Publications (6)3.73 Total impact
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Article: Risk factors for vancomycin-resistant enteroccocci colonization in infants in neonatal intensive care unit
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ABSTRACT: We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for VRE colonization in neonatal intensive care units. In December 2007, we identified a neonate with VRE infection (urinary tract infection and we performed blood and stool cultures for VRE until the last colonized patient was discharged from our clinic. All the neonates hospitalized in NICU during December 2007 to January 2008. Active surveillance cultures for VRE fecal carriage was carried out in neonatal intensive care unit. Resistance to vancomycin was detected by the E-test method. Epidemiological data was recorded for all patients included in the study and was used for the risk factors. Totally 54 infants in NICU were screened for VRE colonization. Totally 11 infants (20%) were colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The average duration of all antimicrobial therapy was significantly longer in colonized patients. The infants who were hospitalized for more than 10 days were found to be significantly more colonized with VRE when compared to the infants with shorter hospital stay (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between VRE colonized and non-colonized infants in respect to sex, to third generation cephalosporin usage, glycopeptide usage, presence of prematurity, presence of mechanical ventilation(p> 0.05). The premature infants and the mature infants were under risk of VRE colonization. Longer duration of hospitalization and antimicrobial usage were the prominent risk factors. Since infants in neonatal intensive care units were under risk of infections, periodic active surveillance cultures should be combined with logical antimicrobial therapy. KeywordsVancomycin resistant enteroccocci-Neonatal intensive care unit-ColonizationCentral European Journal of Medicine 04/2012; 5(4):499-503. · 0.31 Impact Factor -
Article: The effects of topical iodine containing antiseptics on thyroidal status of preterm versus term babies.
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ABSTRACT: To determine the effect of iodine containing antiseptics on thyroid function for the first 3 weeks in non-very-low-birth weight preterm and term babies, and to evaluate their thyroid function and behavioral status 7 years later. Cohort I (between the years 1997-1998) was studied in 57 preterm (30-35 weeks) and 29 term newborns, 7 years later cohort II (in the year 2005) was created from same 28 preterm and 18 term infants at Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Serum thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, total and free thyroxine were measured on the first, seventh, and twenty-first days (cohort I), and at the age of 7 (cohort II). In respect of used antiseptics, the patients were divided into 2 groups. The evaluation of patients was performed according to the Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders, 4th edition based child and adolescent behavior disorders screening and rating scale. On the seventh day of life, iodine-exposed newborns had significantly higher mean thyrotropin levels and lower free thyroxine, total thyroxine, and triiodothyronine levels. On the twenty-first day, thyrotropin levels of iodine-exposed newborns were similar to controls. The cohort II results showed normal thyroid function in all patents with increased hyperactivity among children born prematurely, and particularly experienced exposure to iodine. Iodine excess may cause transient hypothyroxinemia in preterm babies (>30 weeks gestational age, >1.5 kg) and this may be one of the reasons for behavior problems observed later in these children.Saudi medical journal 07/2009; 30(6):783-7. · 0.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Assessment of myocardial involvement using cardiac troponin-I and echocardiography in rheumatic carditis in Izmir, Turkey.
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ABSTRACT: Acute rheumatic carditis is still a major problem in developing countries. Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) has been identified as a sensitive and specific marker in the diagnosis of myocarditis in children and adults. A prospective study was performed using Doppler echocardiography and cTnI in order to detect myocardial involvement in 26 consecutive patients with acute rheumatic valvular disease. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, rheumatic fever with carditis (n > 16); group 2, rheumatic fever without carditis (n > 10). Clinically age, gender, body temperature, heart rate and white blood count did not differ significantly between the groups and the age-matched control group. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-streptolysin-O were significantly different. Left ventricular fractional shortening was normal in all patients (group 1, 37 +/- 10%; group 2, 34 +/- 5%; NS). Left ventricular dimensions were larger in group 1, in which all patients except two had moderate to severe mitral and/or aortic valvular regurgitation (5.05 +/- 0.75 cm/m(2)) compared to group 2, in which none had valvular regurgitation (3.27 +/- 0.26 cm/m(2), P < 0.05). None of the patients in either group presented with or developed pericarditis. Mean cTnI was 0.12 +/- 0.034 ng/mL in group 2 and 0.077 +/- 0.02 in group 1, the difference of which was not statistically significant. Neither significant cTnI elevations nor echocardiographic systolic function abnormalities were found in the present patients with rheumatic carditis. The present results indicate the absence of myocardial involvement in acute rheumatic carditis without congestive heart failure.Pediatrics International 02/2008; 50(1):62-4. · 0.63 Impact Factor -
Article: Value of neuron-specific enolase levels in cerebrospinal fluid in evaluating the prognosis of asphyxiated neonates.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 03/2002; 48(1):60-1. · 1.39 Impact Factor -
Article: Association between mannose binding lectin polymorphisms and predisposition to bacterial meningitis.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the presence of any association between mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene variants and bacterial meningitis. Codon 54 (B allele) and codon 57 (C allele) polymorphisms in exon 1 of the MBL gene were investigated in 50 healthy controls and 31 patients diagnosed as purulent meningitis. Codon 57 polymorphism was not found in our patient and control groups. B allele frequency was significantly higher in the patient group (22%) compared to the control group (3%). AB genotype was determined in 39% and 6% of patient and healthy control groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. AA genotype was determined in 61% of the patient group and in 94% of the control group, and it was statistically low in the patient group. These results suggest that codon 54 polymorphism in the MBL gene may play a role in susceptibility to bacterial meningitis in children.The Turkish journal of pediatrics 49(3):270-3. · 0.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Late-onset distal polyneuropathy due to acute organophosphate intoxication case report.
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ABSTRACT: Intoxications due to organophosphate insecticides are common in our country, since agriculture has an important place. Besides the well known acute cholinergic toxicity, these compounds may cause late-onset distal polyneuropathy occurring two to three weeks after the acute exposure. An eight-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl admitted to the hospital with gait disturbances. Beginning 15 and 20 days, respectively, after organophosphate ingestion. Neurologic examination revealed bilateral dropped foot, absent Achilles tendon reflexes and peripheral sensory loss. Electromyography demonstrated motor weighed sensory-motor polyneuropathy with axonal degeneration significant in the distal parts of bilateral lower extremities. Biochemical, radiological findings and magnetic resonance imagings were normal. The two cases were taken under a physiotherapy program. The two cases are presented here since organophosphate poisonings are common in our country, and since late-onset polyneuropathy is not a well known clinical presentation as acute toxicity.The Turkish journal of pediatrics 45(1):67-70. · 0.44 Impact Factor
