Two different synergy testing methods, the checkerboard and the E test methods, were used to compare the in vitro efficacies of various antimicrobial combinations against 16 Brucella melitensis strains isolated from blood cultures. The rate of agreement of the E test and checkerboard methods was found to be 55%. The most concordant results were found for the streptomycin-doxycycline combination in 12 (75%) tests, in which four strains showed synergistic activity by E test and antagonistic activity by the checkerboard method and in which one strain showed antagonistic activity by both methods. Even though each of these methods uses different conditions and endpoints, the results of both methods frequently agreed.

Quantitation of antibodies to the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was performed for the detection of adaptive immune response in healthcare workers (HCWs) vaccinated with CorovaVac. We prospectively recruited HCWs from a university hospital in Turkey. Serum samples from 1072 HCWs were obtained following 28 days of the first, and 21 days of the second dose. Detection and quantitation of SARS‐CoV‐2 antispike antibodies were performed by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG II Quant; Abbott). Results greater than or equal to the cutoff value 50.0 AU/ml were reported as positive. After the first dose, antispike antibodies were detected in 834 of 1072 (77.8%) HCWs. Seropositivity was higher among females (84.6%) than males (70.6%) (p < 0.001) and was found to be highest in both women and men between the ages of 18–34. After the second dose, antibodies were detected in 1008 of 1012 (99.6%) HCWs. Antibody titers were significantly higher in those who had coronavirus disease‐2019 before vaccination than those who did not (p < 0.001). Antibody positivity and median antibody titers were significantly less in HCWs with chronic diseases compared to those without (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, our findings indicated that a relatively high frequency (99.6%) of humoral immunity was produced in HCWs aged 18–59 after two doses of CoronaVac. Quantitation of antibodies may help facilitate longitudinal monitoring of the antibody response, which will be especially useful in deciding the dose of the vaccine in vulnerable groups such as those over 60 years of age and those with chronic diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, serum samples were collected between January and December 2004 from patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. Methods: There were 190 adult patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 174 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the study group. As the control group, a cohort of 178 age- and sex-matched individuals without known liver disease was selected. Results: Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were positive in 26/190 (13.7%) of chronic HBV and 94/174 (54%) of chronic HCV patients. In the control group anti-HEV positivity was 15.7% (28/178). There was no difference in the percentage of chronic HBV patients and control group who were positive for anti-HEV antibody, but the presence of HEV infection was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HEV and HCV might share a common route of transmission in our region. We recommend that preventive measures against HEV should be undertaken in chronic HCV patients as superinfection with HEV can cause a more severe pattern of disease in chronic hepatitis patients.

Several studies have reported higher rates of antimicrobial resistance among isolates from intensive care units than among isolates from general patient-care areas. The aims of this study were to review the pathogens associated with nosocomial infections in a surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey and to summarize rates of antimicrobial resistance in the most common pathogens. The survey was conducted over a period of twelve months in a tertiary-care teaching hospital located in the south-eastern part of Turkey, Gaziantep. A total of 871 clinical specimens from 615 adult patients were collected. From 871 clinical specimens 771 bacterial and fungal isolates were identified. Most commonly isolated microorganisms were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.3%), Candida species (15%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.9%). Among the Gram-negative microorganisms P. aeruginosa were mostly resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (71.3-98.1%), while Acinetobacter baumannii were resistant in all cases to piperacillin, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. Isolates of S. aureus were mostly resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, and methicillin (82-95%), whereas coagulase-negative staphylococci were 98.6% resistant to methicillin and in all cases resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline. In order to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in ICUs, monitoring and optimization of antimicrobial use in hospitals are strictly recommended. Therefore local resistance surveillance programs are of most value in developing appropriate therapeutic guidelines for specific infections and patient types.