Aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical characteristics and the parameters that determine the clinical course and prognosis of the COVID-19 patients admitted to the Ankara City Hospital during the first month of the pandemic In Turkey. SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients who were hospitalized between March 10 and April 10, 2020 were included. Among 222 patients, mean age was higher in SARI/critical disease group (p < 0,001). Median time from illness onset to admission, presence of co-morbidity, especially coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was significantly higher in severe acute respiratory illness (SARI)/critical disease group (p < 0.05). Cough and fever were the most common symptoms, while anosmia and loss of taste were observed in 8.6 % and 7.7 % patients, respectively. Mortality rate was 5.4 %. High neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, low lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet count, elevated liver enzymes, low GFR, high levels of muscle enzymes, ferritin and IL-6 on admission were found to be associated with SARI/critical disease (p<0.05). Bilateral ground-glass opacity and patchy infiltration were more frequently seen in SARI/critical disease group (p < 0.001). Patients older than 65 years have 8-fold increased risk for development of SARI/critical disease. This cohort study regarding COVID-19 cases in Turkey reveals that older age, presence of co-morbidity, bilateral infiltration on CT, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, low monocyte and platelet count, elevated liver enzymes, low GFR, high levels of muscle enzymes, and high levels of ferritin and IL-6 on admission are predictors of SARI and severe disease.

Aim: COVID-19 is a pandemic that causes high morbidity and mortality, especially in severe patients. In this study, we aimed to search and explain the relationship between biochemical markers, whic... Graphical abstract

In this study, we aimed to compare the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate of hospitalized mild/moderate COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), favipiravir, and HCQ plus favipiravir. Single center retrospective designed observational study conducted in Ankara City Hospital. Patients who were hospitalized between March 15, 2020 and June 1, 2020 in COVID-19 inpatient clinics with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in the study. An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for multiple treatment groups approach was used to balance the differences in several variables on admission. Among 2441 patients hospitalized with diagnosis of COVID-19 during the study period, 824 were eligible for the analysis. Median age of patients was 42 (18−93 years). Among all, 347 (43.2%) of the patients had mild disease, 470 (56.8%) had pneumonia. Propensity scores ranged from 0.1841 to 0.9381 in the HCQ group, from 0.03643 to 0.29885 in the favipiravir group, and from 0.03542 to 0.56184 in the HCQ plus favipiravir group. After IPTW for multiple treatment groups was applied, all the covariates in the planned propensity score had weighted standardized effect sizes below 10% which were ranged from 0.005 to 0.092. Multivariate analysis of treatment effect (adjusted effect of treatment) was indicated that there is no statistically significant difference between HCQ, favipiravir, and HCQ plus favipiravir treatment. After using combination of SMOTE and Bootstrap resampling approach, we found no statistically significant difference between HCQ and HCQ plus favipiravir groups in terms of ICU admission. However, compared with the HCQ group, ICU admission rate was statistically significantly higher in the favipiravir group. We obtained the similar results after the sensitivity analysis. HCQ with or without favipiravir treatment is associated with reduced risk of ICU admission compared to favipiravir alone in mild to moderate COVID-19 adult patients.

Candida auris has emerged as a major nosocomial pathogen due to multidrug resistance (MDR), outbreak potential, and high mortality in critically ill patients. Identifying risk factors for C. auris candidemia is essential for prevention and infection control. In this single-centre, retrospective case–control study, we analysed adults with C. auris candidemia (n = 52) and matched controls (n = 104) hospitalized between February 2019 and October 2024. Matching was based on hospital unit and blood culture timing. Clinical and epidemiological variables were compared, and multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors. Antifungal susceptibility and 14- and 28-day all-cause mortality were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Independent risk factors included recent hospitalization (odds ratio (OR): 7.93), prolonged hospital stay (OR: 1.01), prior broad-spectrum antibiotic use (OR: 46.20), central venous catheter (CVC) (OR: 3.88), sepsis (OR: 9.43), and high Candida Colonization Index (OR: 14.10). All-cause mortality at 14 and 28 days was 30.8% and 46.2%, respectively. Fluconazole resistance was 96%, while 8.7% of isolates were pandrug resistant. C. auris candidemia represents a serious clinical challenge with substantial mortality and modifiable risk factors. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, colonization surveillance, and early recognition in high-risk patients may reduce its impact.