The gold standard method in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the detection of viral RNA in nasopharyngeal sample by RT-PCR. Recently, saliva samples has been suggested as an alternative due to being fast, reliable and non-invasive, rather than nasopharyngeal samples. We compared RT-PCR results in nasopharyngeal, oro-nasopharyngeal and saliva samples of COVID-19 patients. 98 of 200 patients were positive in RT-PCR analysis performed before the hospitalization. In day 0, at least one sample was positive in 67% of 98 patients. Positivity rate was 83% for both oro-nasopharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples, while it was 63% for saliva samples ( p <0.001). On day 5, RT-PCR was performed in 59 patients, 34% had at least one positive result. The positivity rate was 55% for saliva and nasopharyngeal samples, while it was 60% for oro-nasopharyngeal samples. Our study shows that the sampling saliva does not increase the sensitivity of RT-PCR tests at early stages of infection. However, on 5th day, viral RNA detection rates in saliva were similar to nasopharyngeal and oro-nasopharyngeal samples. In conclusion, we suggest that, in patients receiving treatment, virus presence in saliva, in addition to the standard samples, is important to determine the isolation period and to control the transmission.

Background: This study examined the changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM), and eosinophil (EOS) parameters among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) patient groups with Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the changes in CRP, IL-6, WBC, NEU, LYM, and EOS levels in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods: Adults over the age of 18, who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result and underwent molecular variant analysis (n = 40,133), were retrospectively included in the study. Changes in CRP (n = 7,712), IL-6 (n = 2,225), WBC (n = 6,885), NEU (n = 7,186), LYM (n = 8,224), and EOS (n = 7,901) parameters were analyzed in SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variant patient groups. Results: The incidence of women among patients with the Delta variant increased significantly (P = 0.001). The average age of Omicron variant patients was found to be higher (P < 0.001). In laboratory parameters, CRP levels were significantly higher in the Delta and Omicron variants compared to the others (P < 0.001). A decrease in the number of patients with high IL-6 values was observed from Alpha to Omicron (P < 0.001). The WBC values were significantly higher in the Delta variant than in the others (P < 0.001). Neutrophil levels were significantly higher in the Omicron variant (P < 0.001). There was an increase in the number of patients with normal LYM levels from Alpha to Omicron. Eosinophil levels were found to be lower in the Beta and Delta variants compared to the others (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The decrease in the number of patients with high IL-6 levels from Alpha to Omicron suggests that the rate of severe prognoses has decreased.

Background Bloodstream infections (BSIs) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in hospitalized patients with sepsis. Rapid identification of pathogens and their resistance profiles is critical for timely initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy, as delays can substantially increase mortality. This prospective study aimed to compare conventional culture-based methods with Multiplex Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) for the early detection of pathogens and resistance genes in blood culture samples exhibiting positive signals. Methods A total of 100 hospitalized patients with suspected sepsis were included in the study. Blood culture samples were analyzed using both conventional culture methods and multiplex real-time PCR. Conventional methods identified 108 microorganisms, whereas RT-PCR detected pathogens in 90 samples, After the blood culture bottle signaled positive, the samples were inoculated onto culture media. Subsequently, multiplex PCR was performed, and results were obtained within approximately 2–4 h. The subcultured samples were evaluated the following day, identified using MALDI-TOF MS, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Both identification and susceptibility results were reported on the second day.along with an additional 14 microorganisms that were not recovered by culture. Results Resistance gene profiles identified by RT-PCR demonstrated high concordance with phenotypic resistance results, including mecA/C, VIM, NDM, KPC, and vanA genes. Nevertheless, discrepancies such as very major errors (5.1%) were observed, indicating areas requiring further investigation. Conclusion Multiplex RT-PCR serves as a valuable adjunct to conventional culture methods, enabling rapid pathogen identification and resistance profiling. Its integration into routine diagnostic workflows may enhance clinical outcomes by facilitating timely, targeted therapy for septic patients.

Background: It is known that the change in coagulation parameters has an effect on mortality and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has changed with mutations in the genome of the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, and the resulting variants have been recorded by the World Health Organization. With these variations, the clinical severity of the disease and laboratory parameters have also changed. Objectives: In this study, we examined the changes in D-dimer levels, fibrinogen levels, platelet count (PLT), and mean platelet volume (MPV) between SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351) Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants. Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on 28 195 adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the time of application, data on age, gender, SARS-CoV-2 variant status, D-dimer levels (n = 7090), fibrinogen (n = 5709), PLT (n = 7066), and MPV (n = 8330) were collected. Patients were divided according to alpha, beta, delta, and omicron variants. The changes in variants were examined statistically. Results: The incidence of the delta variant in women was higher than the other variants, followed by alpha and omicron (P = 0.001). The Beta variant was detected at a higher rate in males. The ages of the cases with the Omicron variant were higher than the cases with Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.01, respectively). In laboratory parameters, D-dimer and fibrinogen levels were detected to be significantly higher in Delta and Omicron variants. PLT and MPV were determined to be lower in delta and omicron than in alpha and beta variants. Conclusions: Examination of the changes in laboratory coagulation parameters according to variants shows that the tendency to clot increases from alpha to omicron.

Aim: To develop a new model of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. Method: We divided guinea pigs into four groups in this study. In the primary group of guinea pigs, right nasal cavities of the animals were vaccinated with Streptococcus pneumoniae suspension. In the second group, sponge strips saturated with sterile saline into the right nasal cavities of animals. In the third group, sponge strips saturated with Streptococcus pneumoniae suspension in the right nasal cavities of animals. The fourth group was control group, which was exposed to no intervention. After 7, 14, 28, 35 days from interventions, intranasal cultures were obtained, computed tomography (CT) scans were imaged from all of the guinea pigs, and two randomly selected guinea pigs that were detected as having rhinosinusitis radiologically were killed every week. The sinuses and nasal specimens of sacrificed guinea pigs were prepared for histopathological investigation. Results: Radiological and histopathological examinations of nasal samples were performed to observe the severity of the inflammatory reaction. Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis was induced in all groups of subject animals except the control group. More severe inflammation was seen in the third group of subject animals compared to the first and second groups. No inflammatory reaction was found in the control group. We also evaluated the normal flora of guinea pigs. Conclusion: The guinea pig is certainly a true model for developing rhinosinusitis. Guinea pigs should be considered as an alternative model for further potential studies of genetics and inflammation, even though surgical manipulation is limited.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to describe lung computed tomography findings of patients with COVID-19 diagnosed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test, investigate whether the findings differ regarding age and gender, and evaluate the diagnostic performance of chest computed tomography based on the duration of symptoms at the time of presentation to the hospital. METHODS: From March 11 to May 11, 2020, 1271 consecutive patients (733 males and 538 females) were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Based on age, patients were divided into five separate subgroups. Then based on the duration of symptoms, patients were divided into five separate phases. The presence of lung lesion(s) and their characteristics, distribution patterns, and the presence of concomitant pleural thickening/effusion and other findings (malignancy, metastasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis, bronchiectasis, cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion) were evaluated by five radiologists independently. RESULTS: The "normal lung computed tomography finding" was the most common chest CT finding (37%), followed by ground-glass opacity (31%). Regardless of the shape of the lesion, the distribution features were significant (peripheral, subpleural, and lower lobe distribution) (p<0.05). The presence of pleural thickening posteriorly and adjacent to the lesion was statistically different in groups 1-3 (p<0.05). Other concomitant pathologies, except pulmonary congestion, did not suppress the typical findings of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography findings were mostly normal in the early phase (P1). Therefore, it may be appropriate to perform the first computed tomography screening of COVID-19 after 6 days to decrease the radiation exposure.