Identifying risk factors for blood culture negative infective endocarditis: An international ID-IRI study.

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE.

Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI).

Treatment initiation rates of patients with positive anti-hepatitis C virus results in tertiary hospitals in Turkey.

Introduction: The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective chart review study was to determine the proportion of patients in Turkey who received hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment after receiving positive anti-HCV results during HCV screening.

Methodology: Data related to patients' demographics, laboratory results, time interval from obtaining a positive anti-HCV result to treatment initiation, specialty of the physician requesting anti-HCV screening, and type of hospital were analyzed.

Results: Among 1,000 patients who received a positive anti-HCV result, 50.

In a Real-Life Setting, Direct-Acting Antivirals to People Who Inject Drugs with Chronic Hepatitis C in Turkey.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting.

Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers.

An Unusual Cause of Acute Isolated Hepatitis in a Cancer Patient Post-COVID Pneumonia: HSV-2.

Herpes simplex virus is a rare cause of hepatitis in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. It can cause clinical pictures in patients ranging from an asymptomatic course to fatal acute fulminant hepatitis. Early diagnosis and treatment may be delayed if it is not suspected because of the patients' nonspecific clinic.

Survival in rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis: An international, multicenter ID-IRI study.

Background: Mucormycosis is an emerging aggressive mold infection. This study aimed to assess the outcome of hospitalized adults with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). The secondary objective was to identify prognostic factors in this setting.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Differential Diagnosis During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic.

Objective: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a disease of the viral hemorrhagic fever group and is endemic in certain regions in Turkey. Here, the demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of patients diagnosed with CCHF during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were examined, and differential diagnosis was stressed.

Methods: This study comprised 12 patients over the age of 18 who were admitted to our clinic after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020 and whose CCHF diagnosis was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with viral-RNA or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with immunoglobulin M antibodies.

Association Between Dermcidin, Salusin-α, Salusin-β Molecules and Diabetic Foot Infections.

Dermcidin, salusin-α, and salusin-β are three recently discovered molecules that confer antimicrobial properties. The present study aims to investigate the association between dermcidin, salusin-α, and salusin-β in the etiopathology of patients with diabetic foot infection. The study included three groups: Group 1 - diabetic foot infection; Group 2 - diabetes without history of diabetic foot; and Group 3 - the control group.

Pentraxin-3: A Novel Marker for Indicating Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients?

Background/aims: PTX-3 is an important marker that plays a role in suppressing inflammation and tissue repair. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic characteristics of PTX-3 in CHB patients and the relationship between PTX-3 levels and fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 52 CHB patients and 40 healthy subjects were included in the study.

Pancreatic Damage and Radiological Changes in Patients With COVID-19.

Background and objective The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects the lungs. However, others organs are also affected in varying degrees. We aimed to investigate the changes in pancreatic density on CT and its correlation with amylase/lipase values in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

The anxiety levels, quality of sleep and life and problem-solving skills in healthcare workers employed in COVID-19 services.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the level of anxiety experienced by healthcare workers employed in COVID-19 services, the effects of anxiety on sleep quality and quality of life and, the relationship between these variables and problem-solving skills of the healthcare workers.

Material And Method: The study was conducted in two healthcare facilities which serve as pandemic hospitals. 140 healthcare workers, who were employed in the COVID-19 outpatient clinics or emergency departments, participated in the present study.

Self-Esteem and Defense Mechanisms in HIV-Positive and AIDS Patients.

Objective: To investigate the self-esteem and defense mechanisms in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 29 patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS admitted to inpatient or outpatient clinics between March 2018 and January 2019 and 29 healthy subjects. Participants were assessed using a sociodemographic and clinical data form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (RSEI), the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

[Evaluation of Infections in Intensive Care Units: A Multicentre Point-Prevalence Study].

Infection control is a top priority for hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICU). In intensive care units, prevalence of infection is estimated to be 30% worldwide, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Many factors are known to increase the risk of infection in ICU patients.

Procalcitonin levels among patients with fever secondary to severe intracerebral infection. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Making the differential diagnosis between central fever and infectious fever is critically important among intracerebral hemorrhage patients followed up in intensive care units (ICUs). Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been found to be a promising biomarker for the initial diagnosis of infection, even before culturing results.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between PCT and both fever etiologies and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among critically ill patients with suspected intracerebral hemorrhage.

Portraying infective endocarditis: results of multinational ID-IRI study.

Infective endocarditis is a growing problem with many shifts due to ever-increasing comorbid illnesses, invasive procedures, and increase in the elderly. We performed this multinational study to depict definite infective endocarditis. Adult patients with definite endocarditis hospitalized between January 1, 2015, and October 1, 2018, were included from 41 hospitals in 13 countries.

Roles of Dermcidin, Salusin-α, Salusin-β and TNF-α in the Pathogenesis of Human Brucellosis.

Background: Brucella spp. are facultative intracellular pathogens that can cause chronic infections in many tissues and organs.

Objectives: To investigate serum dermcidin, salusin-alpha, salusin-beta and TNF-alpha levels and their correlation with each other in patients with acute brucellosis.

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Eastern Turkey: Epidemiological and Clinical Evaluation.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in patients hospitalized in our hospital.

Methods: A total of 61 adult patients who were diagnosed as having CCHF between January 2011 and August 2018, in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by detecting virus-specific IgM by ELISA and/or by showing viral RNA by RT-PCR and who were managed at our clinic were evaluated retrospectively for their epidemiological and clinical findings, treatment and prognosis.

Results: Of the 61 cases, 41 (67.

Geriatric urinary tract infections: The value of laboratory parameters in estimating the need for bacteremia and Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: We investigated the geriatric patients diagnosed as urinary tract infection and evaluated the effects of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil count, platelet, mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatine, albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio parameters on estimating the need for bacteremia and intensive care (IC) for the patients with pyelonephritis.

Methods: Between 2016-2017, a total number of 188 patients aged 65 years and above were retrospectively evaluated at the infectious diseases clinic.

Results: The 124 (66%) of the patients were male and 64 (34%) were female.

Pentraxin-3: A new parameter in predicting the severity of diabetic foot infection?

This study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) in patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers (IDFU) as well as to assess the association between PTX-3 levels and IDFU severity. This study included 60 IDFU patients (Group 1), 45 diabetic patients without DFU (Group 2), and 45 healthy controls. Patients with IDFU were divided into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups based on classification of clinical severity.

The predictive role of haematological parameters in the diagnosis of osteoarticular brucellosis.

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis that affects several systems, especially with the osteoarticular involvement.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution (RDW) in patients with the osteoarticular involvement and those with non-localised brucellosis and evaluate their predictive value for the diagnosis of osteoarticular brucellosis.

Methods: We enrolled 140 patients with brucellosis, 70 with the osteoarticular involvement and 70 without any localised involvement.

Epidemiological, Clinical, and Laboratory Evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Cases Followed in Firat University Hospital: A 6-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Objective: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasite. Sporadic cases have not been observed in Turkey since 2010, but imported malaria cases are still prevalent owing to migration. The present study aimed to evaluate Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients hospitalized in our hospital.

A Case of Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Co-Infected with HIV Improved with Exchange Transfusion.

In our country, within years, despite a dramatic drop in the number of patients with malaria, a dramatic increase in the number of patients with import malaria is noteworthy. A 32-year-old male patient presented with fever, shivering, malaise, and loss of appetite. He had travelled to West Africa.

Does microbial resistance profile change in community-based intra-abdominal infections? Evaluation of the culture results of patients with appendicitis.

Tartar T, Sağmak-Tartar A, Saraç M, Bakal Ü, Akbulut A, Kazez A. Does microbial resistance profile change in community-based intra-abdominal infections? Evaluation of the culture results of patients with appendicitis. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 520-526.