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Aim: SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) carry signature mutations particularly in the spike protein. Most VOCs lineages that carry N501Y substitution have been reported to evade viral diagnostic tests and have impact on vaccine effectiveness. Therefore, monitoring the circulating variants represents a major requirement for a public health response worldwide. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of N501Y bearing SARS-CoV-2 samples in Northern Cyprus. Materials & methods: Reverse transcription quantitative PCR technique was used to identify N501Y mutation from 658 samples. Results: Our results indicate that the proportion of N501Y-bearing lineages increased significantly from January through May 2021 (45.2–75.5%) in the region. Conclusion: These results indicate that VOCs are dominant lineages in the country and highlight an alarming situation which require strict governmental measures to minimize COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: This study aims to provide a prevalence survey of antibiotic usage and HAIs and evaluate the cost of antibiotic therapy. Methods: All inpatients on surgery, paediatrics, medicine, and ICU specialities were surveyed within a period of one week, April 2016 at Near East University hospital in Northern Cyprus. ACross-sectional study was performed and desired data on antibiotic use and HAIs were collected and analysed. Results: Out of 137 inpatients, 39.4% (n=54) were on one or two antibiotics. The usage of antibiotic was appropriate in 70% of the patients while it was inappropriate in the remaining 30%. The most common appropriate use was seen in empirical (80.6%) and prophylaxis (69.2%), while in definitive therapy cases (60.0%), the usage of antibiotics was irrationally inappropriate. Overall, 10.9% of hospitalized patients developed HAI. The most prevalent infection was UTI (urinary tract infections) (33.3%). Prevalence of HAIs was high in patients over 30 years old and in those who stay in hospital more than 10 days. The overall daily cost of antibiotic therapy was $919.61 per day, while the total daily cost for hospital infections was $482. Conclusion: Irrational antibiotic use was seen mostly in definitive therapy, continuous use of empirical therapy without carrying microbiological test was commonly observed. The prevalence of HAI was relatively high which led to more hospitalization and more cost.

Objective: this study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge levels of all physicians administering immunosuppressive treatment concerning hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, and draw attention to the importance of the subject through evaluation. Methods: the study was carried out by infectious diseases and clinical microbiology specialists in 37 health centers, and it was performed in Turkey between January and March 2017. All specialists providing a written consent and working in the departments of Medical Oncology, Hematology, Dermatology and Venereology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology of each study center were included in the study. Results: a total of 430 physicians participated in the study. Their mean age was 39.87 +/- 7.42 years, and 47.9% of them were males. During their career, 39.3% of these physicians had encountered patients developing HBV reactivation while receiving immunosuppressive treatment. The rate of encountering patients who died due to HBV reactivation was 6.5%. 97% of physicians who participated, considered the risk of HBV reactivation to be important. 70.2% of physicians stated that guidelines related to HBV reactivation and antiviral treatment for these patients were discussed in the congresses they participated, regarding their specialties. The rate of performing hepatitis screening among physicians whose patients developed HBV reactivation was statistically significantly higher than those physicians who had no patients with HBV reactivation (p, NA