Browsing by Author "Tüfekci E.F."

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Kastamonu İlindeki Gebelerde Toxoplasma gondii Seropozitifliğinin Araştırılması
(2022-11-28) Tüfekci E.F.; Yaşar Duman M.; Çalışır B.; Kılınç Ç.; Uzel A.
Objective: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite that infects most warm-blooded animal species and causes toxoplasmosis. Especially infections that occur during pregnancy can lead to serious clinical symptoms. This study retrospectively revealed the T. gondii seroprevalence of pregnant women in Kastamonu province, Turkey. Methods: Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG positivity of 1.294 pregnant women between the ages of 15-44 years who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatients of Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022 were investigated retrospectively. The IgG avidity test was performed for both anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG positivity. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG seropositivity were determined as 1.1% (n=14) and 20.3% (n=263), respectively. Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG positivity were detected together in 11 pregnant women. IgG avidity test results of only six pregnant women could be reached, two pregnant had high IgG avidity, and four pregnant had low IgG avidity. Anti-T. gondii IgG positivity rate increased with increasing age (p=0.039). Conclusion: The number of seronegative pregnant women was considered high in Kastamonu. It is significant for expectant mothers to know about prevention methods in order not to acquire toxoplasmosis.
Presence of quorum sensing system, virulence genes, biofilm formation and relationship among them and class 1 integron in carbapenem-resistant clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates
(2022-08-01) Başkan C.; Sırıken B.; Tüfekci E.F.; Kılınç Ç.; Ertürk Ö.; Erol İ.
Carbapenems are the most effective agents for treating clinical P. aeruginosa (PsA) infections. During an infection, a quorum-sensing (QS) system and its regulating virulence genes have a great role. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of a las and rhl QS system and related virulence genes, biofilm formation and a class 1 (Cls1) integron. A total of 52 carbapenem-resistant PsA (CRPsA) isolates obtained from Kastamonu, Turkey was analyzed. For the isolation and identification of CRPsA isolates, a conventional culture method, an automated VITEK-2 compact system, and oprL gene-based molecular technique were applied. The two QS system genes were detected in 51 (98.1%), and co-existed of four two QS system genes (lasI/R and rhIl/R genes) were determined in 41 (78.8%) of the isolates. algD, lasB, toxA and aprA genes were detected in between 46.1 and 88.5%, and co-existence of four two QS system genes with four virulence genes were detected in 40.4% of the isolates. Biofilm formation using microtiter plate assay and slime production using Congo Red Agar and Cls1 integron were determined in 84.6%, 67.3% and 51.9% of the isolates, respectively. According to statistical analyses results, there was a significant positive correlation (p <.10) between the las and the rhl systems and a strongly and positive correlation (p <.01 or p <.05) between the rhl system—three virulence genes and slime production—and among some virulence genes. In conclusion, the CRPsA isolates tested in the study are highly virulent and QS systems have a significant role in pathogenesis.
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.