Introduction Maternal anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies can cross the placenta during pregnancy, and neonates born to infected mothers have acquired antibodies at birth. Few studies reported data on the histopathological changes of the placenta during infection and placental infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause impaired development of the placenta, thus predisposing maternal and fetal unfavorable outcomes. The prospective study aims to evaluate the risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and placental passage of anti-Spike antibodies as well as the impact of clinical severity on placental structures. Methods This is a prospective cohort study on 30 pregnant women infected by SARS-CoV-2 with their neonates. The demographic features and pregnancy outcomes were collected. Gross and microscopic examinations of the placentas were done. Maternal and umbilical cord sera were obtained at the time of delivery. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from neonates immediately after birth. Results The concentrations of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies were higher in pregnant women with moderate to severe/critical disease. The maternal total anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike levels were correlated with those of neonatal levels. The rate of placental abnormalities is high in the mothers with severe disease, and those with positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM. All neonates had negative nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS- CoV-2 infections and all placentas were negative in immunohistochemical staining for Spike protein. Discussion The maternally derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibody can transmit to neonates born to infected mothers regardless of gestational age. Our results indicated that the disease severity is associated with ischemic placental pathology which may result in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

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Objective: We aimed to describe the risks of health care workers (HCWs) getting COVID-19, and analyze the transmission routes and dynamics of the infection. Methods: This is a prospective observational study. We screened 624 HCWs from April 1 to May 15, 2020, in a hospital with 300 hospital beds, in Istanbul, Turkey. All the HCWs working at high-risk areas (COVID wards, emergency departments, and intensive care units) were routinely screened every four weeks. The HCWs were grouped as high, moderate, low and none according to their risk of infection. Results: Out of 1300 total HCWs, 42 (3.2%) were diagnosed as COVID-19, 39 (3%) were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Among 42 symptomatic cases, 26 (62%) HCWs were hospitalized, mainly because of isolation needs, 62% received hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) alone, 11.5% HCQ + azithromycin, and 11.5% favipiravir only. All survived. We detected nine asymptomatic cases out of 550 HCWs (1.6%) in our screening for antibody levels. In none of the nine asymptomatic HCWs, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected by PCR. In multivariate analysis for detecting the risk factors of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, working in high-risk areas (OR:5.2, CI:1.99-13.6, p=0.001), and not to use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) (OR:5.9, CI:1.66-21.2, p=0.006) increased the risk of infection. Conclusion: Routine screening of asymptomatic HCWs with antibody tests might be useful, but its effectiveness was limited. The HCWs working in high-risk areas had significantly higher risk. The strict use of appropriate PPE was effective in prevention.

The fact that ABC isolates grown from CSF cultures do not always exhibit infection and have high multiple antibiotic resistance, including to carbapenems, should be borne in mind when planning treatment for these patients. In addition, HCWs' hands may play a significant role in transmission to patients, and compliance with infection control procedures, especially hand washing, must be enhanced in order to avoid ABC infections.

ÖzPurpose: In this study, the microorganisms isolated from the blood cultures of the patients who are hospitalized in the general intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital were evaluated retrospectively and it was aimed to obtain the guiding data for the appropriate empirical treatment selection. Materials and Methods: Species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of 163 microorganisms, isolated from blood cultures of 152 inpatients aged 18 years and older were evaluated retrospectively. Blood cultures were taken during the febrile period of inpatients who stayed in clinic were incubated in blood culture media in BACTEC automated blood culture system. Results: Of these microorganisms found, 68% (n=111) were Gram positive bacteria, 25% (n=40) were Gram negative bacteria, and 7% (n=12) were fungi. The most common microorganisms were coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS), Escherichia coli and Candida spp. Of the Gram negative agents isolated from blood cultures, 7% (n=12) were Escherichia coli, 6% (n=9) were Klebsiella spp., 5% (n=8) were Pseudomonas spp., 4% (n=6) were Acinetobacter spp. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) was detected 75% (n=9) of E.coli , and 78% (n=6) of Klebsiella spp. ısolate. Conclusion: Epidemiological information about species distribution and antibiotic resistance of the isolated infectious agents and will contribute to the determination of their antibiotic usage and to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates. Amaç: Bu çalışmada, hastanemiz Genel Yoğun Bakım Ünitesi'nde (GYBÜ) yatan hastaların kan kültürlerinden izole edilen mikroorganizmalar ve antibiyotiklere duyarlılıkları retrospektif olarak değerlendirilerek uygun ampirik tedavi seçimine yol gösterici verilerin elde edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Hastanemizde yatan 18 yaş ve üzeri 152 hastanın kan kültürlerinden izole edilen 163 mikroorganizma ve antibiyotiklere duyarlılık sonuçları retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Klinikte yatan hastaların ateşli dönemlerinde alınan kan kültürleri BACTEC otomatize kan kültür sisteminde inkübe edildi. Bulgular: Üreyen mikroorganizmaların %68'ini (n=111) Gram pozitif bakteriler, %25'ini (n=40) Gram negatif bakteriler ve %7'sini (n=12) ise mantarlar oluşturmuştur. En sık izole edilen mikroorganizmalar sırasıyla koagülaz negatif stafilokoklar (KNS), Escherichia coli ve Candida spp.'dir. Kan kültürlerinden izole edilen Gram negatif etkenlerin %7'si (n=12) E.coli, %6'sı (n=9) Klebsiella spp., %5'i (n=8) Pseudomonas spp., %4'ü (n=6) Acinetobacter spp. olarak belirlendi. Genişlemiş Spektrumlu Beta Laktamaz (GSBL) pozitifliği, E. coli izolatlarında %75 (n=9), Klebsiella spp. izolatlarında ise %78 (n=6) olarak saptandı. Sonuç: İzole edilen enfeksiyon etkenlerinin türü, sıklığı ve antibiyotik direnç durumları hakkında bilgi sahibi olup her merkezin kendi antibiyotik kullanım politikasını bu bilgiler ışığında belirlemesi morbidite ve mortalite oranlarını azaltmaya katkı sağlayacaktır.