Serum procalcitonin levels together with clinical features and inflammatory markers in women with tubo-ovarian abscess for discriminating requirements for surgery for full recovery.

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) coexists in 15% of cases with pelvic inflammatory disease. Medical treatment is the first line of approach in women with TOA, however, 25% of cases fail to respond to antibiotics, therefore, these cases need to undergo surgical intervention. We aimed to determine factors leading to failure of medical treatment in women diagnosed with TOA. According to our results among 144 women, 27 cases required surgical intervention for full recovery. None of the demographic, sonographic or laboratory findings, including procalcitonin level, had significant predictive value for the failure of medical treatment in women with TOA. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) coexists in 15% of cases with pelvic inflammatory disease. Medical treatment is the first line approach in women with TOA, however, 25% of cases fail to respond to antibiotics, therefore, these cases need to undergo surgical intervention. Several risk factors have been evaluated in order to predict the failure of medical treatment. What do the results of this study add? None of the variables, including age, parity, mass diameter, serum CRP, procalcitonin levels and sedimentation rate had significant value for predicting TOA cases that required surgical intervention for full recovery. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In clinical practice, identification of risk factors leading to the failure of medical treatment helps clinicians to inform patients and help surgeons predict those who need surgical intervention.

TORCH seroprevalence among patients attending Obstetric Care Clinic of Haydarpasa Training and Research Hospital affiliated to Association of Istanbul Northern Anatolia Public Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex viruses are microorganisms that cause congenital infections and they are called briefly as TORCH. There is an ongoing argument for the screening of reproductive age women due to the high cost of tests. For a test to be used in screening, prevalence of disease in this population should be known. The aim of this study was to investigate TORCH seroprevalence among women attending a teaching hospital in Istanbul. METHODS: A total of 1101 patients attending outpatient clinic of Obstetric Care Clinic of Haydarpasa Training and Research Hospital affiliated to Association of Istanbul Northern Anatolia Public Hospitals between September 2013 to January 2015 and their laboratory data were evaluated retrospectively. We investigated Ig G and M seropositivity rates against TORCH. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged between 17-47 years with a mean age of 30.3±5.8 years. Pregnant population had 99.5% anti-CMV Ig G (+), 94.2% anti-Rubella Ig G (+), 31% anti-Toxoplasma Ig G (+). Seroprevalence for Anti IgM was 0.5% for CMV, 0.2% for rubella. CONCLUSION: The screening for Toxoplasma gondii may be suggested since the prevalence is not high in our population. The screening of CMV is not meaningful, due to high seroprevalence. Although seroprevalence of rubella is also high, it may be suggested for preconception vaccination especially in women above 20 years of age born prior to National Vaccination Programme.