Objectives Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) increase the risk of excessive blood clotting, but their role in COVID-19 remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the presence of conventional APAs used in the classification of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with severe lung infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare these results with non-COVID-19 critically ill patients Methods Thirty-one COVID-19 patients (COVID group) and 28 non-COVID-19 critically ill patients (non-COVID group), were included in the study. Anti-cardiolipin (ACA) (IgG, IgM), anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 (Anti-β2GPI) (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and if the patient had not received any anti thrombotic agent before blood collection, lupus anticoagulant (LAC) tests were studied from the plasma of the patients. For testing ACA and Anti-β2GPI, ELISA method was used, while fully automated coagulometer device was used for LAC test. Results APAs were positive in 25.81% in the COVID group (8/31) and 25% in the non-COVID group (7/28). LAC was the most common APA present in 23.08% of the COVID-19 group, who underwent measurement (6/26), while 3.57% of the non-COVID group was LAC positive (1/28) (p = .047). In the COVID group, ACA IgM, and IgG were positive in 6.45% and 0%, respectively (2/31 vs 0/31). In the non-COVID group, ACA IgM was not positive in any patient, while ACA IgG was positive in 7.14% (2/28). Anti-β2GPI IgG and IgM tests were not positive in any patient in either the COVID or the non-COVID group. Anti-β2GPI IgA were positive in 6.45% and 14.29%, respectively (2/31 vs 4/28). Conclusion In this study, APAs were equally positive in critically ill patients among COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients. Only LAC was more observed in COVID-19 patients. Key messages

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage among emergency department (ED) workers, and bacterial contamination on hand-touch surfaces at ED. Methods: This single-centered study enrolled 105 ED workers and 190 hand-touch surfaces at ED in June 2014. Nasal and environmental samples for S. aureus carriage and for bacterial contamination were obtained. For isolation swabs were cultured on ChromAgar S. aureus and environmental samples first cultured in broth and antibiogram obtained by clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. A questionnaire was completed for each subject. Results: The S. aureus carriage rate was 18.1% (n=19), with 2.9% (n=3) MRSA positivity. There were two (1.9%) mobile phone positivities for S. aureus, one of them was MRSA, and a computer keyboard contamination for MRSA was also detected. All MRSA isolates were susceptible for the tested antibiotics. There was significant difference between gender (p=0.044) in terms of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA, all three MRSA isolates were from females. Conclusion: Our study showed that the carriage of MRSA was not affected by clinical exposure in the hospital because of the existing infection control policy in our hospital.

The prevalence of nasal carriage of MSSA was low in our study population. The only risk factors playing role in carriage were found as being under the age of 65 and having prosthesis.

Objective: Proper surveillance administered by infection control committee members may reduce infection rates and antibiotic use in intensive care units. This study aimed to evaluate the results of blood, respiratory and urine cultures and their changes over the years. Materials and Methods: Among 21632 cultures taken from patients between January 2017 and December 2018, 953 cultures diagnosed with healthcare-related infections constituted the study cohort. SPSS program and incidence formula were used to analyze the data. Results: The overall incidence of infection is 21.9 per thousand patient days. Forty-three point two percent of the patients were diagnosed with urinary catheter-related urinary tract infection. The most isolated microorganisms were Acinetobacter baumannii (35.6%), Candida spp. (16.8%), Klebsiella spp. (14.4%). Compared to the previous year, most microorganisms are less common, however, but Coagulase Negative Staphylococci have increased by about 2-fold and Serratia marcescens and Proteus mirabilis about 3-fold. Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to methicillin, gentamycin, and ciprofloxacin; and Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to penicillin, beta-lactam, and cephalosporin group antibiotics. Conclusion: Knowledge of the incidence of infection, the frequency of unit-specific microorganisms, and the resistance profile of these microorganisms can improve treatment and care quality, avoid unnecessary and incorrect antibiotic use, and reduce costs.

Brucella seropositivity is high in Gurun, Altinyayla and Kangal counties and primary care physicians should keep in mind the clinical and laboratory findings of brucellosis especially in family members of brucellosis patients.