Detection of Vancomycin resistant enterococci from rectal swab samples by Becton-Dickinson GeneOhm VanR assay and culture at ICU of a tertiary care center in Turkey

Objectives: Vancomycin resistance is due to change in ligase enzyme that destroys the binding of the drug. The gold standard is culture; but now molecular methods have also been developed. The aim was to detect the VRE rate at ICUs by culture and BD GeneOhm[TM]. VanR and compare the results of both assays

Methodology: 135 perianal swabs were taken from the patients at ICUs between January 1[st] 2009 and April 30[th] 2009. Samples were identified by conventional methods and BD GeneOhm VanR assay

Results: In newborn ICU, 41 patients [74.6%] were negative by both methods. Two [3.6%] were positive by both methods. Twelve [21.8%] of them were culture negative and PCR positive. In adult ICU, 73 [91.3%] patients were negative by both methods. Seven patients [8.8%] were positive by molecular method only

Conclusion: This study showed low VRE positivity due to factors like inhibition in PCR or culture negativity due low inoculum for bacterial growth. Early detection of VRE is an important issue especially in ICUs and molecular techniques are important tools; but against all, we still need to confirm this method with culture based techniques and in order to do this further studies with higher number of patients with VRE colonisation are required

Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus in the prevaccine era: a population-based study in Izmir, Turkey

To determine the population-based seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus [VZV] and related risk factors in Izmir. A population-based household survey was conducted. A representative sample of the population older than 15 years of age was selected using multistage random sampling. A total of 2136 healthy persons participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to collect data related to socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors. Blood samples were collected, and VZV-specific IgG was measured using an ELISA. In total, 94.3% of individuals were seropositive for VZV. The difference between VZV seroprevalence in urban and rural populations was significant [OR: 2.6 [95% CI, 1.7-3.8]]. No statistically significant differences in seropositivity were observed with respect to other sociodemographic characteristics. A large proportion of the participants were found to be immune to VZV

Change in pathogens causing late-onset sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit in Izmir, Turkey

Neonatal sepsis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns in the developing world. We have investigated the causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility of late-onset sepsis [>73 h post-delivery], and determined the possible association between various risk factors and the mortality due to neonatal sepsis in 2008. to view the changes in years, we compared them with the data which we gained in 2004. medical records of all neonates with late-onset sepsis were reviewed for demographic characteristics [birth weight, gestational age, gender, type of delivery, and mortality rate], positive cultures and risk factors of mortality. One hundred and forty-seven and 227 neonates had been diagnosed as late-onset sepsis in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was the most frequent microorganisms. Gram-negative bacilli, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a significant increase in years. The mortality rate was 11.5% and 19% in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Birth weight, gestational age, and infection with Klebsiella spp. isolates were found to have significant association with sepsis mortality in our neonatal intensive care unit [NICU]. The present study emphasizes the importance of periodic surveys of sepsis encountered in particular neonatal setting to recognize the trend. Increased Gram-negative bacilli rate was possibly related to the widespread use of antibiotics in our NICU