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Objective: Nasocomial infections are major health problems due to their high morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital duration and higher treatment costs. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus species became one of the leading bacteria causing nasocomial infections especially in intensive care units, recently. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of an antibiotic gives the concentration of antibiotic needed to inhibit the bacteria in the infection area. Careful monitoring of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values is necessary especially during long-term treatments of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and meticillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) infections1,2. Increasing antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant staphylococci, has led to the need for different antibiotics. Methods: A total of 60 meticillin-resistant staphylococci strains isolated in Microbiology Laboratory of Dicle University Hospital, from clinical specimens of patients in adult İntensive Care Units (ICUs) between April 2013 and March 2014 were included in this study. After identification with conventional and automated system, the antibiotic susceptibility rates of vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, tigecycline, ceftaroline were determined by E-test method. Results: The majority of the samples (26.7%) were sent from Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis intensive care unit and the blood samples were the most common materials (80%). All staphylococcal strains in our study were determined as susceptible to vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin and tigecycline. One (1.6%) MRCoNS isolate was resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin while 11 (36.6%) of the MRSA isolates were resistant to ceftaroline. In comparison with the MIC values of MRSA and MRCoNS, only tigecycline was significantly different. Thirty MRSA strains were evaluated in terms of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus/heteroresistant vancomycinintermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/hVISA) with macro E-test method; any VISA/hVISA isolate was not detected. Antibiotic concentrations below the MIC level, not only leads to treatment failure but also causes mutant bacteria to appear. In order to control the resistance to antibiotics in the treatment of infections due to MRSA and MRCoNS agents, the clinician should be notified of the MIC values of the drugs and the treatment should be planned accordingly. VISA/hVISA isolates should be considered in treatment failures of infections due to MRSA which are in vitro susceptible to vancomycin. Further testing is needed to detect these isolates. Despite the fact that ceftaroline is not a drug used in our country, the high resistance rate in our study is remarkable. This situation may be due to the intensive use of other beta-lactam antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility results should be taken into consideration during planning the treatment of infections. The high average MIC values of tigecycline in MRCoNS infections should also be monitored carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of ABO and Rh system is important in transfusion medicine. In this study, we aimed to detect the profile of ABO and Rh blood groups in Diyarbakir region and provide new data on this subject. Among 206.673 individuals who applied to blood centers in Diyarbakir; 75.547 were (36.55%) A Rh(+), 61.385 were (29.70%) O Rh(+), 34.417 were (16.65%) B Rh(+), 12.944 were (6.26%) AB Rh(+), 8.806 were (4.26%) A Rh(-), 8.183 were (3.95%) O Rh(-), 3.897 were (1.88%) B Rh(-), 1.494 were (0.72%) AB Rh(-) blood group and Rh positivity was found in 184.293 cases (89.17%), as Rh(-) negativity was found in 22.380 cases (10.82%). There was little differences between the results of other regions of Turkey but blood group distribution in our region was similar with the results of all over the Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen of increasing importance. Since it is intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobial agents, the treatment of S. maltophilia infections is quite difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. maltophilia strains isolated in four years' time. Methods: In this study; a total of 53 S. maltophilia strains, isolated from various clinical specimens between 2011- 2015 years were investigated in terms of antibiotic resistance rates. The isolates were identified and antibiotic susceptibility tests performed by conventional methods and BD Phoenix 100 automated system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Systems, Sparks, USA). Results: S. maltophilia infections were mostly encountered in the intensive care units. The most effective antimicrobial agents against S. maltophilia strains were found as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin. Conclusion: Antimicrobial susceptibility tests should be performed for nosocomial infections caused by S. maltophilia due to high antimicrobial resistance rates. If this is not possible, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin could be good choices for empiric treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diyarbakır is the largest residential area in the Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. Routine HBV vaccination has begun to be implemented by the Ministry of Health in Turkey in 1998. The purposes of this study were to detect the levels of HBV DNA in patients with HBVin 2017, and compare the results of the years 2002 and 2012 according to age groups. HBV DNA results of patients were divided in to seven age groups (0-14, 15-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, >61) and for comparison of HBV DNA levels of 2002, 2012. A statistically significant decrease was seen in the number of indiviuals in 0-14 age group in 2017 compared with 2002 and 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Malaria was expected to be a major problem during blood donation in Turkey due to existence of malaria cases in southeastern region of Turkey. The present study aimed for the first time, to investigate malaria in “donors deferred for malaria risk” and to determine the regional rates of malaria deferral in Turkey. Blood samples were collected from several Blood Banks of southeastern provinces where local malaria cases still exist and from Blood Bank of Ege University Medical School (EUMS) located in western Turkey where malaria is eradicated decades ago. Plasmodium spp. and specific antibodies were investigated by stained smears, antigen detection, PCR and ELISA. Among the donors deferred for malaria risk, Plasmodium spp. were not detected by microscopy, PCR or antigen detection. Seroprevalances were 2% and 3.92% in western and southeastern regions, respectively. Rate of donor deferral for malaria risk was 0.9% in EUMS and deferrals were exclusively because of travel to southeastern Turkey. In southeastern provinces, deferrals were mainly due to malaria like fever history. The present study first time assessed regional rates of donor deferral due to malaria risk in Turkey. Previously, malaria was expected to be a major problem during blood donation in Turkey due to existence of malaria cases in southeastern region of Turkey. The results of the study showed that 97% of the deferrals were unnecessary. In conclusion, to reduce unnecessary donor deferrals in Turkey, in addition to comprehensive questioning for malaria history, the usage of a malaria antibody screening method should be initiated prior to deferral decision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AIM: At the aim of this study was to determine the tetanus seroprevalence among pregnant women and childbearing aged woman living in the Ben-u Sen Health Center region that is in lower socio-economical level. METHOD: In this descriptive study, a team including the staff of health center and several volunteers visited the houses of pregnant women living in the health center coverage region and questionnaires were completed through face to face interviews. The study group included 214 pregnant women. Among them, serum samples of 197 subjects' were studied for anti-toxic antibody for tetanus. For control, serum samples from 200 women living in the same health center region were collected. It was evaluated as partially protective, protective and longterm protection when tetanus antibody level was 0,01-<0,1 IU/ml, 0,1-<1.0 IU/ml and 1,0 IU/ml and over, respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 26.4, mean marriage and first pregnancy ages were 17.9 and 18.9, respectively, and 40% of the subjects had never been examined or received follow up by a health center. It was revealed that 25.8% of the subjects were not protected and 74.2% had a full protection level of antibody. Within the control group, the same levels of antibodies were detected in 40.0% and 60.0% of the women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that the immunity levels against tetanus are not satisfactory and every childbearing aged woman should be included in a vaccination program whenever they receive any examination in a health center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Exposure to blood borne pathogens is the most serious occupational health risk faced by healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative seroprevalences of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV. Materials and methods: In this study we evaluated the seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV in 486 preoperative patients who admitted to Dicle University Medical Faculty General Surgery Clinic for elective surgical procedures between January 2007 and July 2007; retrospectively. The results were compared with those of 14354 blood donations during the same period as control group. Results: The seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV were; %6.6 and %1.6 subsequently in preoperative patients. HBsAg and anti-HCV seropositivity rates were lower in the control group. Thus, the positively rates of HBsAg and anti-HCV for preoperative patients should be assessed higher than the data obtained from the blood bank. Anti-HIV seropositivity was not detected in both patient and control group. Conclusion: All healthcare workers must be trained about occupational diseases and vaccinated against hepatitis B. Establishment of universal precautions is necessary and these precautions must be strictly followed particularly in the operating room. In addition all patients should be considered as potential carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Tuberculosis remains a significant and threatening disease, particularly in developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosisshould be detected and identified as soon as possible to ensure the prevention of the spread of the disease. For this purpose, use of fast and reliable laboratory diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity was initiated in recent years. Materials and Methods: In this study, 107 respiratory and 198 nonrespiratory (305 in total) samples submitted to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Microbiology Laboratory were examined using the Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen (EZN), BACTEC 460 TB (Becton and Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument System, Towson, MD), and MTD (Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test, Gen-Probe, USA) methods. Results: In respiratory samples, sensitivity of EZN was found as 83.33%, specificity as 95.04%, positive predictive value as 50%, and negative predictive value as 98.96%, whereas in nonrespiratory samples these values were 18.18%, 98.39%, 40%, and 95.37%, respectively. In respiratory samples, sensitivity of MTD was found as 83.33%, specificity as 94.05%, positive predictive value as 45.45%, and negative predictive value as 98.95%, whereas in nonrespiratory samples these values were 54.54%, 88.23%, 21.42%, and 97.05%, respectively. Conclusions: In view of the above, the pre-diagnostic EZN test and the MTD method based on nucleic acid amplification should be applied together with the BACTEC 460 system, which is considered as a gold standard, and the evaluation should be made accordingly. Furthermore, MTD should not be used as a screening test due to its high cost, and should rather be preferred in smear-positive samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]