COVID-19 in patients with familial Mediterranean fever treated with colchicine: case based review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) refers to the clinical picture of an important and severe infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of COVID-19, it is safe to state that both COVID-19 and inflammatory rheumatic disorders cause a cytokine storm and merit treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs. Three patients, who were on regular follow-up due to the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), contracted COVID-19 infection; and their pre-clinical and post-clinical data as well as laboratory, prognosis and treatment data were investigated.

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors.

Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups.

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach, over 8 years, in 11 cities of Turkey.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach in Turkey and analyse predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance.

Design: An observational, prospective, interventional, before-and-after study was conducted from August 2003 to August 2011 in 12 intensive care units (ICU) of 12 hospitals in 11 cities. The study was divided into a baseline and a follow-up period and included random 30-minute observations for hand hygiene compliance in ICU.

Surgical site infection rates in 16 cities in Turkey: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey.

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs.

Seroprevalences and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C in adults.

Background/aim: Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. In this study we aimed to find out seroprevalences and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C in adults in Düzce.

Materials And Methods: The sample of study was determined with a cluster-type sampling method.

Predictors of response to pegylated interferon treatment in HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Introduction: Although pegylated interferons (pegIFNs) alpha-2a and alpha-2b have been used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment for many years, there are few studies concerning predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegIFN therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the predictors of response to pegIFN treatment in cases with HBeAg-negative CHB infection.

Methodology: Seventeen tertiary care hospitals in Turkey were included in this study.

Critical evaluation of antimicrobial use--a Turkish university hospital example.

Introduction: Antimicrobials are being used unnecessarily for different reasons. The aims of this study were: assessment of the quality of antimicrobial use and determination of the factors related to correct use.

Method: Antimicrobial practice at Dicle University Hospital (DUH) was evaluated with a point prevalence approach.

Impact of a multidimensional infection control approach on central line-associated bloodstream infections rates in adult intensive care units of 8 cities of Turkey: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABs) have long been associated with excess lengths of stay, increased hospital costs and mortality attributable to them. Different studies from developed countries have shown that practice bundles reduce the incidence of CLAB in intensive care units. However, the impact of the bundle strategy has not been systematically analyzed in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) setting in developing countries, such as Turkey.

Impact of a multidimensional infection control approach on catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in adult intensive care units in 10 cities of Turkey: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium findings (INICC).

Background: We evaluate the effectiveness of a multidimensional infection control approach for the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in 10 hospital members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from 10 cities of Turkey.

Methods: A before-after prospective active surveillance study was used to determine rates of CAUTI. The study was divided into baseline (phase 1) and intervention (phase 2).

Acute hepatitis: a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Infectious Mononucleosis (IM), a benign lymphoproliferative disease, is the best known clinical syndrome caused by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). It usually resolves over a period of weeks or months without sequelae but may occasionally be complicated by a wide variety of neurologic, hematologic, hepatic, respiratory, and psychological complications. In this report we describe a patient with acute hepatitis following EBV-IM in a previously healthy woman.

Brucellar epididymo-orchitis in southeastern part of Turkey: an 8 year experience.

Objective: the different clinical and laboratory features and response to treatment of patients with acute brucellar epididymo-orchitis (BEO) reporting to the reference hospital in Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey.

Material And Methods: in this study, 27 male patients with brucellosis, who presented with epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis (EO) at the university hospital in Diyarbakir from 1998 to 2006, were included. They were compared with the other male patients.

A case of brucellar spondylodiscitis involving the cervical spine.

We have presented a patient of 71-year-age with brucellar spondylodiscitis, involving the cervical spine, especially the C3-C4 segment. The patient had painful percussion of the cervical spine and passive mobilization of the neck, decreased range of motion, and cervical paravertebral tenderness; but no abnormalities observed on neurological examination. Wright agglutination test for brucella was positive at 1/320.

Sacroiliitis caused by Salmonella typhi.

Although the commonest manifestation of Salmonella infection is acute gastroenteritis, infection may spread to the blood-stream may and the illness can present with focal lesions in almost any organ with or without septicemia. We describe here a case of Salmonella typhi infection of a sacroiliac joint that was cured with ciprofloxacin therapy for six weeks. The patient was immunologically normal.

A case of meningitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in a previously healthy woman.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes is a well-known cause of a variety of clinical infections including local symptoms such as tonsillopharyngitis, cervical lymphadenitis, otitis media, cellulites, erysipelas, as well as more severe diseases such as scarlet fever, osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome. However, acute bacterial meningitis caused by this pathogen is unusual.

Objective: We report a case of group A streptococcus (GAS) meningitis in a previously healthy woman with a dramatically rapid course and fatal outcome.

Are sinus-track cultures reliable for identifying the causative agent in chronic osteomyelitis?

Purpose: The infection of bone that contains bone marrow called osteomyelitis, and is caused by different microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic value and accuracy of cultures of material from a sinus track compared with those of cultures of bone specimens that have been controversial.

Materials And Method: Prospective study was conducted at Hospital University of Dicle, a 1,090-bed university-based hospital located in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

Efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Thirty-six hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in a controlled and prospective study. All patients were treatment naive, positive tested for anti-HCV antibodies, and positive tested for serum HCV-RNA.

Evaluation of false negativity of the Widal test among culture proven typhoid fever cases.

Background: The Widal test is the most common, specific and quick diagnostic method available in the world for diagnosis of typhoid fever; however, false negativity is one of the obstructive features of the test. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associated factors with Widal test negativity in an endemic area.

Methods: Widal test negativity was retrospectively analyzed among culture-proven typhoid fever cases.

Cervical intramedullary granuloma of Brucella: a case report and review of the literature.

The aim of this study was to present a unique case of intramedullary brucellar granuloma (IBG) and to discuss the diagnosis and management. To our knowledge, only one case of thoracic IBG has been reported previously, and our case is the first in cervical spine. A 35-year-old female patient was admitted with headache, pain and weakness in her four extremities.

Comparison of lamivudine and alpha-interferon combination with alpha-interferon alone in the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of a combination of a-interferon (IFN-a) and lamivudine with IFN-a alone in the treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: Sixty-eight treatment-naove patients with HBeAg-positive CHB were randomized to receive either 9 MU of IFN-a2a three times a week and lamivudine 100 mg daily (Group 1), or IFN-a2a alone in the same dosage (Group 2), for 12 months. Serum ALT, HBeAg, anti-HBe and HBV DNA were tested at the end of treatment and 6 months later.

A simple validated prediction rule to diagnose typhoid fever in Turkey.

The goal of this study was to develop a simple prediction rule for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. A model for the prediction of patients with typhoid fever at hospital admission was derived and validated by assigning weighted point values to independent predictive factors associated with a diagnosis of typhoid fever at hospital admission. Patient demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were used to compare patients with blood culture-confirmed typhoid fever with patients with fever of unknown origin.

The effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on bacterial translocation in rats with obstructive jaundice.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii treatment on preventing bacterial translocation in an obstructive jaundice animal model.

Materials And Methods: Sixty adult rats were divided into five groups: group 1 - the sham-operated group; group 2 - the common bile duct ligation group; group 3 - the S. boulardii group; group 4 - the ampicillin-sulbaktam group; and group 5 - the S.

Clinical and laboratory features of brucellosis in two university hospitals in Southeast Turkey.

This prospective study was carried out in two university hospitals between January 2000 and December 2002. The diagnosis of brucellosis was made with compatible clinical findings, positive Brucella agglutination > or =1/160 titres, and/or the isolation of Brucella species. The patients were followed up without intervention.

Risk factors for enteric perforation in patients with typhoid Fever.

A case-control study was performed using the records of patients hospitalized for typhoid fever at Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey, between 1994 and 1998. Case patients with enteric perforation were compared with control patients with typhoid fever but no enteric perforation. Risk factors for perforation were determined using logistic regression modeling.