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.

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.

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibodies in Hatay women and children.

OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella may cause congenital infections. The aim of this study is to investigate toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibodies in women and children who were admitted to the Hatay Women and Children Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2009. METHODS: Levels of IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella established with chemiluminescence immunoassay (Architect i2000, Abbott, USA) method were evaluated, retrospectively. RESULTS: The results were obtained from 1103 cases. Seropositivity of IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis (n = 743), cytomegalovirus (n = 929) and rubella (n = 746) were 59.9%, 98.9% and 93.6%, respectively CONCLUSION: Routine serological screening should be recommended in women of childbearing age. Seronegative subjects should be vaccinated for rubella and educated for protection from toxoplasmosis.

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibodies in hatay women and children / Prevalencia de los anticuerpos IgG contra la toxoplasmosis, el citomegalovirus y la rubéola en mujeres y niños de hatay

OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella may cause congenital infections. The aim of this study is to investigate toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibodies in women and children who were admitted to the Hatay Women and Children Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2009. METHODS: Levels of IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and rubella established with chemiluminescence immunoassay (Architect i2000, Abbott, USA) method were evaluated, retrospectively. RESULTS: The results were obtained from 1103 cases. Seropositivity of IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis (n = 743), cytomegalovirus (n = 929) and rubella (n = 746) were 59.9%, 98.9% and 93.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Routine serological screening should be recommended in women of childbearing age. Seronegative subjects should be vaccinated for rubella and educated for protection from toxoplasmosis.

OBJETIVO: La toxoplasmosis, el citomegalovirus y la rubéola pueden causar infecciones congénitas. El objetivo de este estudio es investigar los anticuerpos IgG contra la toxoplasmosis, el citomegalovirus y la rubéola en las mujeres y ninos ingresados en el Hospital de Hatay para Mujeres y Niños, entre el 1ero de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2009. MÉTODOS: Los niveles de anticuerpos IgG de la toxoplasmosis, el citomegalovirus, y la rubéola establecidos mediante el método de inmunoensayos por quimioluminiscencia (Architect i2000, Abbott, USA), fueron evaluados retrospectivamente. RESULTADOS: Los resultados se obtuvieron de 1103 casos. La seropositividad de anticuerpos de IgG para la toxoplasmosis (n = 743), el citomegalovirus (n = 929) y la rubéola (n = 746) fue de 59.9%, 98.9% y 93.6%, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: Deben recomendarse tamizajes serológicos de rutina para las mujeres en ead de maternidad. Los sujetos seronegativos deben ser vacunados contra la rubéola y educados para protegerse contra la toxoplasmosis.