Abstract. Paederus dermatitis is an acute irritant dermatitis resulting from contact with the hemolymph of Paederus beetles. This dermatitis mimics other infectious skin disorders, often resulting in diagnostic dilemmas. This study of 46 patients was conducted to increase awareness about Paederus dermatitis. Possible causes of a number of cases of Paederus dermatitis in Giresun, Turkey, were investigated using climate data and telephone interviews with the patients about risk factors. Insects caught by patients were identified at the species level. All patients were hazelnut farm workers and admitted to the hospital in the months during which the hazelnut harvesting occurs. Of the patients, 11 (23.91%) presented with painful and burning skin lesions, and 35 (70.09%) complained of itching. The neck was the most involved site (47.83%). The predominant type of lesion was erythematous plaque (84.78%). No pathological findings were detected by laboratory testing. Patients reported coming into contact with the insect during the daytime. Captured insects were identified as Paederus fuscipes. Although the weather and climate were optimal for P. fuscipes during June-October, patients were admitted to the hospital only during the hazelnut harvesting season (August-September). The only risk factor identified among patients was occupation; hence we believe our study is the first to suggest that Paederus dermatitis is an occupational disease among hazelnut farm workers. We suggest that Paederus spp. may become a substantial threat due to global warming, especially among farm workers. Paederus dermatitis is not included in classic medical textbooks. It is necessary to increase awareness about this condition.

Ticks are arthropod vectors of many diseases. The prevalence of Lyme disease transmitted by Ixodes is not known in Turkey. The disease is caused by Borrelia species and can also be seen in domestic animals. The aim of this study is to identify the ticks, which are collected from the agricultural workers who admitted to hospitals during the hazelnut harvest season between August and September 2015, at species and genus level and investigate whether these ticks vector of Borrelia spp. Method: In this study, 152 ticks collected from 134 patients were investigated. Of all samples including larvae and nymphs, 95.24% were collected in September. All patients who admitted with complaints of tick bites were agricultural workers collecting nuts in the gardens at sea level. The ticks were identified at species and genus level with stereomicroskop, hemolymph fluid examined directly by dark-field microscope and cultured in the Borellia Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK-H) medium. Results: Of all the ticks, 126 (82.9%) were adults, 13 (8.55%) were nymphs and 13 (8.55%) were larvae. Stereoscopic examination of the ticks revealed that 125 (82.2%) of the adults were Ixodes ricinus and 1 (0.65%) was Rhipicephalus sanguineus. All of the 13 nymphs (8.55%) and 13 larvae (8.55%) were identified as Ixodes spp.. All forms of development cycle were detected in the samples and the forms were inconsistent with the expected development cycle. Borrelia spp., the agent of Lyme disease, was investigated in the 146 ticks defined as I. ricinus and Ixodes spp. Borrelia spp were detected by dark field microscope in 3 (2.05%) of the 146 Ixodes and Borrelia spp. were identified in 5 (3.4%) of the cultures. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Lyme disease can be seen in our region and the most probable vector is Ixodes ricinus.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) are situations with difficult treatment processes for patients and clinicians. Though the precautions are taken to reduce this risk, they continue to occur. One of the most important sources of SSI is known to be the individual's own flora. The tables that contaminated with the patient's own flora lies under the sterile covers. This study simulated surgical conditions to research the efficacy of the use of sterile plastic against the incidence of surgical site infections. Methods: Total of 18 surgical areas were imitated in 3 different groups by using full blood in the tables covered in real operating theater conditions. Each table was contaminated with a healthy individual's forearm flora. All tables used 3 sterile re-usable surgical drapes spread one on top of the other. The difference between the groups was using a sterile plastic or non-sterile plastic below sterile re-usable surgical drapes and no using of plastic. So groups were defined as no sterile plastic group, non-sterile plastic group and sterile plastic group. Additionally the cost of using a sterile plastic was calculated. The Fisher exact test used to calculate the propability of infection development. Results: The use of sterile plastic was found to statistically reduce the possibility of infection development. The cost of using sterile plastic was was about 2,5 tl (0,8 $) when the study performed. The probability of infection development was statistically significantly lower in the sterile-plastic group. Discussion and Conclusion: After skin preparation with an appropriate antiseptic agent, we recommend covering the table with sterile nylon plastic and then re-usable surgical drapes to reduce the possibility of SSI development.