margins examined by intraoperative frozen section.

Results:

After frozen section, 160 cases had negative margins (no re-excision), but 30 patients (16%) underwent re-excision because of close/positive margins. Negative margins were obtained in 24 patients but six patients underwent mastectomy due to persistent involved margins. Local recurrence was 2.1% and systemic recurrence was 2.6% with mean 62 months follow-up. Tumor type, tumor size, extranodal extension and extensive intraductal component were significant predictors of re-excision by multivariate analysis. Re-excision procedures haven't an impact on local recurrence.

Conclusions:

Intraoperative frozen section is an effective procedure in reducing the need of second operation. We have observed lower recurrence rates than other studies because of our 2 cm macroscopic margin width and > 2 mm microscopic negative margin which obtained by intraoperative frozen section.

Combined transurethral resection of prostate and inguinal mesh hernioplasty

We aimed to evaluate the difference among early post-operative morbidities of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), inguinal herniorrhaphy and their combination in this study. Between 1998 and 2004, 44 patients undergoing combined inguinal herniorrhaphy and TURP (Group I) were compared with 50 consecutive cases of TURP alone (Group II) and 50 consecutive cases of inguinal herniorrhaphy alone (Group III). There were no differences in the mean age and mean prostatic volume between Group I and II. The mean operation time and length of hospital stay were 126.1 +/- 20.9 min, 3.0 +/- 0.7 days for Group I, 61.4 +/- 15.6 min and 2.9 +/- 0.69 days for Group II and 55.0 +/- 15.6 min and 1.2 +/- 0.4 days for Group III, respectively. The mean operation time of Group I was found as longer than Group II and III. There were no significant differences among all groups regarding post-operative complications. No mesh infection was detected. Combined TURP and inguinal herniorrhaphy is a practical, safe and effective procedure.

The virulence factors and antibiotic sensitivities of Escherichia coli isolated from recurrent urinary tract infections

OBJECTIVE

We determined the antibiotic sensitivities of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains isolated from the urine of patients who have recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

METHODS

Our study was carried out between November 2000 and January 2002 at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. We compared the virulence factors (fimbrial adhesion, hemolysin production, motility property) of 50 strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from urine with the same properties of 25 strains of E. coli isolated from stool specimens of healthy individuals. In addition, we detected the virulence factors of UPEC strains using a microbiological and biochemical methods and by using disk diffusion method, we were able to investigate the sensitivity of the strains to the antimicrobials.

RESULTS

We found the level of mannose-resistant (MR) fimbriae bearing in the UPEC strains to be significantly higher than that in the controls (odds ratio=10.27, p<0.001). The difference in mannose-resistant hemoagglutination (MRHA) and mannose sensitive hemoagglutination (MSHA) bearing levels in UPEC strains were rather high. This difference was regarded as significant in terms of showing the virulence of fimbriae bearing strains (odds ratio=29.03, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that strains with MR fimbriae have a rather high virulence (p<0.001), and that a combination of MR+MS fimbriae increased that virulence (p<0.001). As MR strains have a greater adhesive property, the determination of MR fimbriae bearing as high shows that fimbriae bearing plays an important role in widespread and resistant strains, especially in recurrent UTIs such as in our study. In addition, hemolysin capability was also a virulence factor in recurrent UTIs (p<0.01). In addition, the sensitivity of the strains to the antimicrobials appeared in the following order; imipenem 93%, norfloxacin 89%, ciprofloxacin 85%, netilmicin 80%, amikacin 78%, ceftriaxone 74%, gentamicin 72%, nitrofurantoin 71%, ampicillin-sulbactam 60%, amoxicillin-clavulanate 58%, Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 45%, ampicillin 35%.

Comparison of direct trocar and veress needle insertion in the performance of pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Veress needle insertion, direct trocar insertion and open technique are different methods of establishing pneumoperitoneum to perform a successful laparoscopic procedure. We conducted this study to compare the use of a Veress needle and direct trocar insertion to create pneumoperitoneum. 274 laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations were evaluated. There were no significant differences in the age and gender between Veress needle and direct trocar entry groups. In this study we have seen that the complication rate while performing pneumoperitoneum by direct trocar entrance was less than in Veress needle usage. Direct trocar entrance also reduces the operation time. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy the direct trocar entrance method is a more reliable and less time consuming method than Veress needle usage.

An investigation of Helicobacter pylori using culture, histopathological and serological examination methods and its antimicrobial sensitivities

OBJECTIVES

In this study, the determination of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) by culture, histopathological and serological methods in cases of endoscopically diagnosed as duodenitis and duodenal ulcer (DU), a comparison of their relative advantages, and its antibiotic sensitivities were investigated.

METHODS

Helicobacter pylori was investigated using 3 methods (culture, histopathological and serological examination) in 50 patients (25 diagnosed with duodenitis and 25 with DU) at the Department of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Hospital, Turkey between December 2000 and February 2001. An investigation into its antibiotic sensitivities to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole and azithromycin by disc diffusion methods and to amoxicillin and clarithromycin by E-test were investigated.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori bacteria were observed in Gram stained preparates prepared from biopsy material in 34 out of 50 patients (68%), and were able to be produced in active culture in all these cases. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of H. pylori in 80% cases of DU and 60% cases of duodenitis; anti-CagA(IgG) was positively determined in 88% DU cases and in 60% duodenitis cases. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of diagnosis by histopathological and serological methods. The difference between the 2 groups produced in active culture in 84% cases of DU cases and 52% of duodenitis was statistically significant (p=0.0322). Using the E-test and disc diffusion methods, 8.8% of the strains that reproduced in culture were resistant to and 91.2% were sensitive to clarithromycin. All strains were determined to be sensitive to amoxicillin: 17.6% of the strains were determined to be resistant to metronidazole, 11.7% to azithromycin.

CONCLUSION

It was observed that Gram staining is a rapid and reliable method of pre-diagnosis for H. pylori; that histopathological examination methods are of considerable importance in diagnosis; and that the investigation of the positivity of anti-CagA(IgG) will be a guide in the identification of virulent strains in particular. In addition, it was also concluded that since serological examination does not require invasive measures, this will pose an advantage. The culture method can be applied with the aim of diagnosis in cases identified as DU using endoscopy, and that in cases resistant to treatment it can be applied for the purpose of determining antimicrobial sensitivity. E-test and disc diffusion methods exhibited a rather good correlation, for which reason the disc diffusion method can be used in the determination of antimicrobial sensitivity in H. pylori strains.

Explosion during diathermy gastrotomy in a patient with carcinoma of the antrum

Gas explosion during diathermy gastrotomy is a very rare occurrence. We report on an unusual case of gas explosion during diathermy gastrotomy in a patient with carcinoma of the gastric antrum.

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) on the wound healing of colonic anastomosis in rats. In total, 40 male Wistar rats were taken into this study. The control group (n = 20) received subcutaneous saline injection. The experiment group (n = 20) received rHuGM-CSF at 100 microg/kg subcutaneously. Both groups underwent colonic anastomosis 2 days later. In each group, burst pressure and hydroxyproline levels were determined 3 and 7 days after anastomosis. White blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts were determined in each group to evaluate the effect of rHuGM-CSF on hematologic parameters in rats. There was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to burst pressure and hydroxyproline levels (p > .05). As expected, WBC counts significantly increased in the experiment group on days 3 (p = .035) and 7 (p = .046) following surgery. In conclusion, rHuGM-CSF administration and increased WBC counts did not have any positive effect on the wound healing of colonic anastomosis.

The relationship between serum ACE activity and total IgE levels in patients with bronchial asthma

Pulmonary endothelium takes part in the metabolization of some products such as prostaglandins, norepinefrine, serotonin, bradikinin and angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is the substrate for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE). It is known that greatest production site of ACE is the pulmonary endothelium. A lot of studies have been done for determining the levels of ACE in various lung diseases. It has been observed that serum ACE activity is increased in granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis and berylliosis. In patients with bronchial carcinoma, serum ACE activity is found to be decreased. There are some papers about the significant changes in serum ACE activities in asthmatic patients. We determined the activity of ACE and total IgE levels at the serum of 40 asthmatic patients and 20 healthy subjects. Among 40 patients 20 of them were mild asthmatic and they developed symptoms only during the attacks. The remainder 20 patients were chronic asthmatics and all the time they had the symptoms of dyspnea, wheezing and coughing. Serum ACE activity was found 25.5 +/- 11.77 U in the control group, 22.8 +/- 8.04 U in mild asthmatic group and 16.6 +/- 6.13 U in chronic asthmatic group. When compared with control group serum ACE levels found to be significantly decreased in chronic asthmatic group. Also a weak but significant correlation was found between serum total IgE levels and ACE activity in the chronic asthmatic group. These findings suggest that there is a relation between ACE and Total IgE production.