The aim is to investigate the association of the delivery mode and vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the samples of vaginal secretions, placenta, cord blood or amniotic fluid as well as the neonatal outcomes. This cross-sectional study presents an analysis of prospectively gathered data collected at a single tertiary hospital. 63 pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 participated in the study. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed with RT-PCR tests and blood tests for IgG-M antibodies. All patients were in mild or moderate category for COVID-19. Only one placental sample and two of the vaginal secretion samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Except one, all positive samples were obtained from patients who gave birth by cesarean. All cord blood and amniotic fluid samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Two newborns were screened positive for COVID-19 IgG-M within 24 hours after delivery, but the RT-PCR tests were negative. A positive RT-PCR result was detected in a newborn of a mother whose placenta, cord blood, amniotic fluid and vaginal secretions samples were negative. He died due to pulmonary hemorrhage on the 11^th day of life. In conclusion, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can be detectable in the placenta or vaginal secretions of pregnant women. Detection of the virus in the placenta or vaginal secretions may not be associated with neonatal infection. Vaginal delivery may not increase the incidence of neonatal infection, and cesarean may not prevent vertical transmission. The decision regarding the mode of delivery should be based on obstetric indications and COVID-19 severity.

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: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the CoronaVac vaccine in patients with cancer receiving active systemic therapy. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was co... Tweetable abstract Immunogenicity developed with CoronaVac in 25 (59.5%) of 42 patients who received at least one cytotoxic drug and in all patients (n = 5) who received monoclonal antibody or immu...

Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant yeast, poses significant challenges in healthcare settings due to its ability to form biofilms and resistance to common disinfectants. Understanding its susceptibility to biocides used in hospital disinfection practices is crucial for infection control. We investigated the biocide sensitivity of eight clinical C. auris strains from different patients and one reference strain (CDC B11903) using the biocide activity tests. Species identification was confirmed through MALDI-TOF MS, while clade differentiation and phylogenetic classification were determined via whole-genome sequencing. Biofilm formation was assessed using the MTT assay. Antifungal susceptibilities were tested according to CLSI standards. The effectiveness of biocides, including chlorine, chlorhexidine, and benzalkonium chloride, was evaluated through broth microdilution following CLSI standards and quantitative suspension and carrier tests, following EN standards. All clinical strains were identified as clade 1, and the reference strain as clade 4, with all exhibiting biofilm formation. Clade 1 strains showed resistance to fluconazole, with MIC values ranging from 8 to 32 µg/ml, while being susceptible to other antifungals. Broth microdilution MIC assays for biocides demonstrated that all strains exhibited resistance to benzalkonium chloride. Chlorine and chlorhexidine showed variable efficacy, dependent on concentration and environmental cleanliness. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers demonstrated effectiveness against C. auris from the first minute of application. The study highlights the variable susceptibility of C.auris to different biocides, underscoring the challenge in eradicating this pathogen from healthcare environments. Our findings advocate for the careful selection of disinfectants in hospital settings, emphasizing the need for high-concentration chlorine and chlorhexidine solutions to combat C. auris, even in especially clean environments.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mutations by comparing wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron regarding clinical features in patients with COVID-19. It also aimed to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value could predict COVID-19 severity. A total of 960 wild-type and 411 Omicron variant patients with positive results in SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test from oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal samples during their hospital admissions were included in this retrospective study. The reference symptoms of the patients were obtained from the hospital database. The correlation between chest computed tomography findings and the “cycle threshold” of patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was assessed. Cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and diarrhea were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001; 0.001; 0.001; 0.001; and 0.006; respectively) in the wild-type cohort, while in the Omicron cohort, sore throat and headache were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001 and 0.003, respectively). An inverse relationship was found between chest computed tomography findings and viral load. This study revealed that the Omicron variant tended to infect predominantly the upper respiratory tract and showed decreased lung infectivity, and the disease progressed with a milder clinical course. Therefore, the study showed that the tropism of the virus was changed and the viral phenotype was affected. It was also found that SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not predict COVID-19 severity in patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.