Comparison of CHROMagar Orientation Medium with Traditional Methods in Urinary Tract Infection Cultures.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections in adults, and urine culture is the parameter that uses the most time and cost in microbiology laboratories. For this reason, the selection of fast and cost-effective methods in the evaluation of urine samples is one of the priority issues of microbiology laboratories. The aim of this study was to investigate the compatibility and cost-effectiveness of routinely used Blood Agar (BA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) medium, and CHROMagar Orientation Medium (CO Medium) in the identification of microorganisms in urine samples. METHODS: Consecutive urine samples (n: 700) sent to our laboratory were simultaneously inoculated onto BA/EMB media and CO medium. Urine samples were evaluated after 18 - 24 hours of incubation at 37℃ and the compatibility of the two methods was compared. The use of 104 Gram stains, 198 biochemical tests, and 9 identification kits was required with BA/EMB agar. RESULTS: When 104 colonies with single growth were evaluated, presumptive identification with CO medium was found to be 100% compatible with the VITEK 2 system. The most isolated 62 Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies gave dark pink-red color and were found to be fully compatible with the VITEK 2 system. Compatibility of BA and EMB medium evaluations with VITEK 2 system; E. coli (n: 62), KES group (n: 26), Pseudomonas spp. (n: 6) and Proteus spp. For (n: 2), it was determined as 69.3%, 57.69%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. According to the results of our study, when BA/EMB and CO Medium methods were compared, 182 Euro (€) savings were achieved in 700 urine cultures with CO Medium. It was estimated that the amount of savings could be 15,600 € per year. CONCLUSIONS: CHROMagar Orientation Medium method can be used routinely with its advantages such as being cost-effective, reducing the workload, and not requiring additional operations. CHROMagar Orientation Medium can also be considered as an easily accessible method and opportunity that does not require infrastructure and trained personnel, especially for laboratories with low test capacity and having problems with the supply of com-mercial kits and automated systems.

Evaluation of the Effect of Sampling Strategy on Test Results in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The oronasopharyngeal (ONP) sampling phase is critical in the diagnosis of infection during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effect of the standardized operational team in the sampling unit on test results and repetitions. METHODS: Patients who applied to the Adult Pandemic Polyclinic between August 2020 and October 2021 and whose ONP samples were taken for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test were included in the study. For August 2020, the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists were appointed to work in the sample collection unit. For the following months, physicians from other clinics as well as ENT specialists were appointed under the same conditions. The ENT and other specialties were compared in terms of PCR positivity and test repetition. RESULTS: Out of a total of 129,808 patients, 21,602 (16.6%) of them were sampled by ENT physicians, and 108,206 (83.4%) by others. The first three months with the highest number of ONP samples were August 2021 (n: 20,317; 15.7%), July 2021 (n: 11,767; 9.1%), and November 2020 (n: 11,511; 8.9%). The highest positive PCR results were in August 2021 followed by August 2021 (37.3%), December 2020 (32.8%), and November 2020 (32.5%). In September 2020, more positive results were obtained from the samples taken by ENT specialists (p = 0.001). The repetition frequency of ONP samples taken by ENT and other specialists was calculated as 221 (1%) and 878 (0.8%), respectively (p > 0.05), and the month with the highest re-test rate was November 2020. CONCLUSIONS: It is seen that the training of ENT specialists given to non-ENT specialists on sampling technique is effective and the process is managed with optimal benefit. This study can be evaluated as the first step data in comparing all these organizations and emphasizing the importance of the cooperation created by the institutions during the pandemic process.

Can apelin play a role in the etiology of tinnitus?

Background/aim: Tinnitus is seen in 15% of the general population; in 1%­6% of this number, the quality of life is seriously affected by this chronic condition. Chemical, oxidative, and emotional stressors are important in terms of the clinical course of tinnitus. Apelin is an endogenous peptide which is an oxidative stress mediator. It has been shown that the apelin/APJ (apelin junction receptor) system plays various roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of many organs. However, the role of the apelin/APJ system as an oxidative stress mediator in tinnitus is unknown. We investigated the level of apelin in patients with normal hearing and bilateral tinnitus. Materials and methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with bilateral idiopathic tinnitus. Tinnitus severity was determined using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI). We recorded the levels of plasma apelin-13 and biochemical parameters. Results: The mean apelin level of the control group was higher than that of the patient group (P = 0.002). A significant negative correlation was evident between the apelin level and the THI (r = ­0.460, P = 0.003). The triglyceride (TG) level was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In our study, we found a negative correlation between apelin and tinnitus severity. Thus, apelin may play a role in the pathophysiology of idiopathic tinnitus, and may be prescribed during follow-up to reduce oxidative stress in the future. Further clinical studies on the effects of the apelin/APJ (apelin junction receptor) system and the effects of antioxidants in patients with inflammatory diseases are required.

[Investigation of hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in patients with chronic hepatitis C infections in Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Turkey]. / Antalya Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesinde kronik hepatit C hastalarinin genotip dagiliminin arastirilmasi

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global health problem due to high chronicity rates, occurrence of severe hepatic diseases, and absence of an accurate therapy and effective vaccine. It is well known that viral genome is highly variable and HCV has at least six genotypes, each of them containing a series of subtypes. HCV genotypes exhibit geographical and epidemiological distribution. Genotype identification is clinically important to decide the dosage and duration of treatment since different genotypes exhibit variable response to treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the HCV genotypes in chronic HCV patients who were followed-up in Antalya Research and Training Hospital, Turkey. Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive blood samples obtained from 148 chronic hepatitis C patients (67 female, 81 male; mean age: 50.5 ± 10.8, age range: 17-73 years) who were admitted to Antalya Research and Training Hospital Microbiology Laboratory during January 2011-June 2013, were included in the study. Epidemiological data of the patients and HCV genotype results were evaluated retrospectively. Viral genotypes were determined by real-time (Rt) PCR assay (Abbott Molecular Diagnostic, USA). HCV genotype (Gt)-1 was detected in 119 (80.4%) of the patients, of them 15.9% (19/119) were identified as subtype 1a and 75.6% (90/119) were subtype 1b. The prevalence rates of Gt-2, -3, and -4 were found as 3.4% (n= 5), 11.5% (n= 17), and 2% (n= 3), respectively. Gt-6 was not detected in our patients. Mixed infection with HCV types was detected in four patients (2.7%) by Rt-PCR; of these three were detected as Gt-1 and one was Gt-2 by RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and sequencing. The high prevalence of Gt-3 (11.5%) obtained in this study was attributed to the determination of Gt-3 in seven of 13 foreign national subjects. Rt-PCR method used in this study is user independent, standardized, automated, rapid and reliable method, however in case of detection of mixed types, the samples should be confirmed by other methods. In conclusion, we reported that the majority of the chronic hepatitis C infected patients had Gt-1b, and Gt-3 exhibited the highest rate ever reported by other studies from Turkey.

[Retrospective evaluation of the results of women patients of childbearing age investigated at a microbiology laboratory for screening Toxoplasma gondii, in Antalya]. / Antalya Ilinde Bir Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvarina Toxoplasma gondii Antikorlari Arastirilmasi Amaciyla Basvuran Dogurganlik Yas Grubu Kadin Olgulara Ait Sonuçlarin Retrospektif Olarak Degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii usually does not cause clinical symptoms in humans, but an acute infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital toxoplasmosis. Infection in early pregnancy may cause abortion, stillbirth or serious abnormalities of the fetus. In this study, determination of T. gondii seroprevalence among women of childbearing age who presented to our hospital's clinics is aimed. METHODS: Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were investigated in 5013 sera and Toxoplasma IgG in 2986 sera of women between 15-49 years, in our hospital central laboratory, between 01 November 2008 and 31 August 2010. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (1.8%) seras were detected positive for Toxoplasma IgM and 968 (32.4%) for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies. CONCLUSION: It has been determined that 67.6% of women in the province of Antalya and its surroundings are susceptible to acute Toxoplasma infection during childbearing age and their babies are an at risk group for congenital toxoplasmosis.

[Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in pregnant women attending the Antalya Training and Research Hospital for the last four years]. / Antalya Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesine son dört yilda basvuran gebe kadinlarin Toxoplasma gondii seropozitifliginin arastirilmasi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in female patients admitted to the outpatient clinic of Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. METHODS: The seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated with the "chemiluminescence immunoassay" method from August 2008 to May 2011. RESULTS: Toxoplasma seropositivity was 33.4% and the rate of seropositivity increased with age (p < 0.05). There has been a statistically significant gradual increase in Toxoplasma gondii IgM seropositivity between 2008 to 2011. CONCLUSION: Toxoplasmosis seropositivity in pregnant women is increasing in our area. In order to avoid congenital toxoplasmosis and the possible complications of pregnancy Toxoplasma gondii surveilans studies should be planned.