Aims: The aim of this study is to reveal the rates of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex resistance to major antituberculous drugs (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol) by the evaluation of the specimens that are sent to Trakya University Hospital Microbiology Laboratory. Methods: In this study, laboratory data of the cases that were pre-diagnosed with tuberculosis between 11/02/2016 and 31/12/2017 were scanned retrospectively. To compare the annual data descriptive statistics as arithmetic mean, numbers and percentages were used. Results: Out of 4752 samples, 133 (2.79%) were culture positive. 120 isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, while other 13 were defined as Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis. Antimycobacterial susceptibility tests showed that 9 (7.5%) isolates were resistant to streptomycin, 10 (8.33%) isolates to isoniazid, 4 (3.33%) isolates to rifampicin, 4 (3.33) isolates to ethambutol. 5 (4.16%) isolates were multidrug resistant. Conclusion: Antituberculous drug resistance is still a threat for an effective treatment of tuberculosis and streptomycin resistance has increased. However, it is also pointed out that presence of Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis in isolates has increased.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate hepatitis B virus serological status and to categorize the risks of our treatment modalities in patients with both benign and malignant hematological disorders. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 552 patients who were admitted to the Trakya University Hospital Hematology unit between 01.01.2017 and 31.12.2017. All data regarding the diagnosis, treatment and HBV serological status were collected from patient files. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS V.20 using descriptive statistical analysis. Results: Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in 45 (8.2%) patients, antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in 279 (50.5%) patients and antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen was positive in 247 (44.7%) patients. According to these results, 32 patients were found to be vaccinated for hepatitis B virus. Reactivation was observed in 4 (0.7%) patients who have been hepatitis B surface antigen positive and have received adequate duration of antiviral prophylaxis with tenofovir. These 4 patients have received monoclonal antibody for immunosuppressive treatment. Conclusion: To conclude, although the rate of hepatitis B surface antigen reactivation is quite low, as many patients as possible should be vaccinated to reduce the costs of antiviral treatments and monitorization. If there is no time to vaccinate, patients should be categorized according to guidelines by their hepatitis B surface antigen serological status and by the planned immunosuppressive treatments.

Aims: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a random rupture of the coronary artery wall, which may lead to ischemia of the heart tissue. 30% of the cases are male patients. The aim of this article is to report a patient with spontaneous coronary artery dissection, raise awareness and extend the literature. Case Report: A 43-year-old male patient was presented to Trakya University Hospital with a complaint of persistent chest pain. The patient underwent coronary angiography, revealing spontaneous coronary artery dissection in the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery. Conclusion: In this case report, we demonstrated the diagnosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection with coronary angiography. Our patient had the most common dissection, left anterior descending artery, right coronary artery and left main coronary artery. Only medical therapy could be started for the patient due to his voluntary discharge.

Aims: This study aims to reveal the inappropriate use of biochemical laboratory testing at Trakya University Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory, increase the awareness of the physicians and prevent time loss. Methods: This study was descriptive, retrospective and carried out by scanning data resources. Two 48-hour intervals were chosen to evaluate the test ordering habits of the physicians working at Trakya University Hospital. Between the dates of 3rd-5th of November 2017, Trakya University Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory was working fully functionally. However, between the dates of 10th-12th of November 2017, the automation system of the hospital was scheduled to be shutdown due to a technical error. All the physicians working at Trakya University Hospital were informed about the technical error of the automation system and were told that they would need to order only stat tests by using old-fashioned test request forms. The data of ordered tests in these two-time intervals were analyzed and compared by using frequencies and percentages as descriptive statistics. Results: The mean number of tests per patient was 23 between 3rd-5th of November 2017 and 15.5 between 10th-12th of November 2017. The number of patients who had at least one test order decreased only 13.1% between 10th-12th of November 2017. The total number of departments who made at least one test order increased by one between 10th-12th of November 2017. Conclusion: This study indicates that physicians should be more careful while ordering tests which are necessary. Therefore, there is a need for better communication between the laboratory staff and physicians that also plays a significant role in providing better health care for the patients.