Ergin Çiftçi

Ankara University · Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Introduction: Influenza is a severe health problem with a massive burden of disease mainly affecting older adults, young children, and people with multimorbidity. Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) is an active hospital surveillance network that generates solid epidemiological and medical evidence to understand influenza severit...

Background The prevalence of meningococcal carriage and serogroup distribution is crucial for assessing the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease, forecasting outbreaks and formulating potential immunization strategies. Following the meningococcal carriage studies conducted in Turkey in 2016 and 2018, we planned to re-evaluate meningococca...

Aim Herpes zoster is rarely seen in children, but is more common and more severe in those with underlying medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate cases of herpes zoster in all paediatric patients and to detail the clinical course and complications of this disease in children with and without underlying health p...

Background A single-dose varicella vaccine at 12 months of age was introduced to the National Immunization Program in February 2013 in Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate varicella-related hospitalization in children and the impact of a single-dose live attenuated varicella vaccine over the first 5.5 years of introducing a universal varicella vacc...

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of family physicians (FPs), pediatricians (PPs), and obstetricians and gynecologists (OGs) regarding vaccine administration during pregnancy in Turkey as factors that contribute to decision-making. The survey was distributed among FPs, OGs, and PPs, and participants were asked...

Background Varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is the most common infectious complication in the late posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) period and is reported as 16%–41%. Acyclovir prophylaxis is recommended for at least 1 year after HSCT to prevent VZV infections. However, studies on the most appropriate prophylaxis are ongo...

Background Vaccines have the most important role in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. With the widespread use of vaccines, COVID-19 has remarkably declined. Adolescents were vaccinated after approvals for this age group, which was later than adults, and a nationwide vaccination program was implemented in August 2021 in Turkey for adolescent...

To investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infants aged 0 to 3 months because there is currently a significant gap in the literature on the subject. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the involvement of 19 medical centers across Turkey and 570 infants. The majority of the patients were male (58.2%), and the three most common symp...

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gamma herpes virus and can remain lifelong in the latent state after acute infection [1]. The target cell is B lymphocytes in the body, important in terms of their oncogenic potential. Epstein-Barr virus causes different clinical conditions ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal course. It may present as an asymp...

Measles is an acute, highly contagious childhood viral disease that often causes fever, cough, malaise, runny nose, rash, and conjunctivitis. Measles was a common disease before the live measles vaccine was approved in the United States of America (USA) in 1963 [1, 2]. The incidence has decreased by that time. Although measles control has been achi...

Purpose Due to its link with the 2019 coronavirus, the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC) has garnered considerable international interest. The aim of this study, in which MISC patients were evaluated multicenter, and the data of the third period of the Turk-MISC study group, to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine efficacy, safety, and feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in childhood empyema with two port technique. Materials and Methods: 34 patients under 17 years of age were included to the study. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded retrospectively. Results: 34...

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular manifestations and surveillance of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and to determine the correlation of echocardiographic findings with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings. Methods: Forty-four children diagnosed as MIS-C with cardiac involvement were enrolled...

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a well-established, life-saving treatment for children with irreversible acute and chronic liver failure (LF). We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with morbidity and mortality in the early period of LT in children by reviewing our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) experience. Methods: We revie...

Background: The prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) has been increasing worldwide. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of MRSA in community-acquired S. aureus infections, the risk factors for CA-MRSA infection and the clinical features of CA-MRSA. Methods: A multi-center study with prospective and retros...

Background Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is one of the most frequent side effects of antimicrobial therapy. We assessed the epidemiological data of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in pediatric patients in our region. Methods The prospective multi-center study included pediatric patients who were initiated an oral antibiotic course in outpatient cl...

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is one of the serious forms of health care-associated infection. Pan-drug resistant (PDR) CRKP infections can cause severe infections. Mortality and treatment costs in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are high. This study aims to share our experience regarding the treatment of ox...

The current study aimed to investigate the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of the pneumonia cases in children that were confirmed as M.pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and to reveal the factors that can be decisive in the diagnosis. Seventy-seven children were included in this study. The median age of the patient...

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to present our 10-year IA experience in a single center. Fifty-nine pediatric patients diagnosed with IA were included in the study. The male/female ratio of these patients was 42/17. The median age was 8.75 years. Hematologic malignancy was presen...

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rare but fatal thrombotic disease caused by microvascular thrombosis due to coagulation disorder. Necrosis can progress to muscle and bone tissue contributing to late mortality and morbidity. A healthy 4-month-old girl and a 7-month-old girl had previously admitted to our intensive care unit with severe PF due to meningo...

The clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly involve the respiratory system. However, there is increasing evidence that this virus can affect other organs, causing a wide range of clinical symptoms. This is the report of a 40-day-old patient who presented with sepsis and had no risk factors other than SARS-CoV-2 infection, whose radio...

The aim of this single-center retrospective study was to determine the changes in the burden of allcause pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia and empyema in children aged 0-18 years after the availability of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV7) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) in our country. Children aged 0-18 years who w...

Neisseria meningitidis is a significant worldwide cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis. High case-fatality rates and severe complications in survivors can occur. We present a 1-month 23-day-old case diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and sepsis, in which serogroup Z of N. meningitidis was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood culture...

471 Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) often develops after Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in patients with primary immunodeficiency or immunocompromise due to causes such as che-motherapy, malnutrition, and chronic disease. 1 However, cases of EG have also been reported in healthy individuals or during transient neutropenia associated with recent viral i...

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) diagnosis remains difficult because the clinical features overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). The study aims to highlight the clinical and laboratory features and outcomes of patients with MISC whose clinical manifestations overlap with or without KD. This study is a retrospective analysis of a case serie...

Background Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common childhood infections. Ear pain, the main symptom of AOM, results in parents frequently seeking medical assistance for their children. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topical 1% lidocaine ear drops administered with oral analgesics with that of oral analgesics al...

Aim: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) may cause shock and even death in children. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features, laboratory characteristics and outcome of children diagnosed with MIS-C in 25 different hospitals in Turkey. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted between 8 April and 28 Octob...

Objective We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and role of high-sensitivity troponin T in children with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and also the correlation of troponin T levels with symptoms, and echocardiographic findings were analysed. Methods Two hundred and fourteen patients with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between the dates of 28 Marc...

Facial infections in the pediatric age group are very common. Understanding these infections is important for improving patient outcomes and treating patients. Insect bites, traumatic injuries, viruses, and rarely bacteremia can be initiating causes. Comprehensive patient history and physical examination for diagnosis are important as in all diseas...

Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) infections are common in childhood. Although many bacterial and viral agents can cause ENT infections, fungal agents are also frequently reported. Fungi are commonly responsible for superficial infections in healthy children and invasive infections in children with severe underlying disease.

Objective: Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency among children. The coronavirus pandemic affected the system of hospitals more than any other field, and great amount of people were concerned about visiting the hospitals for any reason. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the profile of appendicitis by emphasizing perforated and acute app...

Objective Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is characterized by persistent fever, systemic hyperinflammation, and multiple-organ dysfunction. There are a few reports about MIS-C presenting with acute abdomen. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for MIS-C-related acute abdo...

Background Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed children. Early detection of the infection can improve prognosis in this patient population. Objectives To investigate the utility of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen assay (GM-EIA) as a diagnostic tool for IA in at-risk paediatric patients...

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory features of the patients with rotavirus (RV) antigen positivity on or following admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: Patients admitted to the PICU due to community-acquired rotavirus (CA-RV) or hospital-acquired rotavirus (HA-RV)-induced gastro...

Background : Invasive Trichosporon infections is a rare and opportunistic fungal infection in children that mainly affects immunocompromised patients. This multicenter retrospective study was rewieved the characteristics, risk factors, treatment modalities and outcome of invasive Trichosporon species in children diagnosed over the past ten years in...

In Turkey, the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV7) was included in the childhood national immunization programme in April 2008 and was replaced by the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) in April 2011. In this retrospective, single-center study, it was aimed to determine the serotype distribution and antimicrobial resi...

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is characterized by persistent fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, conjunctivitis, headaches, and mucocutaneous manifestations and it can cause circulatory dysfunction, resulting in hypotension, shock, and end-organ injury in the heart and other organs and possibly death....

Broad and deep perianal wounds are challenging in both adult and pediatric ICUs. These wounds, if contaminated with gastrointestinal flora, can cause invasive sepsis and death, and recovery can be prolonged. Controlling the source of infection without diverting stool from the perianal region is complicated. The option of protective colostomy is not...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by pediatric infectious disease specialists from 32 different hospitals from all over Turkey by case record forms. Pediatric cases who were diagnosed...

Methods: Patients admitted to the PICU due to rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis acquired from community or hospital between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2019, were evaluated. Demographical characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings of these patients, treatments performed in the PICU, laboratory evaluations, morbidity and mortality were...

Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene causes autosomal dominant hyper immunoglobulin E syndrome (AD-HIES or Job’s Syndrome), a rare and complex primary immunodeficiency (PID) syndrome characterized by increased levels of IgE (>2000 IU/mL), eosinophilia, recurrent staphylococcal skin absc...

Leishmania is a vector-induced endemic tropical disease caused by protozoans. The most common cutaneous, mucosal and visceral forms are the cutaneous form. The main drugs in treatment are pentavalent antimony compounds, but their side effects create limitation of use. Local antimony compounds are used primarily in the treatment of cutaneous leishma...

Background: Nosocomial pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2-14 occurred in a 7-year-old patient following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major. Case: The patient was diagnosed with nosocomial Legionella pneumophila by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage a...

Background: Pertussis is a disease leading to high morbidity and mortality in neonates and infants. Bronchiolitis is the most common cause of hospitalization especially in children < 2 year-old. Although the clinical findings are different in these two diseases, it is sometimes difficult to make this distinction in partially or fully vaccinated ch...