Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Izmir, Turkey.

In recent years, molecular typing methods have been used in epidemiologic studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in various areas of the world. However, there have been few data on this issue in Turkey. We describe the molecular characterization of 56 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates recovered from individual patients in Izmir and the surrounding area by three different molecular methods.

Species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of dermatophytes during a one year period at a university hospital in Turkey.

Dermatophyte infections have been considered to be a major public health problem in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to determine the causative agents of dermatophytoses and their antifungal susceptibilities in a Turkish University Hospital, west of Turkey. A total of 926 patients suspected to have dermatophytic lesions were examined over a period of 1 year (2001-2002).

[The importance of antinuclear (ABA) and anti-double stranded dna (anti-dsDNA) antibodies in the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases.].

Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against several tissues. These autoantibodies occur against cell membrane, cell receptors, plasma proteins, and cytoplasmic and nuclear components. In laboratories, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies are widely used in diagnosis of CTD.

[Comparison of indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay methods for the determination of antinuclear antibodies].

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are widely used for screening and monitoring of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is the standard method which is more often preferred for detecting these antibodies. Another method is enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) which includes extractable nuclear antigens (ENA).

Evaluation of semisolid agar screening tests for determining fluconazole and amphotericin B susceptibilities of Candida strains by using three different media.

The susceptibilities of 164 Candida isolates against fluconazole and amphotericin B were determined by semisolid agar screening tests and the microdilution method according to NCCLS M27-A standards. The semisolid agar screening tests were performed with three different media containing 0.5% agar and 2, 8, and 40 microg/ml of fluconazole or 0.

[Comparison of routine sensitivity tests and mecA gene analysis for determination of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates].

Currently, oxacillin disk diffusion test is the most frequently employed method to detect the methicillin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates. However, due to some of the test conditions, errors may occur during the detection of heteroresistant bacteria. It is now widely accepted that lower incubation temperatures (< or = 35 degrees C) and media with a NaCl concentration of 2-4%, could facilitate detection.

Effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of gentamicin, penicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on adherence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains.

Evaluating the adherence factor of uropathogenic Escherichia coli is important for assessing the relative efficiency of antimicrobials when used at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MICs). The microdilution method was used to determine the MICs of gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethaxozole and penicillin. Then the efficacy of antimicrobial sub-MICs was determined by hemagglutination and adherence assays.

Effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of three fluoroquinolones on adherence of uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli.

The effect of subinhibitory concentrations (1/2-1/32 x MIC) of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin on the adherence of three strains of Escherichia coli (a mannose-resistant haemagglutinating clinical isolate, a non-haemagglutinating clinical isolate and the mannose-resistant haemagglutinating ATCC 25922 strain) were studied. Ciprofloxacin had the lowest MIC values but only the 1/2 MIC concentration inhibited adherence of mannose-resistant haemagglutinating strains after exposure to subMIC values. Significant inhibition of adherence was observed with 1/4 x MIC ofloxacin for both haemagglutinating isolate (27096) and the ATCC strain.

Aspergillus niger infection of exenterated orbit.

Purpose: To present two immunocompetent patients with Aspergillus niger infection of the exenterated orbit.

Methods: Case reports.

Results: The patients were treated with oral itraconazole and socket irrigation with amphotericin B.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci in neonates.

Fecal-oral transmission of vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococci (VRE), which colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, has led to nosocomial epidemics in recent years. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and associated factors of fecal colonization with VRE in neonates. In our hospital 110 rectal swab specimens collected in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were examined for VRE.

Comparison of minimum inhibitory concentration values for fluoroquinolones against Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infection in both hospitalized patients and outpatients.

Objective: To determine the resistance among Escherichia coli isolates causing urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients and outpatients.

Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Medical Faculty Hospital, Inciralti, Ismir, Turkey, from February 1997 through to June 1998. A total of 300 Escherichia coli strains were isolated from urine specimens of 111 hospitalized and 189 elderly outpatients (more than 20 years of age).

Use of chromogenic tube and methyl blue-sabouraud agar for the identification of Candida albicans strains.

This study was performed to investigate the use of chromogenic tube and methyl blue-Sabouraud agar for the presumptive identification of Candida albicans. 124 clinical isolates, including 111 C.albicans and 13 Candida spp strains, which had been identified by morphology on cornmeal tween 80 agar and Vitek automated identification system, were included.

Recovery period of the bladder after exposure to soluble virulence factor produced by Escherichia coli.

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the time interval required for the recovery of the bladder after exposure to soluble virulence factor (SVF) in an animal model. In addition, we aimed to determine the changes in the epithelium during the recovery period.

Methods: A total of 46 male New Zealand rabbits were used in this study.

The comparison of the efficacy of fluticasone propionate with cetirizine in perennial allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is an IgE mediated hypersensitivity reaction of the nasal mucosa characterised by nasal discharge, obstruction, and pruritus.

Patients And Methods: In this study, 43 patients with perenneal allergic rhinitis were enrolled in order to compare the efficacy of Fluticasone Propionate (FP), a corticosteroid nasal spray, with Cetirizine, a systemic oral antihistaminic preparation, which is supposed to have nonsteroidal antiinflammatory activity. Cetirizine (10 mg daily as a single dose) was administered to 22 patient for 45 days.

Disk diffusion method for fluconazole susceptibility testing of Candida albicans strains.

This study evaluated the usefulness of the disk diffusion method by using different media for the susceptibility testing of fluconazole against Candida albicans strains. The susceptibility of 108 clinical isolates of C. albicans against fluconazole were determined by microdilution and disk diffusion methods by using RPMI 1640 agar and 25 microg disks.

Antimicrobial resistance of gram-negative isolates from intensive care units in Turkey: comparison to previous three years.

Resistance rates to selected antibiotics of gram-negative bacteria isolated from intensive care units (ICU) of 16 Turkish hospitals during 1998 were evaluated and compared to data from the previous 3 years. Antibiotic susceptibilities to imipenem, ceftazidime, ceftazidime-clavulanate, cefoperazone-sulbactam, ceftriaxone, cefepime, cefodizime, cefuroxime, piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, gentamicin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin were determined by Etest. A total of 1,404 isolates from 1,060 patients were collected, mainly from urinary and respiratory tracts.

Beta-lactamase patterns and betalactam/clavulanic acid resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from fecal samples from healthy volunteers.

Fecal specimens from 50 healthy volunteers living in Izmir, Turkey, were examined for the presence of beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli by selection on agar plates containing ampicillin (10 mg/L). Thirty-nine (78%) of the strains were ampicillin-resistant and ampicillin MIC50 values for these isolates were > or =1024 microg/ml (range 32- > or =1024 microg/ml). Ampicillin MIC values remained above 64 microg/ml in 16 (41%) strains despite addition of clavulanic acid (2 mg/L).

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative isolates from intensive care units in eight hospitals in Turkey.

With the participation of eight major reference hospitals in Turkey, 749 aerobic Gram-negative isolates obtained from 473 intensive care patients in 1997 were tested for their susceptibility to 13 commonly employed antibacterial agents. The frequency with which species were isolated and resistance rates were compared with data from the previous 2 years. Imipenem was the most active agent against the majority of isolates (75%), followed by ciprofloxacin, cefepime and amikacin.

High prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase production among Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated at a University Hospital in Turkey.

Beta-lactam susceptibility and beta-lactamase patterns of a random sample of 44 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that had been isolated from nosocomial infections at Dokuz Eylül University Hospital in Izmir, were investigated. All strains were amoxycillin resistant but in the presence of clavulanic acid 26 became sensitive. Similarly 39 of the strains were resistant to ceftazidime and cefotaxime; clavulanic acid restored sensitivity to ceftazidime in 28 and to cefotaxime in 25 of these resistant strains.

A surveillance study of antimicrobial resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated from intensive care units in eight hospitals in Turkey.

This study was carried out with the participation of eight hospitals in Turkey to determine the frequency of gram-negative bacteria isolated in intensive care units (ICU) and to compare their resistance rates to selected antibiotics. Aerobic gram-negative bacteria isolated from ICUs during 1996 were studied. Antibiotic susceptibilities to imipenem, ceftazidime, ceftazidime-clavulanate, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefepime, cefodizime, cefuroxime, piperacillin/tazobactam, amoxycillin-clavulanate, gentamicin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin were determined by Etest.

Transferable trimethoprim resistance in Shigella strains.

The susceptibility patterns of 35 Shigella isolates (16 S. flexneri, 14 S. dysenteriae and 5 S.