The role of government spending on energy efficiency R&D budgets in the green transformation process: insight from the top-five countries.

The transition to a low carbon economy has become more realistic with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Economies are on their way to 2030 and 2050 targets by increasing their environmental awareness. However, the most important issue that complicates this process is the dependence on fossil fuels and the need for sufficient time for renewable resources to mature. Previous literature has neglected this and focuses directly on renewable and fossil energy research and development (R&D) budgets. This paper fills the gap in the literature by showing whether the budgets allocated by countries for energy efficiency R&D are important in the maturation process of renewable energy sources. This paper offers policy recommendations to the countries (the USA, Canada, Germany, France, and Japan) that allocate the highest share of the budget to energy efficiency. It also presents the current situation of countries investing in energy efficiency as examples for other countries looking to transition into green energy. This study tackles the effects of energy efficiency R&D budgets, economic growth, trade openness, and natural resources on CO2 emissions over the period 1985-2019 using Augmented Means Group and Common Correlated Effects Mean Group methods. Empirical findings show that the energy efficiency R&D budgets are not at a level to enhance environmental quality. Moreover, economic growth and trade openness also contribute to environmental damage. On the contrary, natural resources increase environmental quality. In the light of the empirical findings, the considered countries with the largest budgets (top five) should expand their energy efficiency budgets until the transition to renewable energy gains momentum to achieve SDG-13, i.e., climate action, and SDG-7, i.e., affordable and clean energy.

Treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter: results of prospective and multicenter ID-IRI study.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to Acinetobacter spp. is one of the most common infections in the intensive care unit. Hence, we performed this prospective-observational multicenter study, and described the course and outcome of the disease. This study was performed in 24 centers between January 06, 2014, and December 02, 2016. The patients were evaluated at time of pneumonia diagnosis, when culture results were available, and at 72 h, at the 7th day, and finally at the 28th day of follow-up. Patients with coexistent infections were excluded and only those with a first VAP episode were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was performed. A total of 177 patients were included; empiric antimicrobial therapy was appropriate (when the patient received at least one antibiotic that the infecting strain was ultimately shown to be susceptible) in only 69 (39%) patients. During the 28-day period, antibiotics were modified for side effects in 27 (15.2%) patients and renal dose adjustment was made in 38 (21.5%). Ultimately, 89 (50.3%) patients died. Predictors of mortality were creatinine level (OR, 1.84 (95% CI 1.279-2.657); p = 0.001), fever (OR, 0.663 (95% CI 0.454-0.967); p = 0.033), malignancy (OR, 7.095 (95% CI 2.142-23.500); p = 0.001), congestive heart failure (OR, 2.341 (95% CI 1.046-5.239); p = 0.038), appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment (OR, 0.445 (95% CI 0.216-0.914); p = 0.027), and surgery in the last month (OR, 0.137 (95% CI 0.037-0.499); p = 0.003). Appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment in VAP due to Acinetobacter spp. was associated with survival while renal injury and comorbid conditions increased mortality. Hence, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy remain crucial to improve outcomes.

Brucellosis in pregnancy: results of multicenter ID-IRI study.

Brucellosis in pregnant women is reported to be associated with obstetric complications (OCs), and adequate data for human brucellosis during pregnancy are largely lacking. We performed this multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical course, treatment responses, and outcomes of brucellosis among pregnant women. The study period comprised a 14-year period from January 2002 to December 2015. All consecutive pregnant women diagnosed with brucellosis in 23 participating hospitals were included. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome data along with the assessment data of the neonate were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Data of 242 patients were analyzed. The OC rate was 14.0% (34/242) in the cohort. Of the 242 women, 219 (90.5%) delivered at term, 3 (1.2%) had preterm delivery, 15 (6.2%) aborted, and 5 (2.1%) had intrauterine fetal demise. Seventeen (7.0%) of the newborns were considered as low birth weight. Spontaneous abortion (6.1%) was the commonest complication. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths and pertinent sequelae or complications were not detected in the newborns. Splenomegaly (p = 0.019), nausea and/or vomiting (p < 0.001), vaginal bleeding (p < 0.001), anemia (blood hemoglobin < 11 g/dL; p < 0.001), high level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (> 41 IU/L; p = 0.025), oligohydramnios on ultrasonography (p = 0.0002), history of taking medication other than Brucella treatment during pregnancy (p = 0.027), and Brucella bacteremia (p = 0.029) were the significant factors associated with OCs. We recommend that pregnant women with OC or with fever should be investigated for brucellosis if they live in or have traveled to an endemic area.

Daptomycin vs. glycopeptides in the treatment of febrile neutropenia: results of the Izmir matched cohort study.

PURPOSE: In this multicentre, retrospective, matched cohort study we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of neutropenic fever cases that were treated with daptomycin or a glycopeptide (vancomycin or teicoplanin). METHODS: Data and outcomes of adult (aged > 18-years old) patients with neutropenic fever [(1) without clinical and radiological evidence of pneumonia, (2) who were treated with daptomycin or a glycopeptide (teicoplanin or vancomycin) for any reason and for at least 72 h] were extracted from the hospital databases. Matching was performed with all of the three following criteria: (1) underlying disease, (2) reason for starting daptomycin or glycopeptide (microbiologic evidence vs. microbiologic evidence, clinical infection vs. clinical infection and empirical therapy vs. empirical therapy) and (3) neutropenic status. RESULTS: Overall 128 patients [(69/123) (56.1%) in the daptomycin cohort (D) and 59/123 (48%) in the glycopeptide cohort (G)] had a resolution of fever at the end of 72 h antibiotic treatment (p = 0.25). There was no significant difference in cured, improved and (cured + improved) rates between (D) and (G) cohorts as well as fever of unknown origin cases or microbiologically confirmed infections or clinically defined infections subgroups (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference (p > 0.05), in terms of persistent response in the (D) versus (G) cohorts, CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that although not better, daptomycin efficacy is comparable to vancomycin if used as empiric therapy in the treatment of adult febrile neutropenia. We conclude that daptomycin may be used at least as a salvage therapy alternative to glycopeptides in the treatment of adult febrile neutropenia cases. A large, randomized-controlled trial may further consolidate the evidence related to this question.

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. METHODS: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

Cranial imaging findings in neurobrucellosis: results of Istanbul-3 study.

OBJECTIVE: Neuroimaging abnormalities in central nervous system (CNS) brucellosis are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of imaging abnormalities in neurobrucellosis and to identify factors associated with leptomeningeal and basal enhancement, which frequently results in unfavorable outcomes. METHODS: Istanbul-3 study evaluated 263 adult patients with CNS brucellosis from 26 referral centers and reviewed their 242 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 226 computerized tomography (CT) scans of the brain. RESULTS: A normal CT or MRI scan was seen in 143 of 263 patients (54.3 %). Abnormal imaging findings were grouped into the following four categories: (a) inflammatory findings: leptomeningeal involvements (44), basal meningeal enhancements (30), cranial nerve involvements (14), spinal nerve roots enhancement (8), brain abscesses (7), granulomas (6), and arachnoiditis (4). (b) White-matter involvement: white-matter involvement (32) with or without demyelinating lesions (7). (c) Vascular involvement: vascular involvement (42) mostly with chronic cerebral ischemic changes (37). (d) Hydrocephalus/cerebral edema: hydrocephalus (20) and brain edema (40). On multivariate logistic regression analysis duration of symptoms since the onset (OR 1.007; 95 % CI 1-28, p = 0.01), polyneuropathy and radiculopathy (OR 5.4; 95 % CI 1.002-1.013, p = 0.044), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum glucose rate (OR 0.001; 95 % CI 000-0.067, p = 0.001), and CSF protein (OR 2.5; 95 % CI 2.3-2.7, p = 0.0001) were associated with diffuse inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 45 % of neurobrucellosis patients had abnormal neuroimaging findings. The duration of symptoms, polyneuropathy and radiculopathy, high CSF protein level, and low CSF/serum glucose rate were associated with inflammatory findings on imaging analyses.

Comparison of brucellar and tuberculous spondylodiscitis patients: results of the multicenter "Backbone-1 Study".

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: No direct comparison between brucellar spondylodiscitis (BSD) and tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TSD) exists in the literature. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare directly the clinical features, laboratory and radiological aspects, treatment, and outcome data of patients diagnosed as BSD and TSD. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, multinational, and multicenter study was used. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 641 (TSD, 314 and BSD, 327) spondylodiscitis patients from 35 different centers in four countries (Turkey, Egypt, Albania, and Greece) were included. OUTCOME MEASURES: The pre- and peri- or post-treatment spinal deformity and neurologic deficit parameters, and mortality were carried out. METHODS: Brucellar spondylodiscitis and TSD groups were compared for demographics, clinical, laboratory, radiological, surgical interventions, treatment, and outcome data. The Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for group comparisons. Significance was analyzed as two sided and inferred at 0.05 levels. RESULTS: The median baseline laboratory parameters including white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher in TSD than BSD (p<.0001). Prevertebral, paravertebral, epidural, and psoas abscess formations along with loss of vertebral corpus height and calcification were significantly more frequent in TSD compared with BSD (p<.01). Surgical interventions and percutaneous sampling or abscess drainage were applied more frequently in TSD (p<.0001). Spinal complications including gibbus deformity, kyphosis, and scoliosis, and the number of spinal neurologic deficits, including loss of sensation, motor weakness, and paralysis were significantly higher in the TSD group (p<.05). Mortality rate was 2.22% (7 patients) in TSD, and it was 0.61% (2 patients) in the BSD group (p=.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that TSD is a more suppurative disease with abscess formation requiring surgical intervention and characterized with spinal complications. We propose that using a constellation of constitutional symptoms (fever, back pain, and weight loss), pulmonary involvement, high inflammatory markers, and radiological findings will help to differentiate between TSD and BSD at an early stage before microbiological results are available.

Tuberculous and brucellosis meningitis differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The Thwaites and Lancet scoring systems have been used in the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). However, brucellar meningoencephalitis (BME) has similar characteristics with TBM. The ultimate aim of this study is to infer data to see if BME should be included in the differential diagnosis of TBM when these two systems suggest the presence of TBM. METHOD: BME and TBM patients from 35 tertiary hospitals were included in this study. Overall 294 adult patients with BME and 190 patients with TBM were enrolled. All patients involved in the study had microbiological confirmation for either TBM or BME. Finally, the Thwaites and Lancet scoring systems were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The Thwaites scoring system more frequently predicted BME cases (n = 292, 99.3%) compared to the TBM group (n = 182, 95.8%) (P = 0.017). According to the Lancet scoring system, the mean scores for BME and TBM were 9.43 ± 1.71 and 11.45 ± 3.01, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, TBM cases were classified into "probable" category more significantly compared to BME cases, and BME cases were categorized into the "possible" category more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: When the Thwaites or Lancet scoring systems indicate TBM, brucellar etiology should also be taken into consideration particularly in endemic countries.

Results of a multinational study suggest the need for rapid diagnosis and early antiviral treatment at the onset of herpetic meningoencephalitis.

Data in the literature regarding the factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in adult herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME) cases are scarce. We conducted a multicenter study in order to provide insights into the predictors of HME outcomes, with special emphasis on the use and timing of antiviral treatment. Samples from 501 patients with molecular confirmation from cerebrospinal fluid were included from 35 referral centers in 10 countries. Four hundred thirty-eight patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Overall, 232 (52.9%) patients experienced unfavorable outcomes, 44 died, and 188 survived, with sequelae. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.05), Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.93), and symptomatic periods of 2 to 7 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.79) and >7 days (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.72 to 8.15) until the commencement of treatment predicted unfavorable outcomes. The outcome in HME patients is related to a combination of therapeutic and host factors. This study suggests that rapid diagnosis and early administration of antiviral treatment in HME patients are keys to a favorable outcome.

Evaluation of Cat Scratch Disease Cases Reported from Turkey between 1996 and 2013 and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Cat scratch disease (CSD), the most common cause of chronic lymphadenopathy among children and adolescents, typically features regional lymphadenitis associated with inoculation site due to a cat scratch or bite. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the articles related to CSD which were reported from Turkey in national and international journals in the last 18 years with a pooled-analysis method. METHODS: The articles related to CSD were retrieved by search of four national (Ulakbim Turkish Medical Literature Databases) and three international databases (Pub-Med, Science Citation Index (SCI) and Google scholar). RESULTS: Between the years 1996-2013, CSD cases have been published in a total of 16 articles (4 international, 12 national). These articles which were presented as a case report included a total of 18 CSD cases (38.8% women, 61.2% men; median age 16 years). The most common clinicopathologic subtypes of CSD are regional lymphadenitis (n=9), hepatosplenic (n=3) and neuroretinitis (n=2). The most common complaints of patients were swelling (94.4%), fever (61.2%) and weakness (50%) at admission. On exam, the most common signs were lymphadenopathy (94.4%), fever (61.2%), splenomegaly (16.6%), and skin eruption (16.6%). CONCLUSION: This pooled analysis which enabled the evaluation of a large number of CSD cases, indicated that careful evaluation of clinical findings and histopathological investigation will provide valuable support for diagnosis and treatment of CSD.

Scorpion envenomation in children: an analysis of 99 cases.

Scorpion envenomation is a life-threatening emergency and a common public health problem in many regions of the world, particularly in children. The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics and some common clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory findings and outcomes among humans in the southeast Anatolia region of Turkey (Mardin, Midyat). The sting cases mostly occurred in the month of July (36.4%) when the annual temperature is the highest. The majority of the cases were in the 6-10 years of age group. Most of the stings were seen in exposed extremities (92.9%), mainly in the lower limbs (58.6%). Patients in the emergency units showed signs of local and systemic effects, but no lethality occurred except one. Local and autonomic nervous system effects were most frequently characterized by local pain, hyperemia, swelling, itching, malaise, dry mouth, sweating, and thirst. Neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders were uncommon. The global mortality recorded was 10 per 1000 cases. In conclusion, we propose that this information is beneficial for health education and prevention of scorpion sting cases.

Pulmonary involvement in brucellosis.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a Gram-negative bacillus of the Brucella genus with multisystem involvement, primarily affecting the reticuloendothelial system, joints, heart and kidneys. Although the disease can be spread by inhalation, pulmonary involvement is rare. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of brucellosis with pulmonary involvement. CASE PRESENTAION: A previously healthy 36-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of fever, weakness, night sweats, dry cough and bilateral chest pain. She hed been diagnosed with pneumonia 20 days previously and was started on a course of ampicillin for 14 days, with no response. Her chest auscultation revealed diminished breath sounds and scattered crackles and rhonchi over the inferior zone of the right hemithorax. Wright and Coombs testing resulted in titres of 1:1280 and 1:640, respectively. Chest radiography revealed an area of confluent lobar consolidation in the right lower lobe. Treatment was started with a six-week course of oral doxycycline 200 mg/day and rifampicin 600 mg/day. This treatment regimen rapidly improved the patient's condition. Follow-up after one year showed no residual effects from the infection. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary involvement is a rare event in the course of brucellosis, but the rate could be higher than currently estimated. In endemic regions, brucellosis should be considered as a causative agent in patients with pulmonary symptoms. BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a Gram-negative bacillus of the Brucella genus with multisystem involvement, primarily affecting the reticuloendothelial system, joints, heart and kidneys. Although the disease can be spread by inhalation, pulmonary involvement is rare. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of brucellosis with pulmonary involvement. CASE PRESENTAION: A previously healthy 36-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of fever, weakness, night sweats, dry cough and bilateral chest pain. She hed been diagnosed with pneumonia 20 days previously and was started on a course of ampicillin for 14 days, with no response. Her chest auscultation revealed diminished breath sounds and scattered crackles and rhonchi over the inferior zone of the right hemithorax. Wright and Coombs testing resulted in titres of 1:1280 and 1:640, respectively. Chest radiography revealed an area of confluent lobar consolidation in the right lower lobe. Treatment was started with a six-week course of oral doxycycline 200 mg/day and rifampicin 600 mg/day. This treatment regimen rapidly improved the patient's condition. Follow-up after one year showed no residual effects from the infection. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary involvement is a rare event in the course of brucellosis, but the rate could be higher than currently estimated. In endemic regions, brucellosis should be considered as a causative agent in patients with pulmonary symptoms.

HISTORIQUE: La brucellose est une zoonose causée par un bacille Gram négatif du gène Brucella associée à une atteinte multisystémique, touchant principalement le système réticuloendothélial, les articulations, le coeur et les reins. Même si la maladie peut se propager par inhalation, l'atteinte pulmonaire est rare. OBJECTIF: Rendre compte d'un cas de brucellose associé à une atteinte pulmonaire. PRÉSENTATION DE CAS: Une femme de 36 ans auparavant en santé a été hospitalisée parce qu'elle se plaignait de fièvre, de faiblesse, de sueurs nocturnes, d'une toux sèche et de douleurs thoraciques bilatérales. On lui avait diagnostiqué une pneumonie 20 jours auparavant et elle avait entrepris un traitement à la pénicilline de 14 jours, auquel elle n'avait pas répondu. L'auscultation pulmonaire a révélé un murmure vésiculaire réduit dans la zone inférieure ainsi que des craquements dispersés et des râles continus dans la zone inférieure de l'hémithorax droit. Les tests de Wright et de Coombs ont donné des titrages de 1:1 280 et de 1:640, respectivement. La radiographie pulmonaire a révélé une zone de condensation lobaire confluente dans le lobe inférieur droit. Le traitement a été amorcé par 200 mg/jour de doxycycline et 600 mg/jour de rifampicine par voie orale pendant six semaines, lequel a rapidement amélioré l'état de la patiente. Le suivi au bout d'un an n'a révélé aucun effet résiduel de l'infection. CONCLUSION: L'atteinte pulmonaire est rare dans l'évolution de la brucellose, mais le taux pourrait être plus élevé que les estimations actuelles. Dans les régions endémiques, la brucellose devrait être considérée comme un agent causal chez les patients présentant des symptômes pulmonaires.

A case report and literature review: osteomyelitis caused by community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Osteomyelitis in adolescents is a serious disease with the potential for lifelong disability. The key to successful management is early diagnosis, including bone sampling for microbiological and pathological examination to allow targeted and long-lasting antibiotic therapy. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated microorganism in these patients. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is usually considered a nosocomial pathogen, but increasingly it is acquired in the community. We present a case of acute osteomyelitis caused by community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) who had never been hospitalized and had no other known risk factors for MRSA. The changing epidemiology of MRSA became evident when infections occurred in previously healthy patients without established risk factors. MRSA infections have been increasingly reported in pediatric patients, but they are uncommon in adults. Skin and soft tissue infections remain the most common manifestations of CA-MRSA infections. Glycopeptides can be used as initial therapy and oral trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole as sequential therapy for these patients.

Clinical and laboratory features, complications and treatment outcome of brucellosis in childhood and review of the literature.

Brucellosis, whether in an endemic region or not, remains a diagnostic puzzle due to occasional misleading unusual presentations and non-specific symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings, complications and treatment outcome of brucellosis in children in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. This study focuses on the frequency of clinical and laboratory findings and complications in cases with brucellosis. Of 22 patients, 8 (36.3%) were female and 14 (63.7%) were male. Fever, malaise, lack of appetite, arthralgia, and night sweating were the main presenting symptoms overall. Hematologic complications (n=13, 59.1%) were most common, followed by skeletal (n=7, 31.8%) and cutaneous system (n=1, 4.5%). Brucellosis may affect any organ system and imitate a variety of clinical entities. Diagnosis of brucellosis should be considered whenever there is a febrile illness associated with rheumatological complaints. Consequently, early recognition of the infection, prolonged antibiotic treatment and careful long-term follow-up should improve the patient outcome.

Acute hepatitis: a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Infectious Mononucleosis (IM), a benign lymphoproliferative disease, is the best known clinical syndrome caused by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). It usually resolves over a period of weeks or months without sequelae but may occasionally be complicated by a wide variety of neurologic, hematologic, hepatic, respiratory, and psychological complications. In this report we describe a patient with acute hepatitis following EBV-IM in a previously healthy woman. A 26-year-old woman who presented with fever, generalized weakness, nausea, sore throat, yellowing of skin, and a generalized skin rash was admitted to our clinic. Tonsillar enlargement, pharyngeal erythema, palatal petechiae, lymphadenopathy, and jaundice were noted. Significant atypical lymphocytes ( > 10%) were seen on the peripheral blood smear. Liver function tests such as ALT: 303 U/L, AST: 172 U/L, ALP: 193 U/L and total bilirubin: 7.3 mg/dl were elevated. Serological tests for EBV infection were consistent with acute infection (EBV virus capsid antigen was reactive with IgM and IgG antibodies). The Monospot test was also positive. On the seventh day, liver function tests and bilirubin had risen to peak level and platelets were decreased. The patient was managed supportively and her critical condition improved and was finally stabilized. Although the prognosis for IM is very favorable, a variety of acute complications may occur.

The evaluation of bacteriology in perianal abscesses of 81 adult patients.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of perianal abscesses requires prompt surgical drainage and antimicrobial therapy. However, we should encourage the selective use of antimicrobial agents on a case-by-case basis, especially because there is no evidence that uncomplicated perianal abscesses can be safely treated only with drainage. For this reason, it is important to identify the causative organisms; therefore, we accessed the microbiological analysis of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 81 consecutive adult patients with perianal abscesses, who presented at a university hospital in Diyarbakir from January 2004 to December 2006, were included. Clinical and laboratory data, and results of microbiological analysis were recorded. RESULTS: All specimens, except seven, yielded bacterial growth. Escherichia coli, Bacteriodes spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococci, and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common isolated organisms. CONCLUSION: In contrast to other investigators, this study demonstrated that aerobic organisms are the predominant isolates in these infections.