Background. Infections induced by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), especially non-O157 serogroups like O145, pose considerable public health risks. Household transmission is crucial in the dissemination of STEC, particularly in settings characterized by close interaction, such as extended families. This study examines a case of a 5-month-old infant with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) attributed to stx1c-positive STEC and analyzes transmission patterns within the household. Methods. Perianal swab samples were obtained from a 5-month-old infant diagnosed with STEC-associated HUS and six additional household members. Samples of breast milk were examined as well. Samples were inoculated into sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC) and cefixime tellurite sorbitol MacConkey agar (CT-SMAC). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized to identify stx1, stx2, and O serogroups. Fecal shedding was investigated over a four-month period with repeated sampling. Results. Six household members, including the infant, tested positive for stx1, although the mother and breast milk samples were negative. The detected strains were classified within the O145 serogroup and exhibited the stx1c variation. Fecal shedding continued for up to four months in the majority of family members, with the infant exhibiting the briefest length of shedding. The family indicated regular intake of raw meatballs (“çiğköfte”), a traditional Turkish food, made with raw meat, identified as a possible source of illness. None of the family members displayed any symptoms except for the infant, who had severe HUS. Conclusion. This study underscores the critical impact of household transmission on the dissemination of STEC and the hazards associated with traditional raw meat meals such as çiğköfte. Non-O157 STEC serogroups, including O145, are increasingly recognized as significant agents of human infections. The results underscore the significance of monitoring, hygiene education, and preventive strategies to mitigate the dissemination of STEC in families and the wider community. Mitigating extended fecal shedding and detecting foodborne transmission sources are essential for effective public health intervention.

Objective: The diagnostic method used in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) often depends not on the accuracy of the diagnosis but on the existing infrastructure and resources of the diagnostic facility. It is important to apply a practical and sensitive method in regions where diagnostic possibilities are limited. This study aims to examine the cases diagnosed with CL and the diagnosis method in Batman between July 2021 and July 2023. Methods: Totally 17 patients were referred to the Microbiology Laboratory with a prediagnosis of CL. Demographic data of the patients were obtained from the Hospital Information Management System. The fine needle aspiration method was preferred as the diagnostic method in 2021, the samples were taken by partial removal of the suspected crust of scar/ulcer in 2022 and 2023. Results: With the suspicion of Leishmaniasis lesion, 5 patients in 2021, 8 patients in 2022 and 4 patients in 2023 were referred to our laboratory. Samples were taken with the fine needle aspiration method in 2021 and Leishmania sp. amastigotes were detected in one of five patients. In the samples taken in 2022 and 2023, the sample was taken by partial removal of the crust. Leishmania sp. amastigotes were detected in 6 of 8 suspected patients in 2022 and in 3 of 4 suspected patients in 2023. Conclusion: In this study, 10 CLs were diagnosed and it was observed that taking samples by removing the wound/ulcer crust made it easier to detect the agent. All the cases were local and were thought to be independent of Syrian migration.

Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) refers to a group of bacteria that can cause infections, which are common worldwide and pose a serious public health problem, as they can lead to conditions such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. Determination of serogroups and toxin profiles of STEC is important for estimating their disease-causing potential and predicting epidemiological changes. This study analyzed STEC isolates from 46 pediatric HUS patients across Turkey, using polymerase chain reaction to determine O serogroups and Shiga toxin (Stx) variants from stool samples collected between 2016 and 2019. Of the patients, 25 (54.3%) were in the 0–2 age group. Of the isolates, 82.6% were non-O157 serogroup. The most detected serogroup was O145 (32.6%), and 28.3% of the serogroups were not typed. Of the strains, 8 (17.4%) had Stx1 alone, 26 (56.5%) had Stx2 alone, and 12 (26.1%) had both Stx1 and Stx2. The Stx variants occurred in seven combinations, with the most common being Stx2a alone (56.5%). The duration of hospitalization for patients with Stx2a was found to be longer than that for patients with other variants ( p = 0.01). This study highlights a concerning trend in Turkey, where non-O157 serogroups, particularly O145, emerged as prevalent causes of HUS. The predominance of Stx2a among our isolates and the longer hospitalization duration for patients with Stx2a support findings linking this variant to severe clinical outcomes, including HUS. Understanding the dynamics of these Stx variants will help better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of STEC infections in our population.

Objective: Brucellosis is a prevalent zoonotic infection globally, and bacteremia serves as a significant indicator of disease severity. However, the intracellular localization and slow growth of Brucella spp. frequently result in delayed blood culture outcomes. This study sought to assess the diagnostic efficacy of standard laboratory parameters in forecasting bacteremia in pediatric patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 774 children diagnosed with acute brucellosis from 2022 to 2025. Out of these, 227 patients who had blood culture tests were put into two groups: bacteremic and nonbacteremic. This was based on whether or not Brucella spp. grew in the blood cultures. We looked at the hematological and biochemical parameters of both groups. ROC analysis was used to find the best cutoff values and diagnostic performance for parameters that were strongly linked to bacteremia. Results: In patients with bacteremia, AST, ALT, CRP, ESR, and Coombs titers were significantly elevated, whereas hemoglobin and platelet levels were significantly diminished (p<0.05). ROC analysis showed that AST (AUC=0.89, p=0.002) and CRP (AUC=0.83, p=0.009) were the best indicators of bacteremia. The Youden index showed that the best cutoff values were AST ≥40 U/L (sensitivity 84%, specificity 82%) and CRP ≥10.5 mg/L (sensitivity 81%, specificity 78%). Conclusion: AST and CRP levels are reliable diagnostic markers for predicting bacteremia in pediatric brucellosis cases. Assessing these standard laboratory tests can facilitate the early detection of bacteremic cases prior to the availability of blood culture results, thereby enabling the prompt commencement of suitable antibiotic treatment and potentially mitigating complications.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) is a major healthcare-associated pathogen, and the coexistence of different carbapenemases may complicate phenotypic detection and antimicrobial treatment. This study evaluated carbapenemase profiles in 123 CR-Kp isolates from two centers in Türkiye and compared the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) and EDTA-modified carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM) with multiplex real-time PCR targeting KPC, NDM, VIM, IMP, and OXA-48. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) and colistin susceptibility were also assessed. Carbapenemase genes were detected in 122/123 isolates (99.2%), predominantly NDM + OXA-48 (45.5%), followed by OXA-48 alone (26.8%), KPC alone (18.7%), and NDM alone (8.1%). mCIM showed 99.2% sensitivity, whereas eCIM showed 87.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity for NDM detection. All eight false-negative eCIM results occurred among NDM + OXA-48 co-producing isolates (8/55), whereas no false-negative results were observed among isolates carrying NDM alone (0/10); this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.339). CZA resistance was observed in 49.6% of isolates, with a higher likelihood of resistance among NDM-positive isolates in the exploratory analysis (OR, 9.03; 95% CI, 3.97–20.54; p < 0.001). Colistin resistance was observed in 36.6% of isolates, with no statistically significant association with carbapenemase profiles in the analyses performed. These exploratory findings suggest that combined molecular and phenotypic testing may be useful for carbapenemase characterization and highlight the occurrence of false-negative eCIM results in some NDM + OXA-48 co-producing isolates. Given the absence of adjustment for multiple comparisons, the observed associations should be interpreted cautiously and considered hypothesis-generating.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant nosocomial pathogen recognized for its multidrug-resistance (MDR) and capacity to endure in hospital settings. This study aims to investigate the clonal relationships of A. baumannii isolates from diverse clinical samples, identify the sequence types of MDR isolates, and examine biofilm formation activity and biofilm-associated genes that contribute to persistence in hospital settings. A total of 90 A. baumannii isolates were analyzed. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were conducted with MALDI-TOF MS and Vitek-2. REP-PCR was utilized to evaluate clonal connections, MLST was employed for specific isolates. Biofilm formation activity was assessed using the XTT reduction assay, and biofilm-associated genes were identified by PCR. REP-PCR revealed 29 genotypes, with Genotype A being identified as the endemic clone in 59% of isolates. Two isolates representing this genotype were found to belong to the ST2 clone. The majority of A. baumannii isolates possess biofilm-related genes and exhibit strong biofilm activity. In MDR isolates, ompA and csuE positivity were significantly higher than those non-MDR isolates (P = 0.003, P = 0.001). The csuE positive isolates were found to have significantly stronger biofilm activity than negative ones (P = 0.009). This study emphasizes the prevalence of a hospital-endemic, MDR A. baumannii genotype A, ST2 clone, and the genetic variability across isolates. No direct correlation was noted between MDR status and biofilm formation; however, some biofilm-related genes, notably csuE, were linked to stronger biofilm activity. These findings underscore the necessity for ongoing molecular surveillance and infection control measures to avert the dissemination of MDR A. baumannii in healthcare environments.