[Investigation of SCCmec types and Panton-Valentine leukocidin in community-acquired and nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus strains: comparing skin and soft tissue infections to the other infections].

Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are important health care problems since they are usually multidrug resistant. Although MRSA is isolated especially from nosocomial infections, community-acquired MRSA infections are increasing. Methicillin resistance is due to the expression of mecA gene, which is located on SCCmec gene cassette.

[Investigation of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) and telithromycin resistance in clinical strains of staphylococci].

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) resistance and also to search for telithromycin resistance in staphylococcus strains isolated at Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. A total of 381 Staphylococcus aureus isolates and 94 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were tested by disc approximation method. Methicillin resistance of these isolates was searched by disc diffusion test using 30 microg cefoxitin discs.

[In vitro activity of tigecycline against methicillin-resistant staphylococci].

Glycylcyclines are novel semisynthetic group of antibiotics that have been produced by substitution of glycylamido group at position 9 of tetracyclines. Tigecycline derived from minocycline is the first member of glycylcyclines. This new antibiotic has a broad spectrum of activity against variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and is not affected by known tetracycline resistance mechanisms.

Does granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor prevent bacterial translocation in rats with surgical trauma and obstructive jaundice?

Background/aims: The incidence of sepsis can be decreased by preventing bacterial translocation, as the first step in enhanced host defense. The aim of this study was to prevent translocation and to increase Kupffer cell incidence by using granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor in rats with surgical trauma and obstructive jaundice.

Methods: Seventy-five Sprague- Dawley rats were randomized into 8 groups.

Rapid 4 to 6 hour detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in a routine laboratory.

With the growing frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) among Enterobacteriaceae, treatment of Gram-negative nosocomial infections requires rapid and reliable detection of this enzyme. Quicolor agar (QC agar) (Salubris Inc., Massachusetts, USA) is a novel chromogenic agar medium changing colour within 4 to 6 h due to the metabolic activity of growing bacteria.

Validation of urinary antigen test for Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.

The study was undertaken to prospectively evaluate a Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia among patient and control groups between 2004 and 2006. Microbiological analysis for these patients included Gram staining for sputum, sputum and blood culture. Nonconcentrated urine samples were tested using an immunochromatographic assay, the NOW S.

Nalidixic acid resistance in Salmonella strains with decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin isolated from humans in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of nalidixic acid resistance as an indicator of decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC = 0.125 - 1 mg/L) in Salmonella isolates from humans (n = 620) in Turkey. One isolate was found to be resistant, and the remaining isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints; however, 75 isolates (12.

[Anaerobic bacteria isolated from patients with suspected anaerobic infections].

The study involved 394 clinical samples sent to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of Hacettepe University Adult Hospital between January 1997 and May 2004 for anaerobic cultivation. Since multiple cultures from the same clinical samples of the same patient were excluded, the study was carried on 367 samples. The anaerobic cultures were performed in anaerobic jar using AnaeroGen kits (Oxoid, Basingstoke, U.

[The prevalence of nasopharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis carriage, serogroup distribution, and antibiotic resistance among healthy children in Cankaya municipality schools of Ankara province].

Meningococci responsible for significant morbidity and mortality rates in children are found in the oropharynx and nasopharynx and communicated with droplets. In this study, the prevalence of nasopharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis carriage, serogroup distribution and antibiotic resistance were determined among healthy children in Cankaya municipality of Ankara province. The study involved 1155 students aged 7-19 years.

Macrolide resistance mechanisms and in vitro susceptibility patterns of viridans group streptococci isolated from blood cultures.

Objectives: Our aim was to study the macrolide resistance mechanisms and antimicrobial susceptibilities of viridans group streptococci (VGS) isolated from blood cultures.

Methods: In vitro susceptibilities to nine antimicrobials were studied for 85 VGS isolated from blood cultures by agar dilution. Pheno- and genotyping of erythromycin-resistant isolates were studied by the double disc test and PCR.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus heterogeneously resistant to vancomycin in a Turkish university hospital.

Objectives: We investigated vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heterogeneously vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hetero-VISA) isolates from clinical specimens of hospitalized patients at Hacettepe University over a 4 year period.

Methods: Strains were screened for VISA and hetero-VISA by using brain heart infusion agar containing 4 mg/L vancomycin (BHI-V4) and macro Etest.

[Salmonella enterica serotypes and Salmonella infections: a multicenter study covering ten provinces in Turkey].

In order to find the distinctive features of Salmonellae and Salmonella infections in Turkey, 620 Salmonellae strains, isolated from various clinical samples (481 stool, 108 blood, 12 urine, 3 bone marrow, 3 cerebrospinal fluid, 9 pus, and one from each of the bile, pleural fluid, wound, catheter samples) in 13 clinical microbiology laboratories of 10 provinces in Turkey (Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Edirne, Eskişehir, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Konya and Trabzon) between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2002, were serotyped. Among the patients 43% were female, 57% were male, 63.2% were from outpatient clinics and 36.

[Six years evaluation of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea].

This study was aimed to detect the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin in the stool samples of patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea or pseudomembranous colitis, and to relate its presence with the clinical findings of the patients. Between January 1997-April 2003, a total of 726 stool samples were investigated for C. difficile toxin A and/or B by enzyme immunoassay.

[Determination of serologic markers against bacterial atypical pneumonia agents in pneumonia patients].

Approximately one third of all community acquired pneumonia cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (previously, Chlamydia pneumoniae) which are known as bacterial atypical pneumonia agents. Serological tests are used commonly for laboratory diagnosis of these agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causative role of bacterial atypical pneumonia agents in clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients.

[Comparison of the value of disk diffusion methods and polymerase chain reaction for fixation of methicillin resistant staphylococcus].

The detection of methicillin resistance with an appropriate method has a great importance in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by staphylococci. This study was set out to compare disk diffusion method as a phenotypic method, with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as a genotypic method, for the detection of methicillin resistance in staphylococci. A total of 406 staphylococci strains that were isolated from clinical specimens in microbiology laboratories of adult hospital of Hacettepe University Medical Faculty were included into the study.

In vitro susceptibility, tolerance and MLS resistance phenotypes of Group C and Group G streptococci isolated in Turkey between 1995 and 2002.

A total of 105 clinical strains of Group C and Group G streptococci were examined for their susceptibility to penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, meropenem and vancomycin using a broth microdilution method. Minimum bactericidal concentrations of the antimicrobial agents and phenotypes of strains resistant to erythromycin were also evaluated. No resistance to penicillin, cefotaxime, meropenem and vancomycin was found in years 1995-2002, but there was 6.

Evaluation of the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test (HpSA) for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection and comparison with other methods.

Background/aims: Several invasive and non-invasive methods are available for the detection of H. pylori infection. The accuracy of anti-H.