The tick fauna in Istanbul, Turkey, from 2013 to 2017 and identification of their pathogens by multiplex PCR: an epidemiological study.

Ticks may carry several pathogens as vectors and their pathogen load may vary due to differences in geography, climate and vegetation. In this study, we collected ticks from 39 districts of Istanbul (Turkey) between May and October, from 2013 to 2017, and identified them under stereo-microscope. In addition, we investigated the pathogens that the ticks carry (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia sp.

Detailed characterization, antibiotic resistance and seasonal variation of hospital wastewater.

This study investigates the presence of the different classes of micro-pollutants such as pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) (20 antibiotics, 8 analgesics and anti-inflammatories, 5 cytostatic agents, 7 β-blockers, 4 lipid regulators, 13 psychiatrics, 1 antidiabetic, 1 receptor antagonist, 1 local anaesthetic, 1 antihypertensive and their 5 metabolites), hormones (8 compounds), X-ray contrast agents (6 compounds), benzotriazoles (3 compounds) and pesticides (6 compounds), and antibiotic resistance in hospital wastewater (HWW) of a medical faculty in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, the seasonal variations of the selected PhACs and X-ray contrast agents and antibiotic resistance were evaluated for 2 years in a total of eight samples. In the PhACs, sulfamethoxazole and its metabolite (4 N-acethyl-sulfamethoxazole) in the antibiotic group and paracetamol in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory group were found at 100% of frequency and the highest concentrations as 35, 43 and 210 μg/L, respectively.

Evaluation of Infection Resistance of Biodegradable versus Conventional Annuloplasty Rings in an in vivo Rat Subcutaneous Model.

Background: Biodegradable atrioventricular annuloplasty rings are theoretically more infection resistant due to their intra-annular implantation technique and nonporous structures (monofilament of poly-1,4-dioxanone). The aim of this study was to investigate the infection resistance of a biodegradable annuloplasty ring (Kalangos-Bioring®) in a rat subcutaneous implantation model and to compare it with a commonly used conventional annuloplasty ring (Edwards Physio II®).

Methods: This study included 32 Wistar albino rats which were divided into 2 groups according to the implantation of sterile or infected annuloplasty rings as control and study groups.

Characterization and toxicity of hospital wastewaters in Turkey.

The aim of the study was to present first preliminary characterization of Turkish hospital wastewaters, their environmental risk, and a method for toxicity assessment. The hospital wastewater samples were collected from two of the largest medical faculty hospitals and a training and research hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. The samples from the selected hospitals were taken as grab samples on March 2014.

The epidemiological and molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolated from rectal swab samples of hospitalized patients in Turkey.

Background: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a serious problem all over the world. The present study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial resistance patterns, genotypes, clonal relationship, and virulence fac- tors of VRE species isolated from rectal swab samples of hospitalized patients, patient's relatives, and medical staff at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School hospital.

Methods: The VRE isolates were typed with an automated VITEK system and their antibiotic sensibilities were analysed by disc diffusion and Etest® method.

Cases of active infective endocarditis in a university hospital during a 10-year period.

Objective: To determine the features of patients with active infective endocarditis, and to identify causative microorganisms in blood and/or valve cultures.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, Istanbul, Turkey, and comprised 22 patients with clinical evidence of the affliction who underwent operation between January 2001 and December 2010. Modified Duke Criteria was used for the diagnosis of the condition.

[Comparing the occurrence of Trichomonas vaginalis infections today to ten years ago among women prostitutes and gynecology and obstetrics patients in Istanbul].

Objective: Trichomonas vaginalis is is a monoxenous parasite which lives in human urogenital systems and causes sex transmitted disease through human sexual contact. Disease frequency has been seen at different rates in different communities or in the same community depending on people's sociocultural status. Previously we made a study for determining prevalence of T.

Vancomycin tolerance in enterococci.

Background: Tolerance can be defined as the ability of bacteria to grow in the presence of high concentrations of bactericide antimicrobics, so that the killing action of the drug is avoided but the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) remains the same. We investigated vancomycin tolerance in the Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from different clinical specimens.

Methods: Vancomycin was obtained from Sigma Chemical Co.