Comparison of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from blood cultures as a true bacteremia agent and contaminant in terms of slime production and methicillin resistance.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the species distribution, slime activity, and methicillin resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from blood cultures as either contaminants or true bacteremia agents.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 13.268 blood culture samples sent to our laboratory from various clinics during a two-year period were examined in terms of the presence of CoNS to clarify whether the isolates are true bacteremia agents, as defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria.

Comparison of the mycobacterium growth indicator tube method and the method of proportion for drug susceptibility testing of mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objective: Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in developed and, especially, developing countries. The incidence of multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has increased in recent years. Mycobacterial culture and susceptibility testing must be rapidly concluded for effective treatment and control of the disease.

Detection of the frequency of PER-1 type extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates in Turkey: a multicenter study.

Background/aim: β-Lactamases are an important resistance mechanism in Acinetobacter baumannii. Pseudomonas extended-resistance (PER-1) type β-lactamase-producing strains have been reported from various geographic locations; however, PER-1 type β-lactamases from Turkish hospitals have not been investigated extensively. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PER-1 type β-lactamases in A.

[Distribution of blaOXA genes in Acinetobacter baumannii strains: a multicenter study].

Acinetobacter baumannii is the most important agent of nosocomial infections within the Acinetobacter genus. This gram-negative coccobacillus is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics used in antimicrobial therapy, and capable of developing resistance including carbapenems. The objective of this study was to develop a multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) kit for OXA subgroups in A.

Persistence of nosocomial pathogens on various fabrics.

Objective: Fabrics can become contaminated with high numbers of microorganisms that may be pathogenic to patients in a hospital setting and can play an important role in the chain of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival of several clinical bacterial and fungal isolates on several fabrics commonly used in hospitals.

Materials And Methods: Bacterial and fungal survival was tested on the following materials, each of which are commonly used in our hospital: 100% smooth cotton, 60% cotton-40% polyester, 100% wool and 100% silk.

Investigating biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity in Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients.

Objective: Oral candidiasis, in the form of Candida-associated denture stomatitis, represents a common disease in a large percentage of denture wearers, and Candida albicans remains the most commonly isolated species. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity of Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients.

Materials And Methods: This study included 70 patients (31 female, 39 male).

[Tularemia seroprevalence in the risky population living in both rural and urban areas of Erzurum].

Tularemia which is a zoonotic infection, caused by Francisella tularensis, has become a re-emerging disease in Turkey. Infection is often transmitted to human by handling animal tissues and products, but it is also possible to acquire the disease from contaminated water or food. Recently several cases and epidemics of tularemia have been reported in the northwest areas of Turkey, particularly in Marmara and West Black Sea regions.

Hemolytic activities of the Candida species in liquid medium.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro hemolytic activities of 107 Candida strains isolated from different clinical samples in liquid medium, and to examine the impact of glucose on this activity.

Materials And Methods: A total of 107 Candida isolates representing seven species (C. albicans, n=28; C.

Relationships between intestinal parasitosis and handedness.

The aim of the study was to investigate if there is a possible relation between intestinal parasitosis and handedness in patients with suspected intestinal parasitosis. Hand preference was assessed on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Stool samples were examined microscopically for the presence of parasite.

Effects of different blood groups on the reproduction of periodontal pocket bacteria.

Background: Many studies have been conducted proving the relation between different blood groups and certain diseases. It was claimed in these studies that H pylori showed different distribution according to different blood groups. In dentistry, the relation between blood groups and dental diseases was investigated in a limited number of studies and it was concluded that there might be a relation between them.

Mycological examination of the barbers' tools about sources of fungal infections.

The purpose of this study was to determine the colonisation of causative agents for fungal skin infections on the tools and surfaces of barbershops. A total of 357 samples from tools and surfaces of 32 barbershops in Erzurum, Turkey were collected and examined for fungal pathogens. From the combs, Trichophyton rubrum (1), non-dermatophytic moulds (35) and Candida albicans (1); from the hairbrushes, T.

Evaluation of quinolone resistance in gram negative bacilli isolated from community- and hospital-acquired infections.

Objective: Gram negative bacilli are among the most important microbial agents involved in both hospital- and community-acquired infections. The quinolones are preferred antibacterial agents for the treatment of both community- and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections caused by gram negative bacilli because of their strong antibacterial effects, and because they can be administered both orally and parenterally. In this study, it was aimed to determine the sensitivity of gram negative bacteria isolated from both hospital- and community-acquired infections, to quinolones.

Differential diagnosis of denture-induced stomatitis, Candida, and their variations in patients using complete denture: a clinical and mycological study.

Denture-induced stomatitis usually occurs in persons who wear a complete or a partial denture. Among the many aetiological and predisposing factors, Candida spp. are believed to play an important role in the initiation and progression of the infection.

Seroprevalence of human brucellosis in rural endemic areas in eastern Turkey.

In this cross-sectional, community-based study, sera were obtained from 573 subjects. Brucella sero-positivity was detected in 5.4% according to the standard tube agglutination test, rising to 11.

Seroepidemiology of poliovirus antibody among the children in Eastern Turkey.

Background & Objective: Data on immunization are generally based on questionnaire methods or evaluation of health records in most of the developing countries like Turkey. Therefore, serological studies are useful to appraise the impact of vaccination programmes and to improve immunization policies. This serological study was undertaken to determine the immunity status of children to poliovirus in Eastern Turkey.

[Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

Although there are several studies indicating the relationship between parvovirus B19 (PV-B19) and acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which is a form seen frequently in children, the data are not enough in terms of chronic ITP, which is a more insidious form frequently seen in adults. The aim of this study was to investigate PV-B19 seroprevalence in adult chronic ITP cases diagnosed at the haematology clinics of Atatürk University Research Hospital in Erzurum (located in eastern Anatolia, Turkey). A total of 61 patients (38 female, 23 male; mean age: 34.

[Sensitivity of methicillin resistant staphylococci to linezolid and some other antimicrobial agents].

Linezolid is a synthetic antimicrobial agent which was introduced into clinical therapy in the early 2001. It has an inhibitory effect against most of the Gram positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci. In this study, in-vitro activities of linezolid, teicoplanin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin, were tested against 164 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp.