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Background In the present study, two epidemic episodes of extended spectrum beta-lactamase ( ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were evaluated. Methods Routine and surveillance culture samples were taken from seven neonates with signs of infection in the NICU of Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine between 10 March and 25 April 2011, and between 11 June and 30 September 2011. Results ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains were isolated in six different samples (one wound, one blood, and four cerebrospinal fluid cultures) of the three neonates in the first episode and in 11 different samples (seven blood and four cerebrospinal fluid cultures) of the four neonates in the second episode. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae was isolated from inguinal, axillar region, and stool samples of the nine colonized neonates in the second episode. It was determined on pulse field gel electrophoresis that all strains originated from two clones. Conclusions The deficiencies in the infection control measures in an NICU may transform into an epidemic rapidly. Therefore, periodic training, observation, and monitoring of compliance are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) is an in vitro blood test to measure interferon gamma (IFN-γ) released from antigen-specific T cells after stimulation with pathogen-specific peptides. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the T-cell response using IGRA and to compare various laboratory values in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients hospitalized either in hospital inpatient departments or in intensive care units., Methods: A total of 100 patients (50+50) who were identified as positive for COVID-19 through the molecular method in Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine Infectious Diseases Service and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit were included in the study. IFN-γ levels in blood samples collected from patients were determined using the QuantiFERON Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (QIAGEN, Germany) kit. The patients' gender, age, c-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), interleukin (IL)-6, lymphocyte count, procalcitonin, and D-dimer results were obtained from the hospital automation system., Results: Thirty-eight of the IGRA test results were negative, 44 were positive and 18 were inconclusive. The age of patients with negative IGRA test results was significantly higher (p<0.001) compared to patients with positive results. There were no significant differences between patients' IGRA test results and gender, prognosis, IL-6, lymphocyte counts, CRP, AST, and ALT values.Age, death rates, D-dimer, CRP, procalcitonin, AST and ALT values of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit were significantly higher (p<0.001) compared to the those hospitalized in the inpatient department, while conversely, the lymphocyte values were lower (p<0.001)., Conclusion: The relatively higher IGRA negative results in the elderly, negative and intermediate results in intensive-care patients, and low lymphocyte levels in intensive-care patients indicate that the cellular immune response is diminished and/or absent. The death rates, D-dimer, CRP, procalcitonin, AST and ALT values of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit were higher compared to those from the in-patient department, indicating the severity of inflammation and signaling the development of organ failure. In the light of these findings, we suggest that IGRA tests may serve as a guide in immunomodulatory therapy (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 27). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: COVID-19, interferon gamma release assay test, T cell response.

Acinetobacter baumannii which is an opportunistic pathogen leading to nosocomial epidemics, exhibit high rates of antimicrobial resistance. Treatment of Acinetobacter infections is a challenge since most of the isolates are multiple antibiotic resistant. The aim of this study was to investigate minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sulbactam, imipenem, meropenem, and cefoperazone and in vitro synergistic activity of sulbactam in combination with imipenem, meropenem and cefoperazone against A.baumannii isolates of hospitalized patients. Forty A.baumannii strains isolated from various clinical specimens and found to be resistant to carbapenems by disc diffusion method, were included in the study. The isolates were identified by conventional methods and VITEK 2 (bioMerieux, France) automated identification system. MICs of sulbactam, imipenem, meropenem, and cefoperazone were determined by the broth microdilution method according to the standards of CLSI and in vitro synergy test was performed using the checkerboard microdilution method. Synergistic, partial synergistic, additive, indifferent and antagonistic effects of drug combinations were evaluated with the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Interpretation of the FICI was as follows: ≤ 0.5 synergy; > 0.5 to < 1 partial synergy; 1 additive; > 1 to < 4 indifference; and ≥ 4 antagonism. Forty A.baumannii isolates were resistant to imipenem and cefoperazone, but two were susceptible, seven were moderately susceptible and 31 were resistant to meropenem with the microdilution method. MIC values of the isolates for sulbactam were found to be 4 μg/ml in two, 8 μg/ml in five, 16 μg/ml in three, 32 μg/ml in 13, 64 μg/ml in three, 128 μg/ml in six and > 128 μg/ml in eight isolates. According to the FICI; imipenem/sulbactam combination exhibited synergy in 18 (45%), partial synergy in 4 (10%) and indifferent effect in 2 (5%) isolates, the combination of meropenem and sulbactam showed synergy in 19 (48%), partial synergy in 3 (7.5%), and indifferent effect in 3 (7.5%) isolates, the combination of cefoperazone/sulbactam demonstrated synergy in 18 (45%), partial synergy in 2 (5%), and indifferent effect in 2 (5%) isolates. There was no antagonistic effect with the tested combinations. In conclusion, MIC values of sulbactam were generally high in carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii strains. However, synergistic effect was detected in approximately half of the strains with the sulbactam/carbapenem combinations. The data obtained in this study should be supported by further advanced in vitro and clinical studies to predict the accurate clinical efficacy of sulbactam containing combinations on A.baumannii infections.