Changing patterns of hepatitis A and E sero-prevalences in children after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey.

AIM: Hepatitis A and E are enteric viral diseases that are characteristically found in developing countries. Sero-epidemiological data about both infections showed higher prevalence rates soon after the 1999 earthquakes in Duzce, Turkey. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the data 4 years after the earthquakes. METHODS: The study group included 589 children (72.3% boys) who were between the ages of 6 months and 17 years (mean age 11.5 years). The children were separated into three groups: Group 1 (ages 6 months to 5.9 years), Group 2 (ages 6.0-12.9 years) and Group 3 (ages 13.0-17.0 years). Serum anti-hepatitis A virus IgG and anti-hepatitis E virus IgG were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The data were tested for statistical significance with the chi(2)-test. RESULTS: The sero-prevalence rates of hepatitis A and E were 63.8% and 0.3%, respectively. The sero-prevalence rates of both hepatitis A and E increased with age, and there was no significant difference between the genders. Hepatitis A infection was associated with socio-economic condition, crowded living environment, and education level of the family (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis A infection is still common, whereas hepatitis E infection appears to be relatively rare in paediatric age groups in Duzce, Turkey.

Do baby wet wipes change periurethral aerobic flora?

There is massive enteric bacterial colonization in the periurethral region during infancy. Fecal soiling is considered to be responsible for this colonization. We hypothesized that baby wet wipes containing chemical cleansing compounds, which are used for the cleaning of babies after diaper soiling, could be a contributing factor in this colonization. Thus, the effect on periurethral flora of two different methods of baby cleaning was compared. Periurethral culture samples were obtained from 173 infants who were cleaned with baby wet wipes (Group A, n = 96) or water and napkins (Group B, n = 77) after diaper soiling. The colonization of uropathogens and the presence of flora were analyzed. The results of the periurethral cultures were similar in both groups. The rates of uropathogen colonization only, uropathogen and skin flora colonization, and skin flora only or no growth in Groups A and B were 18.7, 61.5, and 19.8%, and 14.3, 66.2, and 19.5, respectively. The differences between the groups were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the frequency of uropathogen isolation between males and females. We therefore concluded that baby wet wipes are as safe as water for the cleaning of babies after diaper soiling.

Helicobacter pylori infection in epileptic patients.

It is well known that there might be an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and extraintestinal diseases. This study aimed at determining H. pylori infection in epileptic patients. Forty-seven cryptogenic epileptic patients (Group 1) and 35 healthy people (Group 2) participated in this study. Presence of H. pylori infection was examined by H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA), H. pylori IgG, and IgM. HpSA was detected in 21 participants (44.6%) in Group 1 and in 3 participants (8.5%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgM was positive in 27 participants (57.4%) in Group 1 and in 8 participants (22.8%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgG was positive in 37 participants (78.7%) in Group 1 and in 13 participants (38%) in Group 2. The difference of rates of HpSA, H. pylori IgM and IgG in Groups 1 and 2 were found statistically significant (chi2=4.18, p=0.04; chi2=9.18, p=0.0017; chi2=14.58, p<0.001, respectively). We also compared presence of H. pylori infection between the epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis; HpSA positivity was detected in 15 (62.5%) of 24 and 6 (26%) of 23, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (chi2=6.30, p=0.012). H. pylori IgM positivity was detected in 16 (66%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 11 (47.8%) of 23 patients with good prognosis (p>0.05). H. pylori IgG positivity was detected in 18 (75%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 19 (82.6%) of 23 patients with good prognosis. The differences of H. pylori IgM and IgG positivity rates in epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis were not found statistically significant (p>0.05). These results suggest a probable association between the acute H. pylori infection and epilepsy, especially with poor prognosis.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in symptomatic patients and detection of clarithromycin resistance using melting curve analysis.

UNLABELLED: Abstract. BACKGROUND: Clarithromycin is often a component of combination therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication; however, increases in resistance rates have decreased the success of the treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of H pylori infection in symptomatic patients and to detect clarithromycin resistance rates using melting curve analysis. METHODS: Patients scheduled for upper endoscopy at the Endoscopy Unit of the Department of Gastroenterology, Duzce University, Medical Faculty Hospital, Konuralp/Duzce, Turkey, were assessed for enrollment in the study. Two pairs of gastric biopsy specimens (antrum and corpus) were obtained from each study patient. Histopathologic examination, rapid urease test, culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the specimens were used to identify H pylori infection. Clarithromycin resistance was detected using melting curve analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (41 women, 34 men; mean [SD]age, 42.6 [14.5] years [range, 17-70 years]) were included in the study. Using histopathology and rapid urease test, H pylori was detected in 40 (53.3%) of the 75 specimens. H pylori was detected using PCR in 40 (53.3%) specimens and by culture in 10 (13.3%) specimens. The specificity and sensitivity of PCR and culture were interpreted by comparing them with the results of histopathologic examination and urease tests. The specificity and sensitivity of PCR were 68.6% and 72.5%, respectively, and the specificity and sensitivity of culture were 97.1% and 22.5%, respectively. Of the 40 isolates, 21 (52.5%) were susceptible to clarithromycin, 12 (30.0%) were resistant, and a mixed susceptibility pattern was detected in 7 (17.5%) specimens. H pylori isolates from 19 (79.2%) of the 24 patients who had formerly used clarithromycin showed clarithromycin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H pylori infection was 53.3% for the symptomatic patients in this study, and 47.5% of the isolates showed clarithromycin resistance using melting curve analysis. The PCR-based system used in this study was accurate for the detection of H pylori infection as well as clarithromycin susceptibility testing directly in biopsy specimens.

Is aerobic preputial flora age dependent?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most commonly encountered infections in childhood. It has been demonstrated that the preputial sac can act as a reservoir of organisms and is thus responsible for causing ascending UTIs. This study was performed to determine the presence of preputial flora in different age groups. Prepuce and urine samples were taken simultaneously from 92 uncircumcised and healthy male children aged between 0-12 years. The data were analyzed by age, with 47 subjects of 6 years of age or less, and 45 aged 7-12 years. Twenty-seven percent of the older patients had negative preputial cultures versus 8% of those under 6 years of age (chi2 = 5.27, P = 0.02). In addition, enteric bacteria were the most common pathogens isolated from the prepuce in younger children while skin flora bacteria were most common in the older group (chi2 = 9.18, P = 0.002). The urine was sterile in all cases. Preputial cultures change with age in uncircumcised boys. This change may be related to the development of immune status, to histological or anatomical changes in the prepuce, and/or to improved personal hygiene.

Molecular analysis of isoniazid, rifampin and streptomycin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from patients with tuberculosis in Düzce, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to use DNA sequencing analysis to analyze the mutations in the most commonly targeted genes (katG, inhA, rpoB, rpsL) in isoniazid (INH)-, rifampin (RIF)- and streptomycin (SM)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains obtained from subjects in Duzce, Turkey. Four isolates were found to be INH-resistant, 3 were RIF-resistant and 5 were SM-resistant, out of a total of 52 M. tuberculosis strains. In 3 of the 4 INH-resistant strains, a mutation in the katG gene in codon 315 appeared as AGC-->ACC (Ser-->Thr), and the other INH-resistant strain showed a mutation in the katG gene in codon 314 as ACC-->CCC (Thr-->Pro). There were no mutations in the inhA gene in INH-resistant isolates. Two of the 3 RIF-resistant strains were found to have mutations in the rpoB gene in codon 516 appearing as GAC-->GTC (Asp-->Val), and the other RIF-resistant strain has a mutation in the rpoB gene in codon 531 as TCG-->TTG (Ser-->Leu). These 3 RIF-resistant strains are also INH-resistant. All 5 SM-resistant strains have mutations in the rpsL gene in codon 43 appearing as AAG-->AGG (Lys-->Arg). Thus, we found common gene mutations that bring about the resistance of M. tuberculosis to antituberculosis drugs in all of our isolates from Duzce. To the best of our knowledge, the ACC-->CCC (Thr-->Pro) mutation in the katG gene in codon 314 has not been previously defined.

The resistance to major antituberculous drugs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from the respiratory system specimens of tuberculosis patients in Duzce, Turkey.

Through generally curable, tuberculosis (TB) is becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB is a consequence of monotherapy, insufficient drug therapy and national TB control programs. The present study was designed to reveal the resistance to major antimicrobial drugs (isoniazid [INH], streptomycin [SM], ethambutol [EMB], and rifampicin [RIF]) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from the respiratory specimens of TB patients in Duzce, Turkey. A total of 62 TB patients (46 male, 16 female; age: 17 - 75 mean: 42 +/- 15.9) were included in the study; 52 (83.8%) were new cases and susceptible to all anti-TB drugs, while 10 (16.2%) were previously treated cases. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by the proportion method in Löwenstein-Jensen medium. Fifty-two of the 62 (83.8%) isolated M. tuberculosis strains were found to be susceptible to all drugs, and 7 (11.3%), 5 (8%), and 3 (4.8%) were resistant to SM, INH, and RIF, respectively; 3 (4.8%) were MDR. There were no EMB-resistant strains. The results of this study show the presence of drug-resistant and MDR strains of TB at Duzce in the northwest part of Turkey.

The rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of group A Streptococcus in school children and associated ASO titers in Duzce, Turkey.

A prospective study was conducted to investigate the rate of group A streptococci (GAS) carriers and associated anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers in serum samples in asymptomatic school children in spring in Duzce, Turkey. Pharyngeal swabs were obtained to detect the presence of GAS and blood samples were collected to determine elevated ASO titers in serum. A total of 351 asymptomatic primary school children were included in the study, and 91 (25.9%) of these were found to be GAS carriers. Of the 91 carrier students, ASO titers were elevated (> or =200 IU/ml) in 34 students (37%). Of the 260 non-carrier children, ASO titers were found as elevated (> or =200 IU/ml) only in 27 (10.3%) students. The difference between the ASO-positivity rate of the GAS carrier group (34 in 91 students) and that of the non-carrier group (27 in 260 students) was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The finding of the significant relationship between ASO positivity and GAS carriage indicated that ASO measurement might be used together with throat culture to identify of GAS carriers.

Intestinal parasitic infection in children in post-disaster situations years after earthquake.

BACKGROUND: Two earthquakes in the north-west region of Turkey destroyed 80% of the houses and schools in Duzce in 1999. This study was conducted to determine the parasitic infection rate associated with the post-earthquake unhealty living conditions and related epidemiological risk factors. METHODS: Two populations living and studying in different socioeconomic conditions as a result of the earthquake were compared: Group 1 (study group) consisted of 326 children living and studying in transitory houses and classes. Group 2 (control) consisted of 127 children living in normal houses and studying in normal school classes. Fecal samples were obtained from both groups and examined for intestinal parasites' eggs and trofozoid forms. In addition, selotype procedure was applied to both populations. Epidemiological data determining the socioeconomic status of the populations were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: In group 1, Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) cysts were observed in 10.4% of the fecal samples and Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) eggs were observed in 13.5% of selotype samples. In group 2, Giardia cysts were observed in 3.1% of the samples and E. vermicularis eggs were observed in 5.5% of selotype samples. The rate of Giardiasis and Enterobiasis was found to be significantly higher in children still living and studying in temporary houses and schools years after the earthquakes (P < 0.05). The following pidemiological and social factors arising after the earthquakes were associated with increased rate of G. lamblia and E. Vermicularis infections: number of communal toilets per child at school, socioeconomic level of the children, dimensions of the classrooms where the children are studying and living and frequency of hand-washing at school. These parameters are significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Giardiasis should be considered as an emerging disease in postdisaster situations and adequate prevention measures should be implemented in these circumstances. It should also be known that the rate of Enterobiasis is increased in populations living in crowded unhealthy conditions.