A case of ocular brucellosis: importance of vitreous specimen.

Brucellosis is a rare cause of uveitis, seen more often in developing countries. We report a case of ocular brucellosis, where diagnosis was confirmed with a high Brucella agglutination titer in the vitreous specimen. The case was treated by pars plana vitrectomy and antibiotics. We believe that a vitreous specimen is very important in the diagnosis of ocular brucellosis.

[An outbreak of influenza in hospital personnel]. / Hastane personelinde bir influenza epidemisi.

During the last week of December 1989, an outbreak of respiratory system infection involved 32 hospital personnel and 2 patients was detected in Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital. White blood cells count of the patients were either normal or there were a slight leucopenia. Throat cultures of the most patients were normal. Serum ASO, CRP, bilirubin, AST and ALT were usually within normal limits. According to symptoms, signs and laboratory data we considered a viral disease, especially influenza. All patients recovered without any sequelae. Of 34 in-patients, 8 paired sera, 2 acute phase sera, and 10 convalescent phase sera were tested for the presence of Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) antibody to three influenza virus strains recommended by WHO in the 1989-1990 season: Influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1 N1), Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2), Influenza B/Victoria/2/87. All of the sera were negative for Influenza B/Victoria/2/87. There were no significant rises in HT antibody titer for Influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1 N1). The sera for 4 of 8 patients examined both acute and convalescent phase sera had fourfold or greater rise in HI antibody for Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2). Four patients examined only convalescent sera had 1/40 or greater rises in HI antibody for this influenza subtype. It was considered that this influenza outbreak was probably caused by Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2).

[A food-borne outbreak of group A streptococcal pharyngitis]. / Bir kamu kurulusunda görülen besin kaynakli A grubu streptokok farenjiti epidemisi.

In August 1988, following a luncheon, an explosive epidemic of pharyngitis due to group A streptococci (M type 11, T type 3/13/B3264 and opacity factor positive) occurred among the staff of an institution in Ankara. Epidemiological investigation indicated that the outbreak was food-borne. A salad prepared by bean with boiled egg was incriminated as the vehicle of transmission. Group A streptococci were isolated from the throats of 37 (63.8 percent) of 58 persons with pharyngitis. High levels of antistreptolysin O titers were observed in serum samples from 39 (81.2 percent) of 48 persons with pharyngitis. Secondary transmission had accounted for only 3.8% of cases.

[The effect of ofloxacin therapy in acute salmonellosis on the duration of fecal excretion of Salmonella]. / Salmonella gastroenteritinde ofloxacin tedavisinin diskida salmonella salinma süresi üzerine etkisi.

During an outbreak of food poisoning caused by Salmonella typhimurium, the duration of excretion of salmonella was studied for patients who received no antibiotic therapy and for those treated with Ofloxacin. In untreated group 85.7% of patients at 8 days and 28.5% of patients at 18 days were excreting S. typhimurium. However, in Ofloxacin-treated group only 25.0% of patients at 8 days and 5.0% of patients at 18 days were excreting S. typhimurium. The differences were statistically significant. We showed that Ofloxacin shortens the duration of excretion of S. typhimurium in feces. This phenomen may important in halting the spread of infection.