To report an outbreak of Fusarium solani endophthalmitis after uneventful cataract surgeries performed on the same day in the same operating room. Nine patients underwent phacoemulsification at 4th Clinic of Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul. Cefuroxime axetyl was injected intracamerally from the same vial to all patients at the end of surgery. All patients developed acute postoperative endophthalmitis. Presentation, cultural studies, treatment, clinical responses and risk factors were evaluated. Cultural and DNA sequence findings revealed F. solani. Antifungal therapy was begun and pars plana vitrectomy, intraocular lens and capsule extraction were performed. Corneal involvement was correlated with old age and systemic disease. Fusarium solani should be considered in acute postoperative endophthalmitis. This infection can be controlled with early and aggressive combined antifungal and surgical treatment. The patients with corneal involvement had poor prognosis. It is important to use solutions prepared separately for each patient.

Tannery workers are exposed to many chemical and physical hazards. The current study involved 730 workers from 23 leather factories located in the Tuzla Organized Industry Region, Istanbul. Participants were interviewed and underwent clinical examination. After the basic physical examination, respiratory functions were measured by spirometer and the workers questioned about asthma. Health problems included gastrointestinal complaints (7.30%), bronchitis (3.11%) and asthma (3.0%). Signs of bronchial obstruction — wheeze and rhonchus — were detected in 71 (9.72%) workers. A deficit in the values of FVC%, FEV 1%, FEV1/FVC%, PEF%, FEF25— 75% was set nominally at 80% of the respiratory function test parameters. Decreased pulmonary function results were found for FVC% in 36 (4.93%) workers, FEV1 in 71 (9.72%), FEV1/FVC in 18 (2.59%), PEF in 183 (25.1%) and FEF25—75% in 204 (27.94%). The number of those with respiratory obstruction detected by spirometry was 294 cases (40.27%), more than the number of cases, 263 (36.02%), who claimed res- piratory problems in the questionnaire. This study was a contribution towards efforts to improve the factory envi- ronment and control workplace risks. Together with med- ical examinations before and during employment and provision of continuous health services and training will reduce the risk of occupational disease to a minimum. Introduction Leather production is one of the world's oldest trades, consisting of a chemical process that turns animal hides into the much less perishable material, leather. As part of this process, after the removal of the epidermis and subcu- taneous tissue, the dermal collagen fibres are stabilized by means of chemical treatment known generically as tanning [1]. Employees who work in tanneries are liable to be affected by their exposure to lots of hazardous materials and processes during tanning. These hazards can be grouped into four categories: biological, physical and chemical hazards and work accidents.

N,N-Dialkylditihiocarbamate derivatives have been well known as broad-range fungicides. In this study, the triazole derivatives of ten new N,N-disubstituted dithiocarbamates (3a-j) were synthesized and their structures were identified by spectral and elemental analysis. Results of the antifungal activity studies showed that some of the compounds tested were active against M. canis, M. gypseum, and T. rubrum at the concentration of 12.5 microg/mL when clotrimazol was used as a standard.

Fungal infections have increased dramatically in recent years and candidemia is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Candidemia has been considered to be a nosocomial infection that is strongly associated with neutropenia, recent surgery or presence of intravascular lines, and previous colonization is an independent risk factor. We evaluated the in vitro efficacy of fluconazole and amphotericin B against yeasts isolated from various clinical specimens of colonized or infected patients treated in the ICUs of the Institute of Cardiology, Istanbul University. A total of 1397 ICU patients were treated at the Institute of Cardiology between January 2000 and December 2002. A total of 117 yeasts isolated from 97 patients were included in this study. These ICU patients were hospitalized for a mean of 29 days. All yeasts were identified by conventional methods and using the API (20C AUX, ID 32C) system (Bio Meriéux, France). Susceptibility to fluconazole and amphotericin B was evaluated using the E-test (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden). The most commonly isolated yeast was Candida albicans (72.6%), followed by Candida tropicalis (16.2%), Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Trichosporon mucoides and Geotrichum spp. Fluconazole and amphotericin B MIC90 values were 0.75 microg/ml; 0.19 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml; 0.38 microg/ml for C. albicans and C. tropicalis, respectively. All Geotrichum spp. were found to be susceptible-dose dependent (SDD) (MIC=16-32 microg/ml) to fluconazole. Two C. albicans, two C. tropicalis, one C. krusei and one Geotrichum spp. had a MIC value of > or = 0.38 microg/ml for amphotericin B. The rate of colonization was 3.36% (47/1397). Only 10 (0.71%) patients out of a total of 1397 developed candidemia during the period of the investigation. Of these, 7 (70%) were caused by non-albicans Candida spp.

A total of 431 workers from 14 leather factories located in the Tuzla Organized Industry Region, Istanbul were involved in the study. Subjects were interviewed and examined individually with regard to asthma symptoms. Physical examinations were undertaken and respiratory function measured by spirometer. Moreover, the atmosphere of the working areas in the factories was assessed microbiologically. The fungal genera most often detected were Penicillium spp., followed by Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Scopulariopsis spp., and Cladosporium spp. multiplying at differing rates. The number of those physically examined with indications of peripheral respiratory obstruction was 176 (40.8%) while those with suspected asthma following questioning was 153 (35.5%). The obstruction demonstrated by the use of respiratory function tests was associated with the mold isolated from the environment and was included in the logistic model that was developed as a risk factor for increasing obstruction. Workers employed in tanneries encounter many health problems. These may be reduced by: improving the factory environment, environmental control of allergens, elimination of allergen reservoirs, control of humidity and reducing exposure to excessive heat or cold. In addition there should be air filtration and vacuum cleaning to control dust mites and control of other workplace risks not necessarily associated with tanning. Importantly, workers should have medical examinations before employment and periodic examinations during training and employment to reduce the risk of occupational diseases to a minimum.