Risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in people with multiple sclerosis treated with ocrelizumab: an observational study from Turkey.

Background: The risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation remains unclear in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving ocrelizumab. We aimed to assess HBV seroprevalence and reactivation risk in MS patients on ocrelizumab and to evaluate the effectiveness of antiviral prophylaxis against HBV reactivation.

Methods: In this single-center, cross-sectional study, 400 people with MS receiving ocrelizumab were screened for HBV at baseline and antiviral prophylaxis was implemented based on serological results.

The performance of hepatitis B surface antigen quantification as a noninvasive biomarker predicting liver injury and serum hepatitis B virus DNA level.

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is still a major public health problem worldwide. Recently, evidence indicating that serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification can be used for monitorization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been increased. In this study, we evaluated HBsAg levels during the natural course of CHB and identified correlations between HBsAg, HBV DNA levels and liver histopathology.

Vaccination Status and Outcome of Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Before and After the Spread of Omicron Variant: An Observational Study from İzmir, Turkey.

Objective: Despite the efforts in vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), breakthrough infections occur and the need for hospitalization continues. We aimed to determine the relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination and the severity of COVID-19 and mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and February 2022 in a university hos- pital in Turkey.

Pre-infection antibody levels of vaccinated healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection: A nested case-control study.

Aim: To evaluate anti-RBD IgG antibody levels and neutralizing antibody titers between the health care workers (HCWs) with breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection and controls.

Methods: In this nested case-case control study, we followed 548 vaccinated HCWs with homologous (only with inactivated vaccine) or heterologous (both with inactivated and BNT162b2 vaccine) vaccination for 11 months, prospectively. We obtained blood samples from the participants for quantitative anti-RBD IgG and surrogate neutralization test.

The Effect of the Pandemic on Antifungal Use: What Has Changed?

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, antimicrobial and antifungal stewardship programs have lost their priority. Although all parenteral antifungals were used with the recommendations of infectious diseases specialists in the pre-pandemic period, most consultations were delayed during the pandemic because of the workload of infectious diseases specialists. In this period, antifungal treatments in hospitalized patients were managed by mostly primary physicians.

Fungal colonization and infections in patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units: A real-life experience at a tertiary-care hospital.

Purpose: To evaluate the management of patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care units (ICUs) with fungal infection/colonization and to highlight diagnostic problems in these patients.

Methods: We included all patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis who were aged ≥18 years and followed in the ICU for the first 8 months. Patient data were obtained from medical records.

Nasopharyngeal Carriage and Serotype Distribution of in Elderly: A Cross-sectional Study in Turkey.

Objective: The incidence and mortality of invasive pneumococcal disease are much higher in people over 65 years compared to the general population. The incidence of the disease and the distribution of serotypes changed with the spread of childhood conjugate pneumococcal vaccines and the use of vaccines in the adult age group. Nasopharyngeal carriage is an important stage in the disease pathogenesis.

COVID-19 Pneumonia After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination with CoronaVac: A Case Series from Turkey.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a novel viral infection that has caused a pandemic globally. Many kinds of vaccine development studies were conducted to prevent the spread and deaths. The CoronaVac is the most commonly used vaccine in Turkey.

An analysis of antibody response following the second dose of CoronaVac and humoral response after booster dose with BNT162b2 or CoronaVac among healthcare workers in Turkey.

Limited data are available on the short- to midterm levels of antibodies to the CoronaVac vaccine and quantitative change in humoral response after homologous or heterologous booster doses. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after two doses of CoronaVac and heterologous/homologous booster administration among healthcare workers in a university hospital in Turkey. Quantitative anti-RBD IgG antibody levels were measured at first and fourth months in 560 healthcare workers who had completed two doses of CoronaVac vaccine, and within 2 months after the third dose of CoronaVac or BNT162b2.

Primary Cutaneous Aspergillosis in Immunocompetent Adults: Three Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Primary cutaneous aspergillosis (PCA) can rarely affect immunocompetent people. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence, diagnosis and management of the disease because there are only case reports or small case series in the literature. For this reason, the diagnosis and treatment of three immunocompetent adult patients diagnosed with PCA were discussed by reviewing the literature.