Empirical cefepime+vancomycin versus ceftazidime+vancomycin versus meropenem+vancomycin in the treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis: results of the multicenter ephesus study.

Background: Herein, we analyzed the efficacy of main antibiotic therapy regimens in the treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis (HCAM).

Materials/methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in 18 tertiary-care academic hospitals Turkey, India, Egypt and Romania. We extracted data and outcomes of all patients with post-neurosurgical meningitis cases fulfilling the study inclusion criteria and treated with empirical therapy between December 2006-September 2018.

Comparison of Immunological and Virological Recovery with Rapid, Early, and Late Start of Antiretroviral Treatment in Naive Plwh: Real-World Data.

Background: Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the transmission of HIV infection in the community. This study aimed to determine whether rapid ART initiation is effective compared to standard ART treatment in our country.

Methods: Patients were grouped based on time to treatment initiation.

[Comparison of Real Time PCR Cycle Threshold Values in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients].

Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) show different clinical courses ranging from asymptomatic to severe infection requiring intensive care treatment and death. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), used in the diagnosis, screening and surveillance of coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), provides the viral load as a cycle threshold (Ct) value. It has been reported that the Ct value may be related to the course of the infection and the clinical condition of the patient.

[Investigation of the Relationship Between TNF-α, IL-12A, IL-12B and IFN-γ Gene Polymorphisms and Chronic Hepatitis C].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still an important public health problem worldwide. Cytokines play an important role in the prognosis of HCV infections. Polymorphisms in the cytokine genes can affect the gene expression and change the clinical course of the disease.

Whipple's Disease: A Case Report.

Objective: Whipple's disease is a very rare systemic infectious disease with an annual incidence of 3 in one million, which may be fatal if not diagnosed and treated appropriately.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: Herein we describe a 49-year-old patient admitted to the hospital with symptoms of severe malabsorption and diagnosed with Whipple's disease. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological findings of small intestine biopsies and PCR analysis.

Daptomycin vs. glycopeptides in the treatment of febrile neutropenia: results of the Izmir matched cohort study.

Purpose: In this multicentre, retrospective, matched cohort study we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of neutropenic fever cases that were treated with daptomycin or a glycopeptide (vancomycin or teicoplanin).

Methods: Data and outcomes of adult (aged > 18-years old) patients with neutropenic fever [(1) without clinical and radiological evidence of pneumonia, (2) who were treated with daptomycin or a glycopeptide (teicoplanin or vancomycin) for any reason and for at least 72 h] were extracted from the hospital databases. Matching was performed with all of the three following criteria: (1) underlying disease, (2) reason for starting daptomycin or glycopeptide (microbiologic evidence vs.

[Investigation of the association between chronic hepatitis B and C infections and TNF-α (-308) gene polymorphism].

Cytokines and genetic factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infections. Variations in cytokine genes may effect the gene expression and may lead to changes in the clinical manifestations of diseases. One of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene is the polymorphism at -308.

Causative pathogens and antibiotic resistance in diabetic foot infections: A prospective multi-center study.

Aim: Clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetic foot infections developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are commonly used worldwide. The issue of whether or not these guidelines need to be adjusted for local circumstances, however, has seldom been assessed in large prospective trials.

Methods: The Turk-DAY trial was a prospective, multi-center study in which infectious disease specialists from centers across Turkey were invited to participate (NCT02026830).

The incidence and risk factors of resistant E. coli infections after prostate biopsy under fluoroquinolone prophylaxis: a single-centre experience with 2215 patients.

We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of resistant Escherichia coli infections after the prostate biopsy under flouroquinolone prophylaxis. From January 2003 to December 2012, we retrospectively evaluated the records of 2215 patients. The risk factors were described for infective complications and resistant E.

[Investigation of IL-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-8 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C].

The host immune response is closely related to the prognosis of disease and viral persistence in hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Although it is well known that cytokines and genetic factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic HBV and HCV infections, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study was conducted to determine the role of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and IL-8 gene polymorphisms in chronic hepatitis B and C infections.

Chronic hepatitis B and IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism: preliminary study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism on pegylated interferon (peg IFN) and oral antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and to investigate the relationship between the severities of illness with this polymorphism. 74 CHB patients who are received treatment, 61 asymptomatic carriers and 40 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Genomic DNA of controls and patients were extracted from whole blood using High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions and stored at 4 °C.

Association of insulin resistance, viral load, and adipokine levels with liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis C: an observational, multicenter study in Turkey.

Objective: To evaluate the association of insulin resistance (IR), viral load, and adipokine levels with liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Patients And Methods: In this noninterventional, multicenter study carried out at 11 infectious diseases clinics in Turkey, 103 CHC patients [mean (SD) age: 50.2 (11.

Correlation between intrahepatic hepatitis B virus cccDNA levels and other activity markers in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relation between intrahepatic (IH) hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels and the other HBV replicative intermediates and hepatocyte expression of HBV antigens.

Patients And Methods: Patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, hepatitis B early antigen negativity, serum HBV DNA levels 10 copies/ml or more, and constantly or intermittently increased alanine aminotransferase levels were included.

Results: Fifty-nine patients were included.

Effects of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphism on the course of hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aims: To investigate the effects of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 gene polymorphism on the stage of hepatitis B infection.

Methodology: This study included 116 healthy controls, 56 normal carriers of hepatitis B virus, 69 chronic hepatitis B patients and 20 cirrhosis patients. The polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 were determined with real time PCR with LightCycler instrument using hybridization probes in combination with the LightCycler DNA Master Hybridization Probes Kit (Roche Diagnostics).

Risk factors for infection of the diabetic foot with multi-antibiotic resistant microorganisms.

Aim: To investigate the risk factors for infection of the diabetic foot with multidrug resistant microorganisms.

Methods: Amongst 102 diabetic patients with evidence of soft tissue infection of the foot who presented to our health center over a three year period, we investigated risk factors that might be predictive of multi-antibiotic resistance of the infecting organism.

Results: Of 102 patients with a diabetic foot wound, bacteria were cultured from 73, yielding a total of 104 isolates.

Clarithromycin destroys biofilms and enhances bactericidal agents in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis.

In this study, the effect of clarithromycin on the destruction of bacterial biofilm in Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis was investigated. Foreign body-related osteomyelitis caused by ceftazidime-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa was produced in the tibias of 26 rats. After osteomyelitis was verified on Day 14, 10 rats had ceftazidime (1500 mg/kg/day) given subcutaneously, and 10 rats had ceftazidime given subcutaneously and clarithromycin (100 mg/kg/day, two 50-mg/kg doses every 12 hours) given orally; three rats formed the control group.

Fibronectin levels in chronic viral hepatitis and response of this protein to interferon therapy.

Background/aims: In this study, the plasma fibronectin levels in the cases of chronic hepatitis B and C infection and this protein's response to the interferon therapy were examined.

Methodology: Totally, 38 patients with chronic hepatitis, 21 of them being hepatitis B, 17 of them being hepatitis C; and 24 healthy blood donors, as the control group, took part in this study. The quantitative determinations of fibronectin in plasma samples were performed with the Bohring Nephelometer BN 100 (N Antiserum to Human Fibronectin, code no OUND, Dade Behring Marburg GmbH, Marburg Germany).

Comparison of the accelerated and classic vaccination schedules against Hepatitis B: three-week Hepatitis B vaccination schedule provides immediate and protective immunity.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection although preventable by vaccination remains an important health issue throughout the world due to its morbidity, mortality and economical losses. Early seroprotection is desirable for people at high risk of exposure. The aim of this study was to determine whether three-week hepatitis B vaccination (on days 0, 10 and 21) provide seroprotection or not.

Elevation of procalcitonin level in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in medical staff with close patient contact.

Background: Several studies have shown that serum procalcitonin levels increase conspicuously in acute and systemic inflammatory diseases. However, there is insufficient information concerning its activity in chronic infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. In this study, we aimed to assess serum level of procalcitonin in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and in medical staff at high risk due to close patient contact (high-risk staff).

The effect of recombinant interferon alpha treatment on hearing thresholds in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B.

Objectives: To investigate the possible ototoxic effects of recombinant interferon alpha (IFN alpha) on patients with hepatitis B.

Patients And Method: Twenty-seven adult patients (14 male, 13 female) with chronic hepatitis B who were administered recombinant IFN alpha treatment were selected for this study. These patients were treated with a dose of 10 MU three times per week during 8-12 months (average follow-up period was 11.