[Investigation of the Antibacterial Synergistic Activity of Fosfomycin-Teicoplanin Combination in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Various Clinical Sample]. / Çesitli Klinik Örneklerden Elde Edilen Metisiline Dirençli Staphylococcus aureus Izolatlarinda Fosfomisin-Teikoplanin Kombinasyonunun Antibakteriyel Sinerjistik Etkinliginin Arastirilmasi.

The aim of this study was to investigate the detection of teicoplanin and fosfomycin antibiotic susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains by different methods and to evaluate the antibacterial synergistic effect of teicoplanin-fosfomycin combination by using checkerboard assay and time kill curve assay. Forty-five MRSA strains isolated from clinical samples in routine medical microbiology laboratory of Göztepe Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçin City Hospital were included in the study. In the first stage of the combination study, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were investigated by broth microdilution for teicoplanin and by both broth microdilution and agar dilution methods for fosfomycin. The combination of teicoplanin and fosfomycin was tested by the checkerboard method in 45 MRSA strains and combination effect was determined according to fractional inhibitory concentration index (ΣFIC) calculation. The synergistic effect and bactericidal activity of antibiotic combination were studied against a randomly selected strain from the strains used in the study by using time-kill method for 24 hours. As a result of teicoplanin and fosfomycin antibiotic susceptibility studies, all isolates were found to be susceptible to both antibiotics according to the susceptibility breakpoints determined by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). A synergistic effect was found in 22 (49%), additive effect in 22 (49%) and indifferent effect in one (2%) of the 45 strains studied with the checkerboard method. The mean ΣFIC of 45 isolates was found to be 0.5. In the combination study of the antibiotics of the isolate that was studied with time-kill method, synergism was detected for 1/8 MIC concentrations at 12th hour and 24th hour and synergism at 1/4 MIC concentration at sixth hour, 12th hour and 24th hour. In the combination study of 1/4 MIC concentrations of antibiotics, bactericidal effect was detected at sixth hour and this effect was observed to disappear at 12th and 24th hours. High rate of synergistic antibacterial effect of teicoplanin-fosfomycin combination on MRSA isolates was demonstrated as a result of in vitro tests. Such studies conducted on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections will provide clinicians different treatment options and will contribute to increasing survival. As a result of this study, provided that it is supported by future clinical studies, it can be stated that the teicoplanin-fosfomycin combination may be an effective treatment option in community and hospital-acquired infections caused by MRSA.

Examination of Blood and Tracheal Aspirate Culture Results in Intensive Care Patients: 5-year analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Majority of nosocomial infections are seen in intensive care units (ICUs) and they course with higher rates of mortality, and morbidity rates. In this study, we aimed to investigate the distribution of microorganisms isolated from the tracheal aspirate and blood cultures of ICU hospitalized patients, and their antibiotic resistance profiles. METHOD: Tracheal aspirate and blood cultures sent from ICU patients were evaluated retrospectively between 2014-2018. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed on microorganism cultures that were identified by conventional methods and using an automated system. RESULTS: A total of 23.275 samples were accepted during the study period. The microorganisms isolated from tracheal aspirate cultures were Gram-negative (89.7%), Gram-positive (9.3%) and yeasts (1%). The most common Gram (-) microorganisms were A.baumannii (%25.7). The rates of meropenem resistance were documented as 98.3% for A.baumannii in 2014, 95.7% in 2018, 69.2% for P.aeruginosa. in 2014, and 35.6% in 2018, 45.55 for K.pneumoniae in 2014, and 5.8% in 2018 and 8% for E.coli in 2014, and 2% in 2018. The rates of methicillin resistance in S.aureus were documented as 28.0% in 2018, and 67.7% in 2015. The rates of penicillin resistance for S. pneumonia was documented as 76.8% in 2018, and 13.4% in 2015. The microorganisms isolated from blood culture were Gram (-) (31.4%), Gram (+) (57.9%) and yeasts (10.6%). The most frequently isolated Gram (-) bacteria were K.pneumonia (9.3%) and A.baumannii (8.8%). The rates of meropenem resistance were documented as 97.3% for A.baumannii. in 2014 and 79.2% in 2018, as 76.9% for K.pneumoniae in 2014 and 37.3% in 2018 and 79.2% for P.aeruginosa in 2014 and 26.1% in 2018. The artes of methicillin resistance were documented as 89.2% in 2018, and 78.5% for CNS in 2015, and 42.6% in 2018 while it was 92.4% for S. aureus in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showcased a drop throughout the year in rates of carbapenem resistance against Gram (-) microorganisms and methicillin resistance in S.aureus. However, the persistently high carbapanem resistance in A.baumannii isolates demonstrates the crucial need to continue with infection control measures.

Evaluation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seroprevalencein the province of Bolu, Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the city center and the province of Bolu, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stratified sampling method was used to determine the study population. A total of 196 blood samples were collected. A questionnaire was completed by each participant in the study. ELISA was performed and positive serologic results were confirmed using western blotting. Data were analyzed statistically using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Seropositivity rates of B. burgdorferi IgM and IgG were determined as 14.8% (29/196) and 13.7% (27/196) respectively by ELISA. A total of nine serum samples (4.6%) were found positive for IgG, and seven samples (3.8%) were positive for IgM according to western blotting. Seropositivity rates were found to be higher in people living in rural areas (11.1%), in women (8.3%), in people who were illiterate (10.0%), in people engaged in agriculture (10.8%), and in the age group of 40-60 years (10.0%). No statistically significant difference was found between seropositivity rates and survey data. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of Lyme disease was determined in our region. Detection of endemic regions of Lyme disease with determination of seropositivity rates will increase the awareness among clinicians about this disease.

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. RESULTS: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had ≤5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having >5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did.

The role of human papilloma virus and herpes viruses in the etiology of nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the etiological role of human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) and -7 (HHV-7) in the occurrence of nasal polyposis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasal polyp samples from 30 patients with nasal polyposis and normal nasal mucosa from 10 patients without nasal polyps were obtained. DNA was extracted from tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for all runs. RESULTS: No HSV-1, HSV-2, or VZV was detected in the samples. Among the patient samples, EBV and HHV-7 DNA were detected in 18 (60%), HHV-6 was detected in 20 (66.7%), and HPV was detected in 4 (13.3%) samples. Among the controls, CMV DNA was positive in one (10%). EBV was positive in 5 (50%), HHV-6 and HHV-7 were positive in 7 (70%), and HPV was positive in 2 (20%) samples. No significant difference was found among the groups with any test in terms of positivity. CONCLUSION: The association of Herpesviridae and HPV with the pathogenesis of nasal polyps was investigated in this study and no relationship was found. Thus, these viruses do not play a significant role in the formation of nasal polyps.

Evaluation of 4 methods for the serological diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection using an immunofluorescence assay as the reference method.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tests specific for VCA IgM, VCA IgG, and EBNA IgG are used to diagnose Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections and interpret disease status. The immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is accepted as the "gold standard" test. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of 4 methods in comparison with IFA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 101 serum samples were obtained from clinically suspected cases of EBV infection between May 2010 and May 2012 and evaluated by IFA. All serum samples were analyzed by an immunoblot assay, enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and immunochromatographic assay (ICA). RESULTS: ELFA and ICA results were in good agreement with IFA for the detection ofVCA IgM, VCA IgG, and EBNA IgG. The results of the immunoblot assay agreed less well with IFA for EBNA IgG, while EIA results were not in agreement with IFA for EBNA IgG or VCA IgM. CONCLUSION: Among the tests studied, ELFA and ICA appear to be suitable methods for the diagnosis and staging of EBV when considering cost-effectiveness, turnaround times, need for a specialist, and IFA concordance.

Detection of the frequency of PER-1 type extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates in Turkey: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: ß-Lactamases are an important resistance mechanism in Acinetobacter baumannii. Pseudomonas extended-resistance (PER-1) type ß-lactamase-producing strains have been reported from various geographic locations; however, PER-1 type ß-lactamases from Turkish hospitals have not been investigated extensively. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PER-1 type ß-lactamases in A. baumannii isolates in various regions of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 763 clinical A. baumannii isolates were collected from 9 university hospitals and 2 state hospitals between 2008 and 2011. Molecular amplification of the OXA-51 gene from the A. baumannii genome was performed in order to verify identification of the species. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect blaPER-1 genes. RESULTS: PER-1 was detected in 24.6% of the isolates. The annual frequencies of the PER-1 enzyme were detected as 52.2%, 35.9%, and 8.3% in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. PER-1 prevalence decreased gradually over time. The differences observed in PER-1 prevalence among the regions of Turkey were statistically significant (chi-square test; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the frequency of detection of PER-1 type ß-lactamases in A. baumannii species has decreased in Turkey. However, the increased carbapenem resistance, together with multidrug resistance, has created a worrisome situation regarding this pathogen.