Treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter: results of prospective and multicenter ID-IRI study.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to Acinetobacter spp. is one of the most common infections in the intensive care unit. Hence, we performed this prospective-observational multicenter study, and described the course and outcome of the disease. This study was performed in 24 centers between January 06, 2014, and December 02, 2016. The patients were evaluated at time of pneumonia diagnosis, when culture results were available, and at 72 h, at the 7th day, and finally at the 28th day of follow-up. Patients with coexistent infections were excluded and only those with a first VAP episode were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was performed. A total of 177 patients were included; empiric antimicrobial therapy was appropriate (when the patient received at least one antibiotic that the infecting strain was ultimately shown to be susceptible) in only 69 (39%) patients. During the 28-day period, antibiotics were modified for side effects in 27 (15.2%) patients and renal dose adjustment was made in 38 (21.5%). Ultimately, 89 (50.3%) patients died. Predictors of mortality were creatinine level (OR, 1.84 (95% CI 1.279-2.657); p = 0.001), fever (OR, 0.663 (95% CI 0.454-0.967); p = 0.033), malignancy (OR, 7.095 (95% CI 2.142-23.500); p = 0.001), congestive heart failure (OR, 2.341 (95% CI 1.046-5.239); p = 0.038), appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment (OR, 0.445 (95% CI 0.216-0.914); p = 0.027), and surgery in the last month (OR, 0.137 (95% CI 0.037-0.499); p = 0.003). Appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment in VAP due to Acinetobacter spp. was associated with survival while renal injury and comorbid conditions increased mortality. Hence, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy remain crucial to improve outcomes.

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. METHODS: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

Prognostic value of Golgi P 73 and Beta 2-microglobulin in patients with Viral Hepatitis B.

Previous studies detected higher Golgi protein 73 levels in the serum of patients with chronic liver disease. The Beta-2 microglobulin levels were also observed to be higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection compared to the inactive carriers and the protein plays an important role in the response to viral infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the liver fibrosis through non-invasive methods in chronic hepatitis B patients. Three groups were included in the study. The first group comprised of the patients who were admitted to the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology clinic to undergo a liver biopsy, while the second group included the patients who were admitted inactive hepatitis B carriers. The third group comprised the healthy controls. The Golgi p-73 and Beta-2 microglobulin levels in the plasma were determined using the ELISA method. Beta-2 microglobulin level was highest in the patients group and the difference was statistically significant. No significant difference was observed between the carriers group and the group of healthy controls. The Golgi P-73 values were significantly higher in the patients group in comparison to both other groups. However, the mean Golgi p-73 value was also significantly higher in the carrier group compared to the control group. In patients who are followed up with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and who have undergone biopsies as candidates for treatment, the Beta-2 microglobulin and Golgi p-73 values may be important markers since they indicate the extent of the liver damage.

Risk factors for central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections.

Our study aimed to identify the risk factors playing a role in central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) in a tertiary large volume university hospital. The current prospective clinical trial was conducted in a university hospital with 1400 beds. All demographic data, length of hospital stay, coexisting diseases, features of catheters used, invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and all antibiotics used in patients with CVCs were recorded. A total of 356 CVCs inserted in 281 patients were followed up for 5667 catheter days. The mean duration of catheterization was recorded as 15.9±12.7days. CR-BSI was detected in 46 (12.9%) patients. The incidence of CR-BSI was found to be 8.12 in 1000 catheter days. Advanced age and longer duration of catheterization were found to be independent risk factors for the development of CR-BSI in multivariate analysis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (15.2%), Candida spp (13%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (13%) were the agents most frequently isolated.

Use of carbapenems and glycopepdides is significant risk for multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

INTRODUCTION: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) infections are an important healthcare problem globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with MDR-Ab infections in hospitalized patients in Turkey. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study was performed in a tertiary care 1,303-bed university hospital, among case patients with MDR-Ab infections. The hospital records of case and control patients were retrospectively evaluated over a year. Patients who were hospitalized in the same department and in the same time interval as the case patients, without MDR-Ab infection or colonization, were chosen for control group. Demographic characteristics, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, comorbid diseases, use of invasive tools and duration of usage, and duration of use of antibiotics were recorded for all patients. Comparisons between case and control groups for possible risk factors were performed. RESULTS: In total, 95 cases and 95 controls were included in the study. Univariate analysis highlighted several variables as risk factors for MDR-Ab infections. Multivariate analysis showed that only antibiotic usage over seven days (OR = 2.38, CI = 1.18-4.83, p = 0.016) was found to be a significant risk factor. When antibiotic treatment patterns in both groups were compared, the use of carbapenems (p = 0.001) and glycopeptide antibiotics (p=0.001) in patient treatment were found significantly higher in the MDR-Ab case group. CONCLUSION: This study showed us that previous antibiotic use is a significant risk factor for MDR-Ab infections. The use of carbapenems and glycopeptides should be considered as primary risk factors for developing MDR-Ab infection.

Antifungal Susceptibility and Risk Factors in Patients with Candidemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the antifungal susceptibility, typology, and risk factors of candidemia among adult and pediatric inpatients at a university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was designed, and data collected between December 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. The case group consisted of patients with candidemia. The control group was selected from the inpatients that did not develop candidemia but were admitted in the same clinic and during the same period as the candidemia group. The diagnosis of candidemia was based on a compatible clinical picture and positive blood culture of Candida spp. The demographic characteristics, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores, comorbidities, use of invasive devices, antibiotics administered, and duration of antibiotic uses were compared between both the groups. RESULTS: Out of the 84 patients, 42 (50%) were included in the case group, and the remaining 42 (50%) were included in the control group. Out of all the patients, 31 (36.9%) were female, and 53 (63.1%) were male. When the clinical findings of the case and control groups were compared, the prevalence of nosocomial infections, sepsis, candiduria, and fever was statistically significantly higher in the case group. Among the isolated group in the study, 22 (52.4%) were identified as C. albicans, while the others were non-albicans Candida strains. The C. albicans strain (4.5%) was resistant to fluconazole, while 7 among the non-albicans Candida strains (35%) were resistant to fluconazole. In the case group, abdominal surgery, CVP catheter presence, TPN, endotracheal intubation, frequency of blood transfusion, and SOFA scores were significantly higher than the control groups. The logistic regression test demonstrated that TPN and blood transfusion are the most important risk factors for candidemia (OR=8.14 and OR=5.96, respectively). CONCLUSION: The invasive Candida infections continue to be a major health problem in Turkey and in our hospital. Particularly, it was observed that it is important to perform invasive procedures, antibiotic administration and parenteral nutrition carefully in patients hospitalized in the ICU.

Risk Factors for Colistin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Multicenter Study from Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and risk factors due to colistin use in patients infected with multidrug-resistant pathogens. This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in Turkey, at 5 different research and university hospitals. Cox regression analyses were performed, to determine independent predictors of AKI. From April 2012 to July 2014, a total of 216 patients aged between 18-94 years, treated with colistimethate sodium (CMS) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 60.3 ± 20.1 years. The overall incidence of AKI was 34.3% (74/216) at any time during treatment. Concomitant use of loop diuretics, baseline creatinine level, and CMS dosage were independently associated with AKI. According to our results, patients with higher baseline creatinine levels, or patients who had to use concomitant loop diuretics may need to be monitored more closely, and dose adjustment should be done promptly. More comprehensive studies are, however, still needed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose colistin since higher doses tend to increase the risk of AKI.

Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Ecballium elaterium on Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Ecballium elaterium (EE) on sepsis-induced lung injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 male rats were divided into three groups as follows: control, sepsis, and treatment groups (sepsis + EE) with each group containing 10 rats. A rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used. In the treatment group, rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg EE after CLP. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values after a 24-hr period were measured via cardiac puncture. Animals were harvested after the procedure and biochemical analysis was done and histopathological changes of the tissue sections of lungs were examined thereafter. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was observed in the IL-6 (p < .05), TNF-α (p < .05), and TOS (p < .01) levels in the sera of the treatment group compared to those of the sepsis group. Following the treatment, the TOS (p = .01) and OSI (p < .05) levels in the lung tissue of rats indicated a statistically significant decrease compared to those of the sepsis group. The histopathological follow-up undertaken after the administration of the EE treatment to septic rats showed significantly lower values of alveolar wall thickness (p < .001), interstitial edema (p = .018), and neutrophil infiltration (p = .047). CONCLUSION: EE treatment may have beneficial effects on sepsis-induced lung injury, and therefore has potential for clinical use.

[Fascioliasis and brucellosis in same patient]. / Ayni Hastada Fascioliazis ve Bruselloz.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can affect many organs and systems and leads to very different clinical circumstances. Brucellosis is rare in association with various infectious agents. Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica, popularly referred to as a large leaf-shaped liver fluke. This case is a 39-year-old male patient, and his complaints began a week ago, which were chills, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, sweating, and widespread pain. The patient was considered brucellosis in the preliminary diagnosis. Rose Bengal test and Wright test (1/640) were detected as positive. Due to patients having elevated liver enzymes, abdominal ultrasound was taken. A liver lesion was seen with abdominal ultrasound. So, abdominal computed tomography (CT) was taken. The CT result report came in the form that at the left lobe of the liver segment 2, largely necrosis that showed no contrast enhancement, approximately 61x63 mm in size (compatible with fascioliasis) is viewed. The patient's IHA test results, required for fascioliasis, were detected as 1/320 positive. Especially for zoonotic diseases in areas with high endemicity, it should be considered that more than one infectious agent can be present together in high-risk patients.

[Travel related urinary schistosomiasis: case report]. / Seyahat iliskili üriner sistozomiyaz: olgu sunumu.

Schistosomiasis is the second most frequent parasitic infection worldwide after malaria and is a major public health problem in various countries of the world. In our country due to the increasingf travel to endemic regions, the number of cases is also rising. We report herein a case of schistosomiasis who resided in Africa five years earlier and was referred to hospital with hematuria. Direct microscopic examination of the urine specimen revealed Schistosoma haematobium eggs. Epidemiology and clinical significance of schistosomiasis are also discussed.