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.

The clinical features, treatment and prognosis of neutropenic fever and Coronavirus disease 2019 results of the multicentre teos study.

This multicentre (22 centres in Turkey) retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with neutropenic fever and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Study period was 15 March 2020-15 August 2021. A total of 170 cases (58 female, aged 59 ± 15.5 years) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. One-month mortality rate (OMM) was 44.8%. The logistic regression analysis showed the following significant variables for the mentioned dependent variables: (i) achieving PCR negativity: receiving a maximum of 5 days of favipiravir (p = 0.005, OR 5.166, 95% CI 1.639-16.280); (ii) need for ICU: receiving glycopeptide therapy at any time during the COVID-19/FEN episode (p = 0.001, OR 6.566, 95% CI 2.137-20.172), the need for mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001, OR 62.042, 95% CI 9.528-404.011); (iii) need for mechanical ventilation: failure to recover from neutropenia (p < 0.001, OR 17.869, 95% CI 3.592-88.907), receiving tocilizumab therapy (p = 0.028, OR 32.227, 95% CI 1.469-707.053), septic shock (p = 0.001, OR 15.4 96% CI 3.164-75.897), and the need for ICU (p < 0.001, OR 91.818, 95% CI 15.360-548.873), (iv) OMM: [mechanical ventilation (p = 0.001, OR 19.041, 95% CI 3.229-112.286) and septic shock (p = 0.010, OR 5.589,95% CI 1.509-20.700)]. Although it includes a relatively limited number of patients, our findings suggest that COVID-19 and FEN are associated with significant mortality and morbidity.

Treatment initiation rates of patients with positive anti-hepatitis C virus results in tertiary hospitals in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective chart review study was to determine the proportion of patients in Turkey who received hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment after receiving positive anti-HCV results during HCV screening. METHODOLOGY: Data related to patients' demographics, laboratory results, time interval from obtaining a positive anti-HCV result to treatment initiation, specialty of the physician requesting anti-HCV screening, and type of hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1,000 patients who received a positive anti-HCV result, 50.3% were male and 78.5% were screened for HCV-RNA. Among HCV-RNA screened patients, 54.8% (n = 430) had a positive result. Among patients who tested positive for HCV-RNA, 72.8% received HCV treatment in line with their positive anti-HCV results. The median time from obtaining a positive anti-HCV result to initiation of HCV treatment was 91.0 days (interquartile range 42.0 to 178.5). Non-surgical branches requested HCV-RNA testing more frequently than surgical branches (p < 0.001). The rate of access to HCV treatment was higher among patients screened in university hospitals than among patients screened in training and research hospitals (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a higher rate of treatment initiation among patients with HCV infection than is described in the published literature. Furthermore, the time from screening to treatment initiation was considerably shorter compared with other international studies. However, since HCV-RNA testing was not requested in a significant portion of patients with a positive anti-HCV test result, there might be a large patient population with HCV who do not receive treatment.

Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection and Its Risk Factors in Older Adult Patients.

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection has recently gained worldwide interest due to limited treatment options and high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) infection in older adult patients. Material and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 132 patients with healthcare-associated CRKP infection (case group) and 150 patients with healthcare-associated carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (CSKP) infection (control group), aged > 65 years. Results: In the CRKP and CSKP groups, 79 (59.8%) and 80 (53.3%) patients were males, and the mean ages were 77.8 ± 7.8 and 76.6 ± 7.7 years, respectively. Diabetes mellitus (DM), malignancy, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), surgical intervention, invasive mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter insertion, parenteral nutrition, hospitalization in the previous 6 months, antibiotic use in the previous 3 months, and exposure to cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems were significantly more common in the CRKP than the CSKP group (all p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified malignancy, CVDs, DM, invasive mechanical ventilation, hospitalization in the previous 6 months, ICU admission, and exposure to cephalosporins, quinolones, and carbapenems as independent risk factors for CRKP infection in older adult patients. Conclusion: DM, malignancy, CVDs, ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and exposure to ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems were independent risk factors for CRKP infection in older adult patients. The identification of risk factors for CRKP infection can help to prevent and treat CRKP infection.

Brucellosis: Evaluation of Two Hundred and Ten Cases with Different Clinical Features.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease and a major cause of morbidity worldwide presenting with varying clinical manifestations. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and complications of brucellosis at the Van Training and Research Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 210 patients with brucellosis were assessed retrospectively. The clinical histories and signs, laboratory findings, therapeutic features and complications of these patients were obtained by examining their medical files. RESULTS: Of the 210 patients;, the most common symptoms were myalgia (87.6%), arthralgia (76.2%) and fever (72.4%). The most frequent clinical signs were fever (72.4%) and arthritis (21.9%). Out of 210 patients, standard tube agglutination (STA) tests were positive in 208 (99%). Osteoarticular involvement (34.3%) was common, and a combination of rifampicin and doxycycline was the most frequently used antimicrobial regimen. CONCLUSION: It should be kept in mind that brucellosis may occur in patients presenting with fever, sweating, arthralgia and leukopenia, especially in endemic areas where dairy livestock is prevalent. People living in these areas should be educated about proper animal care and the handling of dairy products.