Gülhan, Barış; Çıkman, Aytekin; Aydın, Merve; Hasbek, Mürşit; Özekinci, Tuncer; Akyüz, Sümeyye; Karakeçili, Faruk

Objective: In this study, two multiplex tandem real-time PCR kits were used to rapidly diagnose common Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli, detect their commonly seen antibiotic resistance genes, and evaluate the two kits’ performance. Materials and Methods: Gram-positive 12 (GP-12) kit (AusDiagnostics, Australia) and Gram-negative 12 (GN-12) kit (AusDiagnostics, Australia) were used in the study. Seventy-eight Gram-negative bacilli and 54 Gram-positive cocci grown in blood culture vials were applied to GN-12 and GP-12 panels. At the same time, the passages of the samples were made and incubated. After that, identification and antibiograms were made in the Phoenix™ automated system (Becton, Dickinson and Company, USA) and VITEK 2 Compact automated system (bioMérieux, France). Results: Twenty-one Staphylococcus aureus, twelve coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), two Streptococcus pneumoniae, two Enterococcus faecium, and three Enterococcus faecalis were found to match the results from the automated GP-12 Kit. Pathogens present in the panel were successfully identified using the GN-12 kit. Both panels were found to be more effective in diagnosing polymicrobial infections. Conclusion: These evaluated kits were rapid (approximately three hours) and valuable in identifying common sepsis pathogens and resistance genes. Thus, these tests can easily be used in the diagnosis of sepsis.

Gürbüz, Yunus; Kocagül-çelikbaş, Aysel; Öztoprak, Nefise; Aygen, Bilgehan; Batırel, Ayşe; Habiloğlu, Arif Doğan; Aktuğ-Demir, Nazlım; Çeken, Sabahat; Demirtürk, Neşe; Ceylan, Mehmet Reşat

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the real-life efficacy and safety of glecaprevir / pibrentasvir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, as well as to identify the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the follow-up and treatment of patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively with the participation of researchers from universities or training and research hospitals. It included patients with chronic hepatitis C who were over 18 years of age, treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced, had detectable HCV RNA and were receiving glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment Results: Only 188 of the 385 patients who participated in the study came to the follow-up visit 12 weeks after treatment, and all of them had a sustained virological response. It was thought that a significant portion of the 177 patients who did not come to the follow-up visit at 12 weeks after treatment refrained from coming to the hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the patients who attended the follow-up visits required treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. Conclusion: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is a highly effective and relatively safe drug in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the follow-up and treatment processes of patients. New measures are needed for the follow-up and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C during pandemics.

Korkmaz, Pinar; Asan, Ali; Karakecili, Faruk; Tekin, Sueda; Demirtürk, Nese

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. HBV-infected patients are at a lifetime risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Today, pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) are used in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Both treatment options have limitations. Despite effective viral suppression, NAs have little effect on covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the stable episomal form of the HBV genome in hepatocytes. Therefore, the cure rate with NAs is low, and long-term treatment is required. Although the cure rate is better with Peg-IFN, it is difficult to tolerate due to drug side effects. Therefore, new treatment options are needed in the treatment of HBV infection. We can group new treatments under two headings: those that interfere with the viral life cycle and spread and those that modulate the immune response. Clinical studies show that combinations of treatments that directly target the viral life cycle and treatments that regulate the host immune system will be among the important treatment strategies in the future. As new direct -acting antiviral (DAA) and immunomodulatory therapies continue to emerge and evolve, functional cures in HBV treatment may be an achievable goal.

Saygideger, Yasemin; Bayindir, Yasar; Azap, Alpay; Mete, Ayşe Özlem; Kaya, Safak; Acar, Ali; Binay, Umut Devrim; Yildiz, Yesim; Arslan, Yusuf; Kandemir, Özlem

Objective: We aimed to investigate the vaccination status and the risk factors for the in- tensive care unit (ICU) support need of the laboratory-confirmed breakthrough COVID-19 infection inpatients. Materials and Methods: This multi-center point-prevalence study was conducted on inpa- tients, divided into two groups as ‘fully’ and ‘partially’ vaccinated according to COVID-19 vaccination status. Results: Totally 516 patients were included in the study. The median age was 65 (55-77), and 53.5% (n=276) of the patients were male. Hypertension (41.9%, n=216), diabetes mel- litus (DM) (31.8%, n=164), and coronary artery disease (CAD) (16.3%, n=84) were the pre- dominant comorbidities. Patients were divided into two groups ICU (n=196) and non-ICU (n=301). Hypertension (p=0.026), DM (p=0.048), and congestive heart failure (CHF) (p=0.005) were significantly higher in ICU patients and the median age was younger among non-ICU patients (p=0.033). Of patients, 16.9% (n=87) were fully vaccinated, and this group’s need for ICU support was statistically significantly lower (p=0.021). Conclusion: We conclude that older age, hypertension, DM, CHF, and being partially vacci- nated were associated with the need for ICU support. Therefore, all countries should con- tinuously monitor post-vaccination breakthrough COVID-19 infections to determine the national booster vaccine administration approach that will provide vulnerable individuals the highest protection.

Kuyumcu, Cigdem Akalan; Erol, Serpil; Adaleti, Riza; Senbayrak, Seniha; Deniz, Secil; Barkay, Orcun

Objective: Serological tests are the most commonly used tests in the diagnosis of brucellosis; however, each serological test has some drawbacks. In this study, we aimed to determine the value of the Brucella Coombs gel test (BCGT) in the serological diagnosis of brucellosis in comparison with Standard tube agglutination (STA) and ELISA tests.Materials and Methods: The study included 42 patients who were considered to have brucellosis as a preliminary diagnosis. BCGT, Brucella-IgM/IgG ELISA, and STA tests were performed from serum samples of the patients. The correlation of the diagnostic tests was analyzed using Cohen's Kappa Analysis.Results: Twenty-seven (64.2%) of 42 patients were diagnosed with brucellosis according to their medical history and clinical and serological tests. The sensitivity and specificity of BCGT to diagnose brucellosis was 96.2%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of brucellosis 62.9% and 100% for STA, respectively; 33.3% and 66.6% for Brucella-IgM; and 66.6% and 100% for Brucella-IgG. BCGT was significantly correlated with STA (kappa= 0.590) and Brucella-IgG (kappa=0.539)Conclusion: BCGT can be utilized as a simple and reliable test in the diagnosis of brucellosis with high sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, the sensitivity and specificity of BCGT should be demonstrated by comprehensive studies, including culture-confirmed cases and control groups.