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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant opportunistic pathogen with a wide repertoire of virulence characteristics. Data regarding the molecular profile of MRSA in Northern Cyprus is limited. The current study aimed to examine the virulence profiles of MRSA with a focus on toxin-associated factors. Ninety-one S. aureus isolates collected at a university hospital were included in the study. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed with BD Phoenix™ automated system. Methicillin resistance was evaluated by the disc diffusion assay and mecA detection. The presence of nuc was confirmed by conventional PCR. Confirmed MRSA isolates were assessed for the presence of virulence genes hla, eta, etb, etd and tst using molecular methods. Among 91 S. aureus isolates identified as MRSA using the BD Phoenix™ platform, 80.85% (n = 76/91) were confirmed as MRSA using phenotypic and genotypic methods. All confirmed MRSA isolates (n = 76, 100%) were positive for the nuc. MRSA rates were statistically higher in elderly inpatients. The prevalence of toxin-encoding genes was 97.3% (n = 74/76) for hla, 2.63% (n = 2/76) for eta, 1.3% (n = 1/76) for etb, and 2.63% (n = 2/76) for tst. None of the screened isolates harbored the etd gene. These results represent the first report to investigate multiple virulence factors in MRSA isolates in Northern Cyprus.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first detected in December 2019, and shortly after pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its unstoppable global spread. Considerable amount of effort has beenput around the World in order to develop a safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Inactivated and RNA vaccines have already passed phase three studies showing sufficient efficacy and safety, respectively. Nowadays, there is a noticeable dominance of SARS-CoV-2 variants with various mutations over the wild type SARS-CoV-2. However, there is no report showing the efficacy of these vaccines on these variants. This case study describes a thirty-eight-year-old male reported to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant following two doses of inactive CoronaVac administration with a protective level of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. The variant analysis of the virus reported to be positive for N501Y mutation.This is the first case in the literature demonstrating that inactive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine might have a lower efficacy on alpha variant.

A reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is regarded as the most sensitive method available and is being used for screening procedure for all incoming passengers to Northern Cyprus for SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the compatibility of two different RT-qPCR methodologies Diagnovital® and Bio-Speedy® by re-analyzing the previously confirmed positive samples. A total of 43 previously confirmed positive samples were re-analyzed by two different commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kits. Only 23.5% of positive samples detected by Diagnovital® RT-qPCR kit were detected by Bio-Speedy® detection kit.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted pathogen both in men and women. Accumulating epidemiological evidence supports a strong association between HPV infection and cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. Currently, data on the HPV prevalence and genotyping is lacking in Northern Cyprus, a region in which HPV vaccination is not freely accessible via the national immunization program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the HPV type-specific prevalence in women with and without cytological abnormalities living in Northern Cyprus. Methods: A total of 885 women who presented to the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between January 2011 and December 2022 were included in the study. Samples were collected for cytology. Cervical specimens were investigated for the presence of HPV-DNA and genotyping of HPV was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). Cytological examination was interpreted according to the Bethesda system. Results: Among all patients, overall high-risk HPV DNA prevalence was 44.3%. HPV-16 and HPV-18 positivity was found in 10.4% and 3.7% of women respectively, while other high-risk HPV (OHR-HPV) was the most frequent type of HPV (30.2%). The highest frequency of HPV infection was observed in the 30–55 age group (51.0%), followed by the < 30 age group (45.7%). Co-infection with two or more HPV types was observed in 17.0% of all positive samples, in which the prevalence of HPV-16 + HPV-18 was 2.3%, HPV-16 + OHR-HPV and HPV-18 + OHR-HPV was 12.0% and 5.1%, respectively. Among the screened patients, 37.5% had abnormal and 62.5% had normal cytology results. HR-HPV positivity was 65.7% and 34.0% in patients with abnormal and normal cytology. The highest incidence of HRC-HPV was OHR-HPV types (44.7%) in positive cytology cases. Among women with a cytology result of ASCUS, L-SIL, H-SIL and unspecified dysplasia, 52.1%, 67.6%, 97.5% and 75.6% were respectively infected with HR-HPV. Conclusion: The present study provides the latest epidemiological data related to HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women living in Northern Cyprus. Considering the unavailability of free vaccination in the community, it is imperative to implement local HPV screening programs and provide guidelines on HPV prevention and measures during early school education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although droplets and aerosol are considered the main transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2, indirect contact has been indicated to play a critical role in transmission. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on different environmental surfaces in public areas in Cyprus. Using RT-qPCR, samples from 50 swab specimens collected from high-touch surfaces were analyzed for viral RNA. Six surfaces (12.0%) in all were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among the examined surfaces within supermarkets, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 22.2% (n=4/18) of the sampling points, with shopping trolley handles and POS keyboards being the most frequently contaminated items. In the hospital setting, two (n=2/5, 40%) samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that, at the current stage of the pandemic, viral contamination of public spaces exists in the community. Lifting protective measures may have contributed to fomite transmission in public spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is among the most common nosocomial opportunistic pathogens capable of acquiring multi-drug resistance. Recent data on antibiotic resistance in Northern Cyprus is limited. We aimed evaluate antibiotic susceptibility profiles of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical samples and contribute to the update of antibiotic use policies in the country. Methods: Total of 504 P. aeruginosa strains sent to Microbiology Laboratory from various clinics from September 2016 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical samples were cultured on %5 sheep blood agar and eosin-methylene blue agar. BD Phoenix™ 100 (Becton Dickinson Co., Sparks, Maryland, USA) automated bacterial identification system and conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing was used. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined in accordance with the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines. The distribution of P. aeruginosa isolates according to hospital services, sample types, admission types, age group, and antibiotic resistance rates were investigated. Results: P. aeruginosa was mostly isolated from urine (37.3%), deep tracheal aspirate (17.9%) and abscess/wound material (17.9%) samples. Strains were most commonly obtained from the intensive care clinics (35.9%). Infections were observed mainly in >65 age group (49.6%) and in-patients (70.8%) group. Antibiotic resistance rates were detected as 47.7% for aztreonam, 32% for cefepime, 26.3% for ceftazidime, 26.4% for imipenem, 25.6% for ciprofloxacin, 24.6% for meropenem, 19.7% for piperacillin-tazobactam, 13.5% for gentamicin, 12.2% for colistin and 5.3% for amikacin. Multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa rate was 19.2%. When compared with 2010-2014, a substantial increase in rates of cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenem resistance was detected within the last three years. Conclusions: In this study, the highest resistance rates were detected against aztreonam and cefepime, and the highest susceptibility was observed for colistin and amikacin. These results may be used for empirical treatments, establishment of rational antibiotic use policies and prevention of emerging antibiotic resistance problem in Cyprus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]