In this multicentre study, which is the largest case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the features of tularaemia to provide detailed information. We retrospectively included 1034 patients from 41 medical centres. Before the definite diagnosis of tularaemia, tonsillitis (n = 653, 63%) and/or pharyngitis (n = 146, 14%) were the most frequent preliminary diagnoses. The most frequent clinical presentations were oropharyngeal (n = 832, 85.3%), glandular (n = 136, 13.1%) and oculoglandular (n = 105, 10.1%) forms. In 987 patients (95.5%), the lymph nodes were reported to be enlarged, most frequently at the cervical chain jugular (n = 599, 58%), submandibular (n = 401, 39%), and periauricular (n = 55, 5%). Ultrasound imaging showed hyperechoic and hypoechoic patterns (59% and 25%, respectively). Granulomatous inflammation was the most frequent histological finding (56%). The patients were previously given antibiotics for 1176 episodes, mostly with β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (n = 793, 76%). Antituberculosis medications were provided in seven (2%) cases. The patients were given rational antibiotics for tularaemia after the start of symptoms, with a mean of 26.8 ± 37.5 days. Treatment failure was considered to have occurred in 495 patients (48%). The most frequent reasons for failure were the production of suppuration in the lymph nodes after the start of treatment (n = 426, 86.1%), the formation of new lymphadenomegalies under treatment (n = 146, 29.5%), and persisting complaints despite 2 weeks of treatment (n = 77, 15.6%). Fine-needle aspiration was performed in 521 patients (50%) as the most frequent drainage method. In conclusion, tularaemia is a long-lasting but curable disease in this part of the world. However, the treatment strategy still needs optimization.

This multi-centre study aimed to determine the antibiotic consumption in Turkish hospitals by point prevalence. Antibiotic consumption of 14 centres was determined using the DDD method. Among hospitalized patients, 44.8% were using antibiotics and the total antibiotic consumption was 674.5 DDD/1000 patient-days (DPD). 189.6 (28%) DPD of the antibiotic consumption was restricted while 484.9 (72%) DPD was unrestricted. Carbapenems (24%) and beta lactam/beta lactamase inhibitors (ampicillin-sulbactam or amoxicillin-clavulanate; 22%) were the most commonly used restricted and unrestricted antibiotics. Antibiotics were most commonly used in intensive care units (1307.7 DPD). Almost half of the hospitalized patients in our hospitals were using at least one antibiotic. Moreover, among these antibiotics, the most commonly used ones were carbapenems, quinolones and cephalosporins, which are known to cause collateral damage. We think that antibiotic resistance, which is seen at considerably high rates in our hospitals, is associated with this level of consumption.

BackgroundThis is an interventional study, since a training has been given, performed in order to investigate whether training has significant impact on knowledge levels of healthcare managers (head-nurses, assistant head nurses, hospital managers and deputy managers) regarding bio-medical waste management.MethodsThe study was conducted on 240 volunteers during June – August 2010 in 12 hospitals serving in Istanbul (private, public, university, training-research hospitals and other healthcare institutions). A survey form prepared by the project guidance team was applied to the participants through the internet before and after the training courses. The training program was composed of 40 hours of theory and 16 hours of practice sessions taught by persons known to have expertise in their fields. Methods used in the analysis of the data chi-square and t-tests in dependent groups.Results67.5% (162) of participants were female. 42.5% (102) are working in private, and 21.7% in state-owned hospitals. 50.4% are head-nurses, and 18.3% are hospital managers.A statistically significant difference was found among those who had received medical waste management training (preliminary test and final test) and others who had not (p<0.01). It was observed that information levels of all healthcare managers who had received training on waste management had risen at the completion of that training session.ConclusionOn the subject of waste management, to have trained healthcare employees who are responsible for the safe disposal of wastes in hospitals is both a necessity for the safety of patients and important for its contribution to the economy of the country.

Objective: Nosocomial infections are the main problems rising morbidity and mortality in health care settings. Hand hygiene is the most effective method for preventing these infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate the factors related with hand hygiene adherence at a private hospital in Turkey. Materials and Methods:This study was conducted between March and June 2010 at a private hospital in Turkey. During the observation period, employees were informed about training, then posters and images were hanged in specific places of the hospital. After the initial observation, training on nosocomial infections and hand hygiene was provided to the hospital staff in March 2010. Contacts were classified according to occupational groups and whether invasive or not. These observations were evaluated in terms of compatibility with hand hygiene guidelines. Results:Hand hygiene adherence rate of trained doctors was higher than untrained ones before patient contact and after environment contact [48% (35/73) versus 82% (92/113) p<0.05 and 23% (5/22) versus 76% (37/49) p<0.05 respectively]. Hand hygiene adherence rate of trained nurses was higher than untrained ones before patient contact [63% (50/79) versus 76% (37/49) p<0.05]. Hand hygiene adherence rate of trained assistant health personnel was higher than untrained ones before asepsis [20% (2/10) versus 73% (16/22) p<0.05]. In addition, it was seen that hand antiseptics were used when hand washing was not possible. Conclusion:The increase at the rate of hand washing after training reveals the importance of feedback of the observations, as well as the training. One of the most important ways of preventing nosocomial infections is hand hygiene training that should be continued with feedbacks. Sonuç: Eğitim sonrası el yıkama oranlarındaki artış gözlemlerin geribildiriminin yanı sıra, eğitimin önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Hastane enfeksiyonlarını önlemede en önemli yollardan biri geri bildirimler ile sürdürülmesi gereken el hijyeni eğitimidir.

ÖzAmaç: Bu çalışmada perioperatif antimikrobiyal profilaksi (PAP) uygulamalarında güncel rehberlere uyum oranlarını ve bu oranları etkileyen faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: 30 Mayıs -30 Haziran 2013 tarihleri arasında 15 farklı merkezde uygulanan ankete yedi farklı branştan 410 cerrah katıldı. Çoktan seçmeli ve açık uçlu 40 soru içeren anketler yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle uygulandı. Bulgular: Katılımcıların ortalama yaşı 38,01±9,1, %83,4'ü erkek idi. Ankete katılan cerrahların %46,2'si "kurumlarında cerrahi profilaksi rehberi varlığı hakkında bilgisi olmadığını," %34'ü ise "rehberin bulunduğunu ve profilaksi uygulamalarının rehbere uygun olduğunu" belirtti. Ankete katılan cerrahların %56,1'inin kurum içinde cerrahi profilaksi konusunda herhangi bir eğitim toplantısına katılmadığı, son üç yıl içinde cerrahi profilaksi eğitimi alanlarda rehbere uyumun istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek olduğu belirlendi (p <0,001). Kardiyovasküler cerrahlarda uyum diğer branşlardan cerrahlara kıyasla anlamlı olarak daha yüksek saptandı (p=0,012). Uygulanan profilaksinin süresi katılımcıların %56'sında 24 saatten daha uzun idi. Dren kullanılan girişim-lerde cerrahların %63,7'sinin cerrahi profilaksiyi dren çekildikten sonra sonlandırdığı belirlendi. Ürologların ikinci kuşak ve üçüncü kuşak sefalosporinleri anlamlı olarak (p<0,001; p=0,002) daha sık kullandığı belirlendi. Cerrahların %87,6'sı cerrahi profilakside kullanılan antibiyotikte rotasyonel değişiklik yapmadığını ifade etti. Merkezlerin %33'ünde 24 saat enfeksiyon konsültasyonu ve mikrobiyoloji laboratuvarı olanağı bulunmadığı belirtildi. Katılımcıların %50'si "Cerrahi profilaksi rehberlerine uyumu engelleyen en önemli nedenler nelerdir?" sorusunu yanıtsız bıraktı. En önemli nedenler; "çalışılan kurumdaki hastane enfeksiyonları ve etken mikroorganizmalar hakkında düzenli bilgi verilmemesi" (%30), "profilaktik ilacın sağlık personeli tarafından planlanan zaman ve dozda uygulanmaması" (%27) ve kurum içi PAP rehberinin hekim tarafından yetersiz bulunması (%17) şeklinde belirlendi. Tartışma ve Sonuç: Kanıta dayalı PAP uygulamalarının yerleşebilmesi için bilimsel rehberler ve kurum içi kılavuzların varlığı kadar cerrahi birimlerin bu kılavuzların hazırlık aşamasına etkin katılımı ve ayrıca düzenli eğitim ve geri bildirim toplantıları ile branşlar arası aktif iletişimin sürdü-rülmesi de son derece önemlidir. Anahtar Sözcükler: Perioperatif; antimikrobiyal; profilaksi Abstract Aim: We aimed to determine the rates of compliance with current guidelines for practices of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (PAP) and the factors affecting these rates. Orijinal Makale/Original Article