Ozge Turhan

Publications of Ozge Turhan

• [Clinical evaluation of forty-four patients with necrotizing fasciitis].

  Authors: Ozge Turhan, Seyit Ali Büyüktuna, Dilara Inan, Rabin Saba, Ata Nevzat Yalçın

  Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES. 01/2011; 17(1):29-32.

  Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but life-threatening soft-tissue infection primarily involving the superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue. We conducted a retrospective study of 44 patients withNecrotizing fasciitis is a rare but life-threatening soft-tissue infection primarily involving the superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue. We conducted a retrospective study of 44 patients with necrotizing fasciitis between 2004 and 2008 in Akdeniz University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and other departments. The aim of this study was to determine the causative agents of the necrotizing fasciitis, and the localization, predisposing factors, and comorbid conditions. We found that diabetes mellitus, trauma and surgery were the most important predisposing factors. Moreover, the lower extremity and perianal region were the most frequently involved sites. Polymicrobial agents were the most frequent and the mortality was found as 25%. In conclusion, necrotizing fasciitis cases followed in our hospital were evaluated in this study.

• Increased mean platelet volume in chronic hepatitis B patients with inactive disease.

  Authors: Ozge Turhan, Erkan Coban, Dilara Inan, Ata Nevzat Yalcin

  Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 04/2010; 16(4):CR202-205.

  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide, responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease. Conflicting findings on the possibleHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide, responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease. Conflicting findings on the possible association between HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, indicating inactive HBsAg carrier status, and atherosclerosis have been reported. Platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Mean platelet volume, a determinant of platelet activation, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. Elevated MPV levels have been identified as an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction in patients with coronary heart disease, and for death or recurrent vascular events after myocardial infarction. Moreover, increased platelet size has been reported in patients with vascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and essential hypertension. According to our knowledge, there has been no previous study of MPV in inactive HBsAg carriers. Therefore, we have investigated the possible association between HBsAg positivity and MPV. We selected 260 inactive HBsAg carriers, and 80 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index. The MPV level was significantly higher in the inactive HBsAg carrier group than in the control group (8.8+/-1.2 fl vs 8.1+/-0.9 fl, P=.001). Our results suggest that inactive HBsAg carriers tend to have relatively increased platelet activation and an atherothrombotic risk.

• Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of students from a medicine faculty, dentistry faculty, and medical technology Vocational Training School toward HIV/AIDS.

  Authors: Ozge Turhan, Yesim Senol, Timucin Baykul, Rabin Saba, Ata Nevzat Yalçin

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2010; 23(2):153-60.

  With increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients, physicians, dentists, and nurses taking care of these patients should have sufficient knowledge of the disease, and their attitude and behaviour shouldWith increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients, physicians, dentists, and nurses taking care of these patients should have sufficient knowledge of the disease, and their attitude and behaviour should be proper. In our study, we aimed to examine the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among students from a medicine faculty, dentistry faculty, and medical technology vocational training school, to investigate attitudes and behaviour, and differences between first- and last-year students (if any) and to determine students' perception of the importance of this disease for our country and our world. This descriptive study comprised first-year and last-year students of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University Medical Technology Vocational Training School (MTVTS), and Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry. A questionnaire was administered to a total of 357 students. Lack of the relevant education is obvious among all three occupational groups in our study. The importance of HIV/AIDS as a public health problem all over the world should be emphasized more, and awareness of all humanity should be augmented.

• MRSA genotypes in Turkey: Persistence over 10 years of a single clone of ST239.

  Authors: Emine Alp, Corné H W Klaassen, Mehmet Doganay, Ulku Altoparlak, Kemalettin Aydin, Aynur Engin, Cigdem Kuzucu, Cuneyt Ozakin, Mehmet Ali Ozinel, Ozge Turhan, Andreas Voss

  The Journal of infection. 05/2009;

  OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of life-threatening human infections. The clinical impact of MRSA is mounting, not only due to theOBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of life-threatening human infections. The clinical impact of MRSA is mounting, not only due to the ever-increasing prevalence but also due to the occurrence of new, community-acquired MRSA strains. The aim of this prospective, multi-centre study was to determine the prevalence and genetic relatedness of clinically relevant MRSA isolates, in Turkey. METHODS: During a 1-year period, data from 20 successive patients with invasive S. aureus infections were collected from eight university hospitals, geographically distributed over the six main regions of Turkey. Among these S. aureus isolates, the genetic association of MRSA isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and spa typing. A selected number of isolates were also analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Furthermore, Panton Valentine leucocidin (PVL) genes were examined. RESULTS: In this study, the rate of methicillin resistance in S. aureus in patients with apparent infections (sepsis, meningitis, lung abscess or septic arthritis) ranged from 12 to 75% within the seven participating centres. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and spa typing revealed the presence of 22 closely related genotypes. According to the PFGE and spa typing results, 53 out of 54 MRSA isolates were closely related. These isolates were of spa type t030 or a related spa type, contain an SCC mec type III element and belong to sequence type ST239. None of the isolates contained the PVL genes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the broad surface area of Turkey, a single predominant clone of ST239 circulates in hospitals in different regions and only few new types of MRSA were introduced over the past years. These results place Turkey in the epicenter of ST239 prevalence.

• Seroepidemiology of fascioliasis in the Antalya region and uselessness of eosinophil count as a surrogate marker and portable ultrasonography for epidemiological surveillance.

  Authors: Ozge Turhan, Metin Korkmaz, Rabin Saba, Adnan Kabaaaliogu, Dilara Inan, Latife Mamikoglu

  Le infezioni in medicina : rivista periodica di eziologia, epidemiologia, diagnostica, clinica e terapia delle patologie infettive. 01/2007; 14(4):208-12.

  BACKGROUND: Fascioliasis is a great tropical disease all over the world so we tried to investigate the incidence of fascioliasis in the Antalya region of Turkey and also to find an answer to theBACKGROUND: Fascioliasis is a great tropical disease all over the world so we tried to investigate the incidence of fascioliasis in the Antalya region of Turkey and also to find an answer to the question if initial ultrasonographic examination (US) and eosinophil count is a predictive sign in diagnosis of fascioliasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 597 adult persons were included. All cases were examined for eosinophilia and antibodies against Fasciola hepatica by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 344 of them were examined by portable US. RESULTS: ELISA was positive in 18 (3%) of 597 persons. This rate is appropriate for the definition of mesoendemic region for human fascioliasis. Among seropositive people only 2 (11.11%) cases had eosinophilia (p =0.3). US findings were not related to fascioliasis. CONCLUSIONS: Future epidemiologic studies are required in order to find the real situation of fascioliasis in Turkey as in the world and initial US and eosinophil count is not useful predictive method for fascioliasis prevalence.

• A case of right-side infective endocarditis with ventricular septal defect.

  Authors: Ozge Turhan, Rabin Saba, Aytil Belgi, Dilara Inan, Hicran Karaoglan, Ata Nevzat Yalcin

  Le infezioni in medicina : rivista periodica di eziologia, epidemiologia, diagnostica, clinica e terapia delle patologie infettive. 04/2005; 13(1):39-41.

  A 28-year-old woman previously known to have a ventricular septal defect presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain and nausea. Positive blood culture of methicillin-sensitive StaphylococcusA 28-year-old woman previously known to have a ventricular septal defect presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain and nausea. Positive blood culture of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and the detection of vegetation attached to the right ventricular wall near the ostium of the ventricular septal defect confirmed diagnosis of infective endocarditis. After four weeks' treatment with proper antibiotics the patient recovered.

• Daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections in a Turkish university hospital.

  Authors: Dilara Inan, Rabin Saba, Filiz Gunseren, Gozde Ongut, Ozge Turhan, Ata Nevzat Yalcin, Latife Mamikoglu

  BMC infectious diseases. 02/2005; 5(1):5.

  BACKGROUND: Many studies associated nosocomial infections with increased hospital costs due to extra days in hospital, staff time, extra investigations and drug treatment. The cost of antibioticBACKGROUND: Many studies associated nosocomial infections with increased hospital costs due to extra days in hospital, staff time, extra investigations and drug treatment. The cost of antibiotic treatment for these infections represents a significant part of hospital expenditure. This prospective observational study was designed to determine the daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections per infected adult patient in Akdeniz University Hospital. METHODS: All adult patients admitted to the ICUs between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2003 who had only one nosocomial infection during their stay were included in the study. Infection sites and pathogens, antimicrobial treatment of patient and it's cost were recorded. Daily antibiotic costs were calculated per infected patient. RESULTS: Among the 8460 study patients, 817 (16.6%) developed 1407 episodes of nosocomial infection. Two hundred thirty three (2.7%) presented with only one nosocomial infection. Mean daily antibiotic cost was 89.64 dollars. Daily antibiotic cost was 99.02 dollars for pneumonia, 94.32 dollars for bloodstream infection, 94.31 dollars for surgical site infection, 52.37 dollars for urinary tract infection, and 162.35 dollars for the other infections per patient. The treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections was the most expensive infection treated. Piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin were the most prescribed antibiotics, and meropenem was the most expensive drug for treatment of the nosocomial infections in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections is an important part of extra costs that should be reduced providing rational antibiotic usage in hospitals.

• Hand hygiene compliance in a hematology unit.

  Authors: Rabin Saba, Dilara Inan, Derya Seyman, Gulcan Gul, Yeşim Yiğiter Senol, Ozge Turhan, Latife Mamikoğlu

  Acta haematologica. 02/2005; 113(3):190-3.

  Transmission of pathogens from the hands of health care workers (HCWs) is the main cause of nosocomial infections, and hand hygiene is the single most important procedure to prevent it. At present,Transmission of pathogens from the hands of health care workers (HCWs) is the main cause of nosocomial infections, and hand hygiene is the single most important procedure to prevent it. At present, little is known about the adherence of HCWs to hand hygiene procedures in hematology units, where the patients are at high risk for acquiring hospital infections. In a prospective observational study, two observers monitored the hand hygiene compliance of HCWs in a hematology unit during 30-min observation periods distributed randomly during the daytime over 2 months. The prevalence of compliance with hand hygiene was 26% on 638 observed occasions. The noncompliance was higher among nurses [odds ratio (OR) 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85-6.70] and other HCWs (OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.98-3.02) compared to physicians. The compliance rate differed from 4 to 60% depending on the activity. The lowest compliance rate (4%) was observed before patient care and the highest (60%) was after insertion of invasive devices. When we classified the occasions for hand hygiene into 'before' and 'after' activities, the compliance rates were 9 and 36%, respectively (OR 5.6, 95% CI 3.4-9.0). In conclusion, noncompliance with hand hygiene was high in this hematology unit, especially among nurses and before activities. Variations with the type of HCW and activity suggest that targeted educational programs and feedback control may be useful.