Bartonella henselae seroprevalence in cattle breeders and veterinarians in the rural areas of Aydin and Denizli, Turkey.

Bartonella henselae infections are usually detected among people who have close contact with animals. Veterinarians and cattle breeders, in particular, are considered as the risk groups for B. henselae infections. In this study, the seroprevalence of antibodies to B. henselae was investigated in these two groups of subjects in the two cities of Aydin and Denizli, which are located in the same region in the southwest of Turkey. Total antibodies to B. henselae were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples taken from 63 cattle breeders and 27 veterinarians. Twenty samples (22.2%) were found to react on 1/64 titre with B. henselae antigens. Bartonella henselae seroprevalence was found to be significantly related to age (P = 0.033) and higher in those living in Aydin (P = 0.047). Age was the only independent factor in multivariate analysis (P = 0.008). Seroprevalence was found to be 2-fold higher in those people who had had tick contact (P = 0.093). In conclusion, the physicians in the region should consider B. henselae infection among veterinarians and breeders in their differential diagnosis list of fever of unknown origin.

Laboratory-acquired brucellosis in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of laboratory-acquired brucellosis (LAB). AIM: To describe the risk factors of LAB among HCWs. METHODS: A multicentre survey study was conducted by face-to-face interview in 38 hospitals from 17 provinces of Turkey. A structured survey was administered to the HCWs, working in infectious diseases clinics and microbiology departments, who were at risk of brucella infection. FINDINGS: The survey response rate was 100%. Of the 667 laboratory workers, 38 (5.8%) had a history of LAB. In multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with an increased risk of LAB included working with the brucella bacteria (odds ratio: 5.12; 95% confidence interval: 2.28-11.52; P < 0.001) and male gender (2.14; 1.02-4.45; P = 0.042). Using a biosafety cabinet level 2 (0.13; 0.03-0.60; P = 0.009), full adherence to glove use (0.27; 0.11-0.65; P = 0.004) and longer duration of professional life (0.86; 0.80-0.92; P < 0.001) were found to be protective. CONCLUSIONS: Working with the brucella bacteria, being male, a lack of compliance with personal protective equipment and biosafety cabinets were the independent risk factors for the development of LAB in our series. Increased adherence to personal protective equipment and use of biosafety cabinets should be priority targets to prevent LAB.

Epidemiology and associated factors for nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a tertiary-care hospital.

We analysed nosocomial MRSA cases between January 2004 and December 2006 in a retrospective case-control study in a 250-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital. During the study period, 265 nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infections were identified in 231 patients. There was a significant increase in methicillin resistance in isolates (MRSA) from these infections with frequencies for 2004 of 39/88 (44.3%), 2005 (62/80, 77.5%), and 2006 (75/97, 77.3%) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that associated factors for nosocomial MRSA infection were prolonged hospitalization (OR 3.982, 95% CI 2.235-7.094, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation (OR 3.052, 95% CI 1.666-5.590, P<0.001), surgical operation (OR 2.032, 95% CI 1.102-3.748, P=0.023), and male sex (OR 2.000, 95% CI 1.081-3.699, P=0.027). The determination of associated factors for methicillin resistance in nosocomial S. aureus infections in hospitals will play an important role in efforts to reduce MRSA infection rates.