Investigation of mutations in Erg11 gene of fluconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates from Turkish hospitals.

Widespread use of fluconazole has resulted in resistance in strains of Candida. The aim of our study was to investigate Y132H and other mutations in the ERG11 gene in conferring fluconazole resistance to C. albicans isolates.

Molecular identification, genotyping, and drug susceptibility of the basidiomycetous yeast pathogen Trichosporon isolated from Turkish patients.

Deep-seated infections due to Trichosporon species are emerging mycoses that have a very poor prognosis in patients with persistent neutropenia. This study elucidated the mycological characteristics of Trichosporon strains obtained from deep-seated infections in Turkish patients and identified by DNA sequence analysis of intergenic spacer (IGS) region 1 of the rDNA locus. In addition, we genotyped the major causative agent, T.

A case of Acremonium strictum peritonitis.

During the past two decades opportunistic fungal infections have emerged as important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe underlying illnesses. A few cases of Acremonium spp. infections have been described in immunocompromised patients, but they have on occasion been reported as the cause invasive disease in immunocompetent individuals.

[Investigation of Aspergillus galactomannan levels in antimicrobial agents].

The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis which is a serious infection of immunocompromized patients, depends on the detection of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen in the serum by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in routine laboratories. However, it has been previously reported that false positive results in Aspergillus galactomannan test may be obtained in the sera of patients sera receiving piperacillin-tazobactam (PIP-TAZ). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and levels of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen in the content of PIP-TAZ and some other antimicrobial agents that are often used for the treatment of infections in immunocompromised patients.

Molecular epidemiology of Candida species isolated from clinical specimens of intensive care unit patients.

Epidemiological analysis of nosocomial Candida infections has gained importance due to an increase in these infections during the recent years. This study investigated the prevalence of clinical infections of Candida in anesthesiology intensive care unit patients, and ascertains the level of genetic diversity in the Candida species. A total of 70 Candida isolates, consisting of 42 Candida albicans, 16 Candida glabrata and 12 Candida tropicalis strains isolated from various clinical sites of infection of anesthesiology intensive care unit patients, were analysed.

[Detection of Candida DNA in simulated blood samples by polymerase chain reaction].

Although blood culture method is accepted as gold standard in the laboratory diagnosis of invasive candidiasis seen in immunocompromised patients, cultivation of blood is considered as not a reliable and rapid method for the diagnosis of candidemia, since it may be negative in approximately half of the patients, slow growth rate of Candida in routine culture media and requirement of large amounts of blood for the isolation. The aim of this study was to detect Candida DNA in simulated blood samples by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Simulated samples were prepared by using blood samples of healthy volunteers.

[Comparison of minimum inhibitory and minimum effective concentration values for the detection of in vitro susceptibilities of Aspergillus species against caspofungin].

Caspofungin is a promising echinocandin-group antifungal agent used especially in the treatment of resistant invasive aspergillosis. The guidelines for in vitro susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species against caspofungin are not described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The minimum inhibitory concentration that showed a prominent reduction of growth (MIC-2) and minimum effective concentration (MEC) endpoints are frequently used for the susceptibility testing of caspofungin as MIC determination criteria.

The role of calcium utilization of intestinal flora in urinary calcium excretion.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether Ca(+2) utilization of intestinal flora (IF) has an effect on urinary excretion of Ca(+2) (UCaE) levels.

Materials And Methods: Fecal samples (0.1 g/mL) of children who underwent UCaE examination in the past year were implanted in broths.

Fungi and indoor conditions in asthma patients.

This study was carried out with 127 asthmatic patients and 127 controls, which aimed to compare and evaluate the environmental conditions in the homes of asthmatic patients and the control group. Air samples were obtained by using an air sampler and the mean mould colony counts were established. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most common isolated species.

[Microbiological results of bronchoalveolar lavage that was performed for opportunistic pulmonary infections].

Between 2001-2002; in 62 cases, 33 (53%) male, 29 (47%) female, mean age 51.4 +/- 18.1 years) bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed for diagnosis of opportunistic pulmonary infection and specimens were evaluated for results of microbiological examinations.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections associated with Candida species in a Turkish University Hospital.

In recent years, a progressive increase in the frequency of nosocomial candidaemia has been observed, especially among the critically ill or immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend in incidence of candidaemia together with potential risk factors in an 850-bed Turkish Tertiary Care Hospital in a 4-year period. A total of 104 candidaemia episodes were identified in 104 patients.

[Evaluation of species distribution of yeasts isolated from intensive care units during the four years period].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the distributions of yeast species according to the years and to detect the emerging pathogens in intensive care units (ICU). For this purpose, yeast isolation rates were detected retrospectively, in the following time periods: Period I: April-December 2001; period II: January-December 2002; period III: January-December 2003; period IV: January-December 2004. A total of 490 yeast isolates recovered from 462 clinical specimens obtained from 360 different ICU patients were investigated during these periods.

The effect of bee propolis on oral pathogens and human gingival fibroblasts.

Propolis is one of the few natural remedies that have maintained its popularity over a long period of time. The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial properties of six propolis solutions and evaluate their cytotoxicity on gingival fibroblasts at different dilutions. Two different solutions of powder propolis (Sigma) and Turkish propolis were prepared and propylene glycol (PG) and alcohol were used as solvents for each propolis sample.

Microbial growth in various perfluorocarbon liquids.

A prospective in vitro study was conducted to investigate the potential for various perfluorocarbon liquids to support the growth of microbes, which may be introduced into these liquids as contaminants during intraocular surgery. Perfluorodecaline, perfluoro-noctane, and perfluorophenanthrene were tested for the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans by using tryptone soy broth, pancreatic digest of casein, and Sabouraud broth as culture media for up to 10 days. No microbial growth was observed in any of these perfluorocarbon liquids.

[Case report: a Fusarium fungaemia].

In this report, a case of Fusarium fungaemia developed in an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patient was presented. A seven year old girl who had weakness, loss of appetite, paleness and ecchymosis on legs applied to Pediatric Hematology Service and cytotoxic chemotherapy was started after she had been diagnosed as ALL-L1. Her chemotherapy was stopped because of increase in fever, leukopenia and neutropenia.

[Biofilm production and antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species].

In this study, biofilm production and antifungal susceptibility of various Candida species were examined and compared. A total number of 156 Candida species (94 C. albicans, 21 C.

Isolated nasopharyngeal aspergillosis caused by A flavus and associated with oxalosis.

We report a case of isolated nasopharyngeal aspergillosis in a 52-year-old woman with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We found the nasopharyngeal lesion incidentally while evaluating bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, which we had discovered during a routine follow-up examination pursuant to the patient's thyroid problem. Biopsy analysis of the nasopharyngeal lesion revealed the presence of a mycelium made up of septate hyphae and associated oxalosis.

Performance of CHROMAGAR candida and BIGGY agar for identification of yeast species.

Background: The importance of identifying the pathogenic fungi rapidly has encouraged the development of differential media for the presumptive identification of yeasts. In this study two differential media, CHROMagar Candida and bismuth sulphite glucose glycine yeast agar, were evaluated for the presumptive identification of yeast species.

Methods: A total number of 270 yeast strains including 169 Candida albicans, 33 C.

[Determination of esterase activity of Candida varieties].

This study was performed to determine the esterase activity of Candida species and to search the usefulness of tween 80 opacity test for the identification. Totally 124 Candida strains (66 C. albicans, 25 C.

[The value of the agar dilution method as a screening test for determining the sensitivity of Candida albicans to fluconazole].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of agar dilution method in the determination of fluconazole susceptibility of Candida albicans strains, by using different culture media. Hundred and seven C. albicans strains which were isolated from different clinical specimens were included to this study and fluconazole susceptibilities were determined by both of the microdilution method according to NCCLS M-27A standards, and an agar dilution based method by using CHROMagar Candida and Biggy agar.

[Molecular epidemiologic surveillance and antifungal agent sensitivity of Candida albicans isolated from anesthesia intensive care units].

Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are at risk of nosocomial infections. The incidence of nosocomial fungal infections has increased in parallel with the increase of nosocomial infections. Candida albicans is the most frequent pathogenic species among the fungi.