No abstract

Background: Development of resistance to antimicrobial agents and increase of cost as the result of unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics has become a global health problem. Therefore many strategies, which are aimed at optimizing antibiotic therapy, have been developed until now. In Turkey, an antibiotic restriction policy as a governmental solution was applied to decrease the antibiotic use and especially costs by Ministry of Health in 2003. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rational antibiotic use and the impact of the implementation of new restriction policy, with their reinforcement by infectious disease specialist, on the hospital wide use of antibiotics. Methodology: The data of the inpatients received antibiotics (n=495) during January-June 2006 were compared with our previous study performed by the same methodology before the restriction policy in 1998. In both studies, prospective active daily surveillance of patients was performed by three infectious disease specialists. The appropriateness of antibiotic therapy was determined using the criteria described by Kunin and Jones. The data were analyzed by using SPSS for Windows. Results: While the rate of antibiotic use decreased from 16.6% to 11.3%, rational use increased after the restriction policy (p<0.001). Besides the specific antibiotic use increasing, prophylactic antibiotic use was found decreased (p<0.001). Mostly determined irrationality was the prophylactic uses in both studies. As expected, infectious disease specialist examinations resulted in an increase in the appropriate antibiotic use. Conclusions: The restriction policy was effective in decreasing the antibiotic consumption and increasing the rational antibiotic prescription in our hospital.

Background:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profile in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A total of 310 pregnant women, referred in weeks 35 to 37 of gestation, were screened for GBS colonization during a 10-month period. Samples were collected from the vagina and the rectum. Results: The colonization rate was 10.6 % and 22 women (66.7%) had both positive vaginal and rectal cultures. Rates of GBS colonization were significantly lower in patients aged 24 years or older and in those with a third or later pregnancy. None of the isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, whereas 21.2% and 9.1% showed resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively. Conclusion: Screening and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of GBS during pregnancy are important to guide appropiate therapy.

There seems to be an association between hepatitis B and idiopathic facial paralysis. In addition, cytomegalovirus might contribute to the development of Bell's palsy in some ceases with Bell's palsy. Further studies are required to confirm these data.

ÖZETKistik ekinokokkozun insidans ve prevalansı son yıllarda belirgin olarak düşmekle birlikte, bazı ülkelerde ve bazı coğrafi bölgelerde, özellikle ekonomik sıkıntılara bağlı olarak kontrol programlarının uygulanamaması nedeniyle, önemli bir sağlık sorunu olmaya devam etmektedir. Bu parazitik enfeksiyonun coğrafi dağılımı, parazitin ara konağı olan ve göçebe-yarı göçebe yaşayan koyun ve keçi sürülerinin sayısına ve bu sürülerin parazitin son konağı olan ve insanlara bulaşta önemli bir rol oynayan köpeklerle birlikteliğine bağlıdır. Ekinokokkoz tüm dünyaya yayılan bir coğrafi dağılım gösterir ve her bir kıtada endemik odaklar vardır. En fazla ılıman iklim kuşağında yer alan ülkelerde görülmektedir. Başta Akdeniz ülkeleri olmak üzere, Güney ve Orta Rusya, Orta Asya, Çin, Avustralya, Güney Amerika, Kuzey ve Doğu Afrika bu enfeksiyonun görüldüğü coğrafi bölgelerdir. Bu derlemede kistik ekinokokkozun dünyadaki coğrafi dağılımı ve epidemiyolojisi irdelenmiştir. ABSTRACTThe incidence and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis have fallen dramatically over the past several decades. Nonetheless, cystic echinococcosis remains a major public health issue in several countries and regions as a result of a reduction of control programmes due to economic problems. Geographic distribution differs by country and region depending on the presence of large numbers of nomadic or semi-nomadic sheep and goat flocks that represent the intermediate host of the parasite, and their close contact with the final host, the dog, which mostly provides the transmission of infection to humans. The greatest prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in human and animal hosts is found in countries of the temperate zones, including Mediterranean regions, southern and central parts of Russia, central Asia, China, Australia, South America and north and east Africa. In this article, the geographic distribution and epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis worldwide are reviewed. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2013; 37: 47-52)