Browsing by Author "Çöplü N."

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Evaluation and follow-up of antibody formation after CoronaVac vaccine
(2022-01-01) Çalişir B.; Çöplü N.; Yasar-Duman M.; Kilinc C.; Ozbek R.; Demir C.; Ergül Z.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to monitor the time-dependent change by evaluating the antibody levels at the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th weeks after the second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine. METHODS: The study group (n=65) were between 21 and 60 years old and received two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine. Blood samples were collected after 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th weeks of the second dose of the vaccine administration. There was a coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group (n=29) who were SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR test result positive before the vaccination period, and no coronavirus disease 2019 history group (n=36). Age, BMI, gender, smoking, comorbidity, coronavirus disease 2019 contact history, and working in the coronavirus disease 2019 service history of the individuals were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the descriptive findings of the individuals according to coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group and no coronavirus disease 2019 history group. It was observed that antibody levels in the coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group were found to be higher for each period of serum collection compared to the no coronavirus disease 2019 history group, which were statistically significant. The distribution curves of the antibody levels according to the timing of blood collection in coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group, no coronavirus disease 2019 history group, and total subjects were extrapolated, and it was observed that the estimated time for the antibodies to reach the threshold value of the test was 214, 145, and 166 days after vaccination. CONCLUSION: It is important to make booster doses, as the CoronaVac vaccine will lose its effect after the fifth month due to the decrease in Ab levels. In addition, since the antibody levels decrease later in those who have a history of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and are vaccinated, individuals who have no previous history of coronavirus disease 2019 should be given priority for vaccination.
Laboratory evaluation of susceptibility tests for National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (NAMRSS) in Turkey
(2018-01-01) Akbaş E.; Çöplü N.; Şimşek H.; Esen B.; Sezgin B.
Objective: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem worldwide, and to combat with this problem some measures should be taken. One of them is analysis of current situation and National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (NAMRSS) was established for this purpose. The quality of the data depends on the participating laboratories performance, so there was need for an assessment of the laboratories in the system. This study was aimed to analyse the status of the participating laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing requirements. Methods: There were 77 participating laboratories selected for NAMRSS throughout the country. Twenty-five of them were included in for capacity analysis study. A Laboratory Assessment Tool (LAT) was used for the evaluation of laboratories with 'checklist' features, and face-to-face interviews were used. LAT was a programme containing 677 questions in 10 modules that were developed by World Health Organization (WHO). A set of questions were added to use for antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST). Teams were formed from a total of 33 volunteer experts who received training prior to laboratory visits in a workshop, and there were at least two people in each team. They have visited the laboratories for implementing the LAT. Data were transferred to a database and analysed for both general conditions, and AST capacity. Results: Laboratories were distributed institutionally as university hospital (n=17), training and research hospital (n = 4), state hospital (n = 2) and military hospital (n = 2). NAMRSS laboratories performed identification and AST by automated systems as well as disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests except for one laboratory. Also, the laboratories were generally in 'good standing' (approx. > 85%) for three of the modules, where the other modules suggest that there are issues that 'need some improvements' at different degrees. When focused on AST, outside of internal quality control applications, it was observed that availability for AST culture media and reagents, identification and AST capacity are between 84-95%. It was found that total quality was 67%. Conclusion: NAMRSS laboratories seem to be able to provide reliable results in AST, which is essential for both surveillance system and evidence based decisions in effective treatment of patients. On the other hand, improvement in some other issues is necessary.
Molecular characterization of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates causing bloodstream infections in intensive care unit
(2020-01-01) Gözalan A.; Ünaldi Ö.; Kirca F.; Çöplü N.; Müderris T.; Açikgöz Z.C.; Durmaz R.
Objective: In this study, the aim was to investigate the clonal relationship between carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates and carbapenem resistance genes isolated from blood samples of patients followed in intensive care units by molecular methods. Methods: Bactec 9240 system (Becton Dickinson, USA) was used for the isolation of bacteria from blood culture flasks. Identification of 112 strains included in the study were performed by conventional tests, API 20NE (bioMerieux, France) and Phoenix TM 100 system (Becton Dickinson, USA) and confirmed by the presence of blaOXA-51 gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and Phoenix TM 100 system. Carbapenem resistance genes; blaOXA-23, blaOXA-48, blaOXA-58, blaIMP, blaVIM and blaNDM-1 were investigated by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine the clonal relationship between Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Results: The antibiotic resistance percentages of strains for gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin, netil micin, ceftazidime, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, piperacillin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoperazone/ sulbactam, were 88%; 81%; 78%; 36%; 98.5%; 96%; 89%; 100%; 100%; 93%; 91% respectively. MIC values of imipenem and meropenem were determined above ≥8 μg/ml in the whole group. blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-23 genes were detected in all isolates included in the study. By PFGE method, 62 different pulsotypes were detected. Among the pulsotypes, 19 of them contained ≥2 strains. It was observed that 108 (96.4%) strains were clustered in 11 clonally related groups when the similarity between pulsotypes for grouping was limited to 85% or more. Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains were resistant for all tested antibiotics at high levels except netilmicin and spread in the hospital via cross contamination. These strains posed a risk for hospital infections, however, clonal-related strains were not limited to a specific unit and time period.
Possible Role of Endocannabinoids in Olfactory and Taste Dysfunctions in COVID-19 Patients and Volumetric Changes in the Brain
(2022-10-01) Ergül Z.; Kaptan Z.; Kars A.; Biçer G.; Kılınç Ç.; Petekkaya E.; Çöplü N.
Introduction: COVID-19 infection develops neurologic symptoms such as smell and taste loss. We aimed to determine the volumetric changes in the brain and correlation of possible related biochemical parameters and endocannabinoid levels after COVID-19 recovery. Methods: Brain magnetic resonance images of recovered COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers, whose olfactory and gustatory scores were obtained through a questionnaire, were taken, and the volumes of the brain regions associated with taste and smell were measured by automatic and semiautomatic methods. Endocannabinoids (EC), which are critical in the olfactory system, and vitamin B12, zinc, iron, ferritin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroxine (T4) levels, which are reported to have possible roles in olfactory disorders, were measured in peripheral blood. Results: Taste and smell disorder scores and EC levels were found to be higher in recovered COVID-19 patients compared to controls. EC levels were negatively correlated with bilateral entorhinal cortex (ENT) volumes in the COVID-19 group. Subgenual anterior cingulate cortex volumes showed correlations with gustatory complaints and ferritin in recovered COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: The critical finding of our study is the high EC levels and negative correlation between EC levels and left ENT volumes in recovered COVID-19 patients. Implications: It is possible that ECs are potential neuromodulators in many conditions leading to olfactory disorders, including COVID-19.
Study of bacteria isolated from COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 intensive care units and determination of their antibiotic susceptibility profiles
(2022-10-01) Kilinç Ç.; Çöplü N.; Yaşar Duman M.; Çalişir B.; Tüfekci E.F.; Gülhan M.; Yilmaz A.; Soylu V.G.
Nosocomial infections occur 48-72 hours after hospitalization, especially caused by bacteria, and pose a high risk for patients in intensive care units (ICUs), including COVID-ICUs. This study aimed to reveal bacteria distribution and antibiotic susceptibility profiles isolated from various clinical samples of non-COVID-ICU and COVID-ICU patients. We included in this study bacterial strains isolated from ICUs patients in Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital between March 2020 and October 2020. We identified the strains using the Vitek 2 compact automated system (BioMerieux, France) and standard microbiological methods. Using the Vitek 2 automated system, we analyzed antibiotic susceptibility tests and interpreted the results based on the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests (EUCAST) guideline. There were 302 patients in the non-COVID-ICUs and 440 patients in the COVID-ICUs. We isolated a total of 470 strains, 370 from non-COVID-ICUs and 100 from COVID-ICUs. Acinetobacter spp. was the most frequently isolated strains for both ICUs. Acinetobacter spp. isolated from non-COVID-ICUs had higher resistance rates to meropenem (p= 0.043), ceftazidime (p= 0.014), and levofloxacin (p<0.001) antibiotics than strains from COVID-ICUs. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of other strains were similar for both ICUs. As a result, the incidence of nosocomial infections in COVID-ICU patients was lower than in non-COVID-ICU patients. Health personnel working in COVID-ICUs may have played an important role in this, as they were more careful about using personal protective equipment and complying with hygiene rules. However, antibiotic resistance continues to be a serious problem in ICUs, including COVID-ICUs.
The first results of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in Turkey
(2018-01-01) Çöplü N.; Şimşek H.; Gür D.; Gözalan A.; Hasdemir U.; Gülay Z.; Bayramoğlu G.; Gürler N.; Aydemir Ş.; Eyigör M.; Perçin D.; Aktaş D.
Objective: In order to combat with antimicrobial resistance, some measures should be taken and determination of the current status is one of them. National antimicrobial resistance surveillance system (NAMRSS) was established for this purpose in Turkey. It was targeted to be useful for guidence of ampirical therapy, create antimicrobial usage policies, provide data to the guidebooks, and supply initial information to evaluate the efficasy of the measures taken. Methods: Data of resistance was collected from 55 hospital, from blood and cerebrospinal fluid isolates, which were S. aureus, E. faecalis and E. faecium, S. pneumoniae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. The antimicrobials and test methods were chosen in accordance with international surveillance systems. The collected data was analysed by WHONET software. Results: S. aureus (1437); meticillin resistance was 31.5%, rifampin, linezolid and vancomycin resistance were 65.3%, 2.3%, and 0.0%, respectively. E. faecalis (n=760) resistance of ampicillin was 9.7%, linezolid, vancomycin, teicoplanin were lower than 1%, high level (HL) aminoglycoside was around 30%. E. faecium (n=756) resistance of ampicillin was 88,1%, linezolid, teicoplanin were lower than 1%, vancomycin 17%, HL aminoglycoside was around 50%. S. pneumoniae (n=128) with non-meningitis breakpoints; resistance were lower than 5.2% for all antimicrobials other than erythromycin (32%), with meningitis breakpoints: resistance increased to 14,3-44,8%. E. coli (2280) and K. pneumoniae (1307), extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) was 51.6% and 54.0%, respectively. P. aeruginosa (825) resistance were changed in between 8.4% (amikacin) and 36.4% (piperacillin). Conclusion: The resistance was higher among the countries in close geographical region and increased in time, indicating the need for developing policies to combat with it. Besides, the results will also be valuable to monitor the usefulness of the measures taken.