This study aims to compare risk factors and mortality of candidemia by Candida auris versus Candida non-auris in intensive care units (ICU). A total of 437 ICU patients who developed candidemia (90 C. auris, 143 C. albicans, 204 other Candida spp.) in 2021-2023 were included. The risk factors in candidemia caused by C. auris, C. albicans and other Candida spp. were compared. Factors associated with 30-day mortality in C. auris candidemia were explored. Compared to the C. albicans group, the C. auris group had more frequent ceftazidime avibactam use (OR:6.72, 95%CI: 1.29-34.98, p = 0.024) and tracheostomy (OR:4.13, 95%CI: 1.70-10.02, p = 0.002), longer colistin (OR:1.07, 95%CI: 1.01-1.13, p = 0.021) and urinary catheter use (OR:1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.03, p = 0.023). Compared to the other Candida spp. group, colistin use (OR:2.79, 95%CI: 1.61-4.87, p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR:2.02, 95%CI: 1.05-3.90, p = 0.036) and concurrent bacteraemia (OR:1.92, 95%CI: 1.06-3.48, p = 0.030) were more frequent in the C. auris group. Rate of 30-day mortality was lower in C. auris patients (63.3%) compared to the C. albicans (82.5%) and other Candida spp. (75.5%) groups. While the 30-day mortality rate was higher in C. auris patients who received vasopressor therapy (OR:3.12, 95%CI: 1.78-5.47, p < 0.001) and had high lactate levels (OR:1.41, 95%CI: 1.00-1.99, p = 0.047) and low platelet counts (OR:1.00, 95%CI: 0.99-1.00, p = 0.003) on the first day of candidemia, it was lower in patients with microbiologic response (OR:0.03, 95%CI: 0.01-0.09, p < 0.001). The necessity of broad-spectrum antibiotics and indwelling catheters should be routinely reassessed to reduce C. auris candidemia. Lower mortality was linked to microbiologic response; thus, fungal eradication should be prioritised in clinical practice.

Introduction: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) infections are an important healthcare problem globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with MDR-Ab infections in hospitalized patients in Turkey. Methodology: A case-control study was performed in a tertiary care 1,303-bed university hospital, among case patients with MDR-Ab infections. The hospital records of case and control patients were retrospectively evaluated over a year. Patients who were hospitalized in the same department and in the same time interval as the case patients, without MDR-Ab infection or colonization, were chosen for control group. Demographic characteristics, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, comorbid diseases, use of invasive tools and duration of usage, and duration of use of antibiotics were recorded for all patients. Comparisons between case and control groups for possible risk factors were performed. Results: In total, 95 cases and 95 controls were included in the study. Univariate analysis highlighted several variables as risk factors for MDR-Ab infections. Multivariate analysis showed that only antibiotic usage over seven days (OR = 2.38, CI = 1.18-4.83, p = 0.016) was found to be a significant risk factor. When antibiotic treatment patterns in both groups were compared, the use of carbapenems (p = 0.001) and glycopeptide antibiotics (p=0.001) in patient treatment were found significantly higher in the MDR-Ab case group. Conclusion: This study showed us that previous antibiotic use is a significant risk factor for MDR-Ab infections. The use of carbapenems and glycopeptides should be considered as primary risk factors for developing MDR-Ab infection.

The combination of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX) is recommended as a salvage therapy for treatment-experienced chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, it is used in our country for treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients. This study aims to present real-world data from Türkiye on CHC patients treated with SOF/VEL/VOX. The present study was conducted by the Viral Hepatitis Study Group of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KLİMİK). It was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study. The data were collected from patients receiving SOF/VEL/VOX therapy at 12 medical centers in Türkiye between 1 June 2022 and 31 December 2024. The patients had received the treatment for 8 to 12 weeks. Of the 139 patients enrolled, 63.3% (n = 88) were male, with a mean age of 54.4 years. Most patients were non-cirrhotic (94.2%, n = 131) and treatment-naïve (92%, n = 128); 49.6% (n = 69) were infected with genotype 1b. Early virologic response (EVR) could be assessed in 126 patients, with an EVR rate of 82.5% (n = 104). End-of-treatment data were available for 113 patients, all achieving an end-of-treatment response. Among the 80 patients for whom week-12 post-treatment data were available, 97.5% sustained virologic response at week 12 (SVR12). Significant improvements were observed in AST, ALT, and platelet levels, along with reductions in APRI and FIB-4 scores (p = 0.001).” No serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were reported. Mild adverse events included pruritus (2.1%, n = 3), fatigue (2.1%, n = 3), and nausea (1.4%, n = 2). The SOF/VEL/VOX combination is a highly effective and well-tolerated treatment option in treatment-naïve CHC patients, achieving an SVR12 rate of 97.5%.

Objective: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria cause difficult-to-treat infections associated with high mortality. Carbapenems are widely used; however, their overuse has led to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the indications, clinical and microbiological efficacy, and side effects of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) and to identify factors influencing mortality, based on data from a large multicenter patient cohort in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: Patients with carbapenem-resistant but CAZ-AVI-susceptible Gram-negative bacterial infections who received CAZ-AVI treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 1245 patients were included. The most common indication for CAZ-AVI use was hospital-acquired pneumonia (47.8%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen (81.3%). CAZ-AVI was used as a monotherapy in 80% of cases. Clinical side effects were observed in 8 (0.64%) patients, while laboratory abnormalities occurred in 73 (5.86%). The 7-day, 14-day, and 28-day all-cause mortality rates were 13.8%, 28.9%, and 45.2%, respectively. Microbiological eradication was achieved in 82.3% of patients. Higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores at admission, requirement for continuous renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, and elevated C-reactive protein levels were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: This large multicenter real-world analysis demonstrates that CAZ-AVI is an effective treatment option for severe infections with high mortality, such as those caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Purpose: Mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive angioinvasive fungal infection with limited large-scale outcome data. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, treatment strategies, and predictors of outcomes in adult patients with proven mucormycosis in Türkiye. Methods: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective study of 280 adults diagnosed with proven mucormycosis between 2004 and 2024 across 27 tertiary centers. Case definitions were applied according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium. Clinical characteristics, antifungal management, surgical interventions, and outcomes were systematically analyzed. Results: The median age of the cohort was 60 years, and diabetes mellitus, frequently complicated by ketoacidosis, was the most common underlying condition. Rhino-orbital-cerebral disease represented the predominant clinical form, whereas pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and disseminated presentations were less frequent but carried less favorable prognoses. Liposomal amphotericin B was the main first-line therapy, often combined with surgery, although antifungal treatment was initiated at a median of five days after symptom onset. Ninety-day mortality was 42.1% by Kaplan–Meier estimation (crude 49.3%) and reached 49.3% (crude 55.0%) at 365 days. Crude mortality was lowest in patients who did not undergo surgery; however, this association was not significant in the time-dependent Cox regression analysis, suggesting confounding by baseline severity. Poor outcomes were associated with corticosteroid exposure, prolonged neutropenia, and neurological manifestations, while a history of sinusitis appeared to be associated with improved survival. Conclusion: In this multicenter study, survival was mainly determined by host-related factors rather than the choice of antifungal agent. Corticosteroid exposure, prolonged neutropenia, and neurological involvement independently predicted poor outcomes, whereas a prior history of sinusitis was linked to improved survival, likely reflecting earlier diagnosis and intervention. These findings reinforce the need for heightened clinical awareness, rapid recognition, and prompt multidisciplinary management to improve outcomes in patients with mucormycosis.