Steatosis is common in genotype 4 HCV infection, and its presence appears to be related to high BMI, but not to viral load or degree of liver injury.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the gene polymorphisms in interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) genes with susceptibility and severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Egyptian patients. Interleukin-10 -592 A/C, -1082 G/A and IFN-γ +874 T/A genotypes were determined in 100 chronic HCV patients and 50 healthy controls using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) respectively. IL-10 -592 A/C polymorphism genotyping revealed that the frequency of CC genotype was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients than in controls (58% versus 30%, P < 0.05). Regarding IL-10 -1082 G/A polymorphism genotyping, a higher frequency of GG genotype was found in chronic HCV patients compared to controls (31% versus 10%, P < 0.05). IFN-γ +874 T/A genotyping showed that TT genotype was significantly higher in chronic HCV participants than controls (31% versus 18%, P < 0.05), while a higher frequency of T allele was found in cirrhotic patients compared to noncirrhotic patients (P < 0.05). Our observations suggested that IL-10 -592 A/C, -1082 G/A, and IFN-γ +874 T/A polymorphisms had a strong association with susceptibility to HCV infection. However, no significant association was observed between the cytokines (IL-10 and IFN-γ) genotypes profile and HCV-liver cirrhosis risk in the studied population, except for the high frequency of IFN-γ +874 T allele in cirrhotic patients.

Background: Candida species are among the most common fungal pathogens in ICU patients. Candida albicans was the predominant species, but a shift toward non-albicans Candida species has been recently observed. Objectives: To detect the prevalence of different Candida species and determine their antifungal susceptibility profile in ICU patients using phenotypic methods, the Vitek 2 system compared with CHROMagar Candida agar and a genotypic method; PCR-RFLP. Methodology: Various clinical samples were collected from 248 ICU patients in Sohag University Hospital from the period between September 2014 and May 2015. Samples were cultured on CHROMagar Candida agar. Results were compared with those of Vitek 2 system and confirmed by PCR-RFLP method and antifungal susceptibility profiles were analyzed by disc diffusion and Vitek 2 antifungal susceptibility tests. Results: The study revealed an overall isolation rate of Candida species among ICU patients was 29 % by PCR-RFLP. Candida albicans was the most frequent species isolated (40.3%). Non-albicans Candida species including Candida tropicalis (22.2%), Candida glabrata (18%), Candida krusei (12.5%), C. parapsilosis (4.2%), C. dubliniensis (1.4%) and Candida guilliermondii (1.4%) were also isolated. The sensitivity of vitek 2 with regard to correct identification of Candida species was 96%; the specificity was 100 % , also CHROMagar Candida agar enable the correct identification with sensitivity 89% , specificity 100 %. Vitek 2 antifungal susceptibility tests results were found to be an accurate method as it was compared with the disc diffusion method for fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotracin B. Conclusion: CHROMagar Candida agar supported by Vitek 2 system is a valuable method for identification of common Candida species, these methods are easy to interpret and give rapid results in comparison with the expensive PCR-RFLP method. Although amphotericin B and fluconazole are widely used in clinical practice, there was no evidence of enhanced resistance. Moreover, voriconazole could be used in treatment of fluconazoleresistant Candida species.

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Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common nosocomial infections in surgical patients and lead to prolonged hospital stay, readmission to the hospital, and increased morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to detect the incidence of SSI and the risk factors, the causative organisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in general surgery department at Sohag university hospital. Methodology: A prospective SSI surveillance at Sohag University hospital from (January 2017 to June 2017) using the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control. Basic demographic, surgical data and data of possible risk factors were collected from all patients. Patients were followed up for 30 days after surgery. Swabs were collected from cases with signs and symptoms of SSI and cultured on basic microbiological culture media. Isolated colonies were identified microscopically and biochemically. Full identification of the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity were done by Vitek 2 compact automated system. Results: The study included 482 patients and the incidence of SSI infections was (11.2%). Escherichia coli was the most common organism causing SSI and was responsible for (40%) of SSIs followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%), Staphylococcus aureus (20%), Enterobacter cloacae (10 %) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10 %). Most of isolated E. coli and Klebsiella were ESBL producers (73.3%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows emergence of resistance to tigecycline (25%). All isolated staph. aureus were (MRSA) and (10%) of them were (VRSA). Univariate regression analysis show that older age, urgent operation type, bad patient general condition, contaminated wound type, hypertension, obesity, intake of antibiotic prophylaxis and increased length of hospital stay (days) were risk factors for SSI. The multivariable regression analysis revealed that urgent operations type, bad patient condition, obesity increasing length of hospital stay (days) and intake of antibiotic prophylaxis independent risk factors for the development of a SSI. Conclusion: The study provides a valuable data about SSI in General Surgery Department and highlights risk factors associated with SSI, the causative pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity in our hospital that can help in updating the antimicrobial prophylaxis policy and reducing the incidence of SSI.