The serum immunoglobulin levels are used routinely in clinical practice because they provide key information on the humoral immune status. This study aimed to determine the age-related reference values of serum immunoglobulin levels in healthy children. A total of 330 healthy children, aged between 0 and 18 years, were included in this study. The serum immunoglobulin levels were measured using a nephelometric method in a total of 11 groups, each group consisting of 30 individuals, and IgG subclasses in 6 groups of children aged more than 2 years. The serum IgG levels were high during the newborn period, decreased until the sixth month, and again increased to a maximum level at the age of 18 years. The level of IgA was found to be extremely low in the newborn period and then increased with age. While the lowest value was in the newborn period for serum IgM level, the highest value was in the 16- to 18-year-old period. The IgG subclasses varied depending on the age groups. The updated reference intervals of immunoglobulin levels in children may be used for the accurate diagnosis of immune deficiencies.

Background: Candida glabrata is the third leading cause of candidaemia in Turkey; however, the data regarding antifungal resistance mechanisms and genotypic diversity in association with their clinical implication are limited.Objectives: To assess genotypic diversity, antifungal susceptibility and mechanisms of drug resistance of C glabrata blood isolates and their association with patients' outcome in a retrospective multicentre study.Patients/Methods: Isolates from 107 patients were identified by ITS sequencing and analysed by multilocus microsatellite typing, antifungal susceptibility testing, and sequencing of PDR1 and FKS1/2 hotspots (HSs).Results: Candida glabrata prevalence in Ege University Hospital was twofold higher in 2014‐2019 than in 2005‐2014. Six of the analysed isolates had fluconazole MICs ≥ 32 µg/mL; of them, five harboured unique PDR1 mutations. Although echinocandin resistance was not detected, three isolates had mutations in HS1‐Fks1 (S629T, n = 1) and HS1‐Fks2 (S663P, n = 2); one of the latter was also fluconazole‐resistant. All patients infected with isolates carrying HS‐FKS mutations and/or demonstrating fluconazole MIC ≥ 32 µg/mL (except one without clinical data) showed therapeutic failure (TF) with echinocandin and fluconazole; seven such isolates were collected in Ege (n = 4) and Gulhane (n = 3) hospitals and six detected recently. Among 34 identified genotypes, none were associated with mortality or enriched for fluconazole‐resistant isolates.Conclusion: Antifungal susceptibility testing should be supplemented with HS‐FKS sequencing to predict TF for echinocandins, whereas fluconazole MIC ≥ 32 µg/mL may predict TF. Recent emergence of C glabrata isolates associated with antifungal TF warrants future comprehensive prospective studies in Turkey.

In this study, our aim was to identify Candida species isolated from bloodstream infections and to determine their susceptibilities to various antifungal agents to demonstrate the local resistance profiles and to guide empirical treatment for clinicians. Two hundred Candida isolates (95 Candida albicans, 105 non-albicans Candida strains) were included in the study. Candida species were identified by conventional, biochemical and molecular methods. Antifungal susceptibility tests for amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin were performed with broth microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A3 document. Of the 200 Candida strains, the most prevalent species were C. albicans (47.5 %), Candida glabrata (18.0 %) and Candida parapsilosis complex (14.0 %). All Candida species except for three (1.5 %) Candida kefyr strains were susceptible to amphotericin B. Only one (2.8 %) C. glabrata was resistant to fluconazole (MIC ≥ 64 μg/ml), and the others (97.2 %) exhibited dose-dependent susceptibility. All species, but C. glabrata strains, were susceptible to fluconazole. Resistance to voriconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin was not detected in any strain. Candida albicans were susceptible to all antifungal drugs. Three C. kefyr strains were resistant to amphotericin B. Only one C. glabrata was resistant to fluconazole. All the strains were susceptible to voriconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests should be performed to select of appropriate and effective antifungal therapy, and monitor the development of resistance.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization, to compare the methods, to determine the relationship between GBS carriage and risk factors, and to genotype the GBS isolates. Methodology: Recto-vaginal swab specimens were obtained from 500 women, and a questionnaire was administered to each to assess their risk factors for GBS carriage. A culture, GBS antigen test, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on all samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed, and the clonal relationship was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on all viable isolates. Results: Of the 500 women, sixty-eight (13.6%) women were GBS carriers, of whom 9.8% were pregnant and 16.5% not. There was a significant difference between GBS carriage and history of premature rupture of membrane (PROM). GBS was isolated from 65 (13%) samples. GBS was positive in 70 (14%) samples by antigen test and in 62 (12.4%) by PCR. Sixty-eight of the 70 positive antigen tests were confirmed by PCR or culture. Fifty-five isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 16 to erythromycin and clindamycin, and 13 to levofloxacin. Thirteen different pulsotypes and 17 sporadic strains were determined by PFGE. Conclusions: GBS carriage rate in non-pregnant women was higher than in pregnant women. The GBS antigen test was more sensitive than culture and PCR. GBS isolates did not originate from a single clone and contained sporadic strains. There was a significant difference between GBS carriage and history of PROM. Epidemiologic data obtained in this study will help future studies.

This study demonstrates the synthesis of a bioinspired surface exhibiting hydrophobic and antibacterial functionalities using a two-stage synthesis approach which involves soft lithography and initiated chemical vapour deposition (iCVD). Sandpapers, which are inexpensive and available with desired grit size, were used as the moulds in soft lithography to transfer the rough surface patterns to the PDMS replica surfaces. The antibacterial surface modification of the PDMS replicas was done through vapour-phase deposition of thin poly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate-vinylbenzyl chloride) (P(DEAEMA-VBC)) films by iCVD method from the corresponding monomers. FTIR analysis of the as-deposited films showed a high retention of the chemical functionalities. The hydrophobicity and antibacterial performances of the flat and rough surfaces were examined as a function of surface roughness. The antibacterial activities were tested against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus. It was found that obtained replicas achieved up to a 7-log reduction in bacterial population and showed high hydrophobicity. Graphical abstract