Tuberculosis continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Although tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs, other organs can also be affected, leading to extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) or disseminated tuberculosis. This study retrospectively analysed the incidence, clinical sites and risk factors for EPT in 252 patients with EPT between 1 January 1991 and 30 June 2003. EPT was defined as clinical, laboratory, imaging, and/or histopathological evidence of mycobacterial infection in a site other than hilar lymph nodes or lung parenchyma. In our study group, tuberculous lymphadenitis (36.5%) was found to be the most common clinical presentation of EPT. 119 (47.2%) patients developed the severe form of EPT, according to the WHO report, and 133 (52.8%) patients developed the less severe form. A case history of pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be a risk factor for the development of EPT (p<0.05). The study showed that EPT is still a public health problem. These findings suggested that pulmonary tuberculosis may play a critical role in the development of EPT. 12-month therapy may be chosen in patients with EPT considering acceptable adverse effects without relapses.

The aim of this study was to search for any relations between the neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the development of osteomyelitis and the need for amputation in patients with diabetic foot infection (DFI). All data included DFI patients who were hospitalized in our Infectious Diseases Clinic between 2012 and 2015 and who were classified according to International Classification Disease Code System. 75 patients were analyzed in the study. The DFI patients were stratified into 3 groups of whom had amputation procedure, whom had only debridement/drainage procedure and whom had any surgery procedure. Sidac post hoc analysis was used to perform the effects of NLR, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycosylated hemoglobin on the surgery procedure status. The DFI patients were also stratified into two another separate group for another analysis to search for the effect of NLR values on the development of osteomyelitis. The mean value of NLR in the amputated patients’ group (15.7 ± 10.3 was significantly higher than those with debridement procedure (9.9 ± 5.6) and those without any surgery (6.0 ± 2.8) (p = 0.001). NLR values were also found significantly higher in patients with osteomyelitis in the second analysis (p = 0.004). In this study, the NLR was found to have a predictive value on the development of osteomyelitis and on the progression to amputation in patients with DFI.

Candida auris causes hospital outbreaks and life-threatening infections, is recognized as a global health threat, and was designated a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since the data on C. auris fungemias are quite scarce and limited to small retrospective case series, this international study aimed to prospectively assess patient characteristics, outcomes, and therapeutic approaches. The study, conducted through the Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) platform, involved 34 referral centers. Patients with C. auris candidemia were prospectively enrolled between 15 April 2024 and 15 October 2024. Data on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment details, and 30-day mortality outcomes were collected. Mortality risk factors were analyzed using univariate tests and stepwise multiple binary logistic regression. The study enrolled 162 patients with a mean Charlson Comorbidity Index of 4.1 ± 2.2. Overall, 91 patients (56.2%) died. Antifungal susceptibility profiles were fluconazole (13/135, 9.6%), caspofungin (121/133, 91%), micafungin (125/126, 99.2%), anidulafungin (74/76, 97.4%), and amphotericin-B (50/134, 37.3%). Inadequate access to appropriate antifungals (odds ratio [OR] = 11.258; 90% confidence interval [CI]: 1.302–97.310; P = 0.065), the presence of central venous catheters (OR = 3.581; 90% CI: 1.037–12.368; P = 0.090), intensive care unit (ICU) stay (OR = 6.148; 90% CI: 1.977–19.123; P = 0.008), abdominal surgery (OR = 5.077; 90% CI: 1.651–15.610; P = 0.017), deep-seated candidal complications (OR = 4.546; 90% CI: 1.103–18.741; P = 0.079), and decreased platelet counts (OR = 1.004; 90% CI: 1.002–1.006; P = 0.006) were associated with increased mortality. Optimizing therapy for C. auris fungemia involves early strain identification, prompt echinocandin use, surveillance, proper catheter management, effective source control particularly in abdominal surgery, monitoring deep-seated candidal complications, and recognizing thrombocytopenia as a critical warning sign.

Background: The annual incidence of tuberculous meningitis (TM) is unknown. TM is a disease that still often results in residual sequelae, and has a mortality rate ranging between 15 and 51%. Experience of countries such as Turkey where drug‐resistant tuberculosis and TM are prevalent is important. Methods: Clinical and laboratory findings of 42 patients with TM, followed between 1991 and 2002, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Twenty‐eight female and 14 male patients were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 33.9 ± 13.2 years (range, 16–60 years). Fourteen had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis; 12 reported close contact with a person with active pulmonary tuberculosis; three were diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis; two, with HIV infection; two, with Pott's disease; and one, with systemic lupus erythematosus. On admission, 17 patients were diagnosed with stage I; 15, with stage II; and 10, with stage III disease. Hemiparesis (35.7%), cranial nerve palsy (30.9%), and altered consciousness (26.9%) were the most common neurological deficits. Prolonged duration of pre‐existing symptoms and female gender were found as significant risk factors in those who develop neurological sequelae (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Cranial computerised tomography revealed various pathological findings in all but five patients. Sulcus effacement was the most common radiological finding. Enlargement of ventricles, focal cerebral oedema/shunt, calcification of meninges, tubercle, and infarction were other common abnormal radiological findings. Conclusions: Prolonged duration of pre‐existing symptoms and female gender are predictors of neurological sequelae of TM. Early identification of such patients and prompt initiation of anti‐tuberculosis therapy may improve their outcome.