Background: Diabetic foot ulceration represents one of the most severe diabetic complications, with 50–60% progressing to diabetic foot infection (DFI). All diabetic wounds and diseases originate from peripheral vasculopathy and neuropathy, which are caused by oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. We investigated the utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR) as cost-effective inflammatory biomarkers in DFI. Methods: The study included 58 DFI patients and 45 healthy controls. Disease severity was assessed using PEDIS staging. Routine laboratory parameters, NLR, derived NLR (d-NLR), and CAR were measured and compared. Results: In DFI patients, statistically significant increases (p < 0.001) were observed in NLR (3.12 vs. 1.99, p < 0.001), d-NLR (2.13 vs. 1.49, p = 0.003), CAR (0.91 vs. 0.03, p < 0.001), CRP (30.5 vs. 1.3 mg/L, p < 0.001) and PCT (0.1 vs. 0.02 μg/L, p < 0.001) values compared to the control group. Strong correlations existed between NLR, CAR and disease severity markers (CRP, PCT, HbA1c, osteomyelitis, PEDIS stage). ROC analysis revealed excellent discriminatory power for CAR (AUC = 0.915), PCT (AUC = 0.952), and CRP (AUC = 0.902), while NLR showed moderate performance (AUC = 0.702). Conclusions: NLR/CAR demonstrate excellent discrimination vs. healthy controls (AUC 0.915/0.702). The proposed workflow (NLR screening → CAR severity → PCT confirmation) requires prospective validation against with guidelines.

Mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive angioinvasive fungal infection with limited large-scale outcome data. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, treatment strategies, and predictors of outcomes in adult patients with proven mucormycosis in Türkiye. We conducted a nationwide, retrospective study of 280 adults diagnosed with proven mucormycosis between 2004 and 2024 across 27 tertiary centers. Case definitions were applied according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium. Clinical characteristics, antifungal management, surgical interventions, and outcomes were systematically analyzed. The median age of the cohort was 60 years, and diabetes mellitus, frequently complicated by ketoacidosis, was the most common underlying condition. Rhino-orbital-cerebral disease represented the predominant clinical form, whereas pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and disseminated presentations were less frequent but carried less favorable prognoses. Liposomal amphotericin B was the main first-line therapy, often combined with surgery, although antifungal treatment was initiated at a median of five days after symptom onset. Ninety-day mortality was 42.1

In recent years, evolving patterns in candidemia epidemiology, including increasing proportions of non-albicans Candida (NAC) species and the emergence of Candida auris, have been reported. We aimed to characterize contemporary candidemia epidemiology in Turkey and to assess the association between guideline adherence and 30-day mortality. In this nationwide retrospective multicenter cohort study, adult patients with blood culture-confirmed candidemia diagnosed between January 2022 and December 2023 in 20 hospitals were included. Species identification was standardized and confirmed using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 398 candidemia episodes were analyzed. Although Candida albicans remained the single most common species (34.7%), NAC species predominated overall (65.3%), mainly driven by Candida parapsilosis (26.6%), while C. auris accounted for 6.5% of cases and was detected across multiple centers. Crude mortality was 68.3% and 30-day mortality was 56.3%. Failure to remove central venous catheters (CVC) was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant differences in 30-day survival across EQUAL Candida score categories in the overall candidemia cohort (log-rank p = 0.02) and among patients with CVC-related candidemia cohort (log-rank p = 0.008). Collectively, our findings provide a contemporary nationwide overview of candidemia in Turkey, highlighting the predominance of NAC species, the multicenter detection of C. auris, and the clinical importance of early source control.

BACKGROUND:Cryptococcal infections remain life-threatening fungal infections affecting both people living with HIV (PLWH) and non-HIV populations. Data from real-world cohorts in middle-income settings, particularly those including both groups, remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and identify predictors of one-year mortality in patients with cryptococcal infections. METHODS:In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, adult patients diagnosed with cryptococcal infection between 2013 and 2025 were included and followed for one year after diagnosis or until death. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were collected. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared with the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify factors independently associated with mortality. Subgroup analyses were performed according to HIV status. RESULTS:A total of 92 patients with an average age of 46 ± 16 years were included; 56.5% were PLWH, and 87% were immunocompromised. Central nervous system involvement was the most common presentation (64.1%). Overall one-year mortality was 46.7%. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, altered consciousness (HR 3.110, 95% CI 1.624-5.956, p < 0.001) and disseminated infection (HR 2.155, 95% CI 1.156-4.016, p = 0.016) were independently associated with increased mortality, whereas higher serum albumin levels were independently associated with improved survival (HR 0.532, 95% CI 0.328-0.861, p = 0.010). Age remained independently associated with mortality (HR 1.025 per year, 95% CI 1.006-1.045, p = 0.010). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly lower one-year survival among patients with altered consciousness and disseminated infection. Although CNS involvement was more frequent among PLWH (78.8% vs. 45%, p < 0.001), mortality rates were comparable between PLWH and non-HIV patients. CONCLUSIONS:Cryptococcal infections are associated with high mortality regardless of HIV status. Altered consciousness and disseminated infection were independently associated with one-year mortality, whereas higher albumin levels were associated with improved survival. Simple clinical parameters may contribute to early clinical risk assessment, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Background: Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus associated with chronic inflammation, impaired wound healing, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Sirtuin (SIRT) signaling and the apelinergic system have been implicated in these processes. This study aimed to evaluate serum SIRT1, SIRT3, apelin, and elabela (ELA) levels in patients with DFI and to examine their cross-sectional associations with clinical indicators, inflammatory markers, osteomyelitis, and glycemic control. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 47 patients with DFI and 42 healthy controls. Serum biomarker levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical and laboratory data, including the infection component of the PEDIS classification, were recorded. Group comparisons, Spearman correlation analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression were performed. Results: Patients with DFI exhibited higher inflammatory and glycemic markers and lower hemoglobin and lipid levels compared with controls (p < 0.05). Serum SIRT1, SIRT3, apelin, and ELA levels were significantly lower in the DFI group and showed inverse correlations with HbA1c, PEDIS stage, disease duration, osteomyelitis, and inflammatory markers. Among these biomarkers, SIRT1 showed the highest discriminative ability within this cohort (AUC = 0.820). In an exploratory multivariable model, age and SIRT1 were independently associated with the presence of DFI. Conclusions: Serum SIRT1, SIRT3, apelin, and ELA levels were lower in patients with DFI and were associated with clinical and biochemical indicators of disease burden. Among these biomarkers, SIRT1 demonstrated the strongest discriminative ability within this cohort. These findings suggest that sirtuin signaling and the apelinergic system may be relevant in the biological context of DFI; however, they should be interpreted cautiously. The observed differences may reflect not only DFI but also underlying diabetes, glycemic burden, age, and systemic inflammation. Further prospective studies including appropriate diabetic comparator groups are required to clarify the clinical relevance and potential utility of these biomarkers.

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that has become a critical global health concern due to its high antifungal resistance and potential to cause nosocomial outbreaks. Since its initial identification in Japan in 2009, C. auris has spread rapidly, posing significant treatment challenges across various healthcare settings worldwide. The biofilm formation ability of C. auris enhances its resilience against disinfectants and antifungal agents, complicating infection control in healthcare environments. This consensus report was developed by a collaboration between several Turkish medical societies including the Turkish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD), the Turkish Society of Anesthesiology and Reanimation (TARD), the Turkish Intensive Care Society (TYBD), the Infectious Diseases - International Research Initiative (ID-IRI), the Clinical Microbiology Specialist Society (KLIMUD), the Turkish Microbiology Society (TMC), and the Public Health Institution of Türkiye (PHIT) under the Ministry of Health. The report provides a comprehensive overview of C. auris and its management, with a focus on the epidemiology, antifungal resistance mechanisms, recommendations for diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, infection control and prevention measures, and surveillance of C. auris. This consensus report aims to establish standardized diagnostic protocols, improve national surveillance systems, and promote effective infection control measures to mitigate C. auris-related health risks in Türkiye. It also offers comprehensive national recommendations and addresses the need for interinstitutional collaboration, improve public health, and strengthen the healthcare response to this pathogen.

Objective: It is known that the need for invasive mechanical ventilation due to severe respiratory failure develops in COVID-19 patients followed in the intensive care unit. It has been reported in the literature that coagulopathy seen during COVID-19 disease is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Our aim in our study was to evaluate coagulation disorders developing between intubated and non-intubated patients. Method: The data of 812 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit, between March 2020 and September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Demographic characteristics, laboratory values at the time of diagnosis, coagulopathy development status and survival of the patients were investigated. Results: Of the 812 patients included in the study, 459 (56.5%) were male. The mean age was 66,4 ± 15,2. 257 (31.7%) of the patients received invasive mechanical ventilation support. Coagulopathy was detected in 146 (56.8%) of these patients. Distribution of coagulopathy in intubated patients; 26% Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, 17.9% Acute Coronary Syndrome, 10.5% Hemorrhage (inside or outside the body), 5.4% Pulmonary Embolism, 5% Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia, 3.5% Ischemic Stroke, 1.9% Hemorrhagic Stroke and 0.8% found as Deep Vein Thrombosis. We found that 32% of the patients who were not intubated developed coagulopathy, and this difference was statistically significant (p

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE. Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI). The study analysing one of the largest case series ever reported was conducted across 41 centers in 13 countries. We analysed the database to determine the predictors of BCNE using univariate and logistic regression analyses. Results: Blood cultures were negative in 101 (11.65 %) of 867 patients. We disclosed that as patients age, the likelihood of a negative blood culture significantly decreases (OR 0.975, 95 % CI 0.963-0.987, p < 0.001). Additionally, factors such as rheumatic heart disease (OR 2.036, 95 % CI 0.970-4.276, p = 0.049), aortic stenosis (OR 3.066, 95 % CI 1.564-6.010, p = 0.001), mitral regurgitation (OR 1.693, 95 % CI 1.012-2.833, p = 0.045), and prosthetic valves (OR 2.539, 95 % CI 1.599-4.031, p < 0.001) are associated with higher likelihoods of negative blood cultures. Our model can predict whether a patient falls into the culture-negative or culture-positive groups with a threshold of 0.104 (AUC +/- SE = 0.707 +/- 0.027). The final model demonstrates a sensitivity of 70.3 % and a specificity of 57.0 %. Conclusion: Caution should be exercised when diagnosing endocarditis in patients with concurrent cardiac disorders, particularly in younger cases.

BackgroundDelayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases, such as Brucella, lead to high rates of mortality and morbidity. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between serum levels of apelin, presepsin, and irisin with inflammation, laboratory parameters, and blood culture in patients with brucella.Patients and methodsThis prospective case-control study involves 30 patients with brucellosis and 30 healthy, matched control subjects. Thirty patients who were diagnosed with brucellosis were aged ≥ 18 years. Blood samples were taken from the patients on the first day they were diagnosed with brucellosis. The values of irisin, presepsin, and apelin were studied. In addition, blood samples were also taken from 30 healthy individuals for the control group. Irisin, presepsin, and apelin values that were measured in the patients on the first day were compared with those values measured in the control group.ResultsThe sex and age statuses of the subjects are matched among the groups. The levels of irisin were significantly higher in patients with brucellosis compared to the control group (p<0.045). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of apelin and presepsin levels (p values 0.087 and 0.162, respectively). There was a positive correlation between irisin levels and elevated ALT levels, as well as positive blood cultures.ConclusionsIt appears that the measurement of irisin levels may be beneficial in patients with brucellosis. Irisin can be used as a diagnostic marker for brucella infection and may greatly clinicians to predict the severity disease and treatment response.

Background/Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin disease caused by Leishmania parasites. Presepsin, irisin, and apelin are biomarkers that are involved in the inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum levels of specific biomarkers, such as presepsin, apelin, and irisin, and the clinical features, location, number, and size of lesions in patients with CL. Methods: This study is a single-centre, prospective cohort study involving a total of 30 patients with skin lesions compatible with CL and 30 healthy matched controls. Age, sex, type of skin lesion, location of skin lesion, number of skin lesions, and diameter of skin lesions were recorded. The levels of presepsin, irisin, and apelin measured in the blood samples of the patient group were analysed in comparison to those in the healthy control group. Results: The findings revealed that presepsin levels were significantly elevated in the patient group compared to the controls (p = 0.000). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for irisin and apelin levels (p-values 0.096 and 0.836, respectively). A negative correlation was identified between presepsin levels and the number of skin lesions, the diameter of the largest lesion, and the total diameter of the lesions (p = 0.000). Conclusions: It appears that measuring presepsin levels in patients with CL may be beneficial. Presepsin has the potential to serve as a prognostic marker in CL, offering significant benefits in guiding clinicians in assessing disease progression and response to treatment.

Abstract Purpose: Blood culture negative endocarditis (BCNE) presents diagnostic challenges, necessitating precise identification of high-risk patient cohorts. Hence, our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE. Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data was collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI). The primary study analysing one of the largest case series ever reported and was published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in 2019, was conducted across 41 centres in 13 countries. We performed a re-analysis of the database to determine the predictors of BCNE. Results: 867 cases with definite endocarditis were included in the study. Blood cultures were negative in 101 (11.65%) patients. We disclosed that as patients age, the likelihood of a negative blood culture significantly decreases (OR 0.975, 95% CI 0.963-0.987, p<0.001). Additionally, factors such as rheumatic heart disease (OR 2.036, 95% CI 0.970-4.276, p=0.049), aortic stenosis (OR 3.066, 95% CI 1.564-6.010, p=0.001), mitral regurgitation (OR 1.693, 95% CI 1.012-2.833, p=0.045), and prosthetic valves (OR 2.539, 95% CI 1.599-4.031, p<0.001) are associated with higher likelihoods of negative blood cultures. Our model can predict whether a patient falls into the culture-negative or culture-positive groups with a threshold of 0.104 (AUC±SE=0.707±0.027). The final model demonstrates a sensitivity of 70.3% and a specificity of 57.0%. Conclusion: Our study reveals a high prevalence of negative blood cultures in patients with concurrent cardiac disorders, particularly in younger cases. Therefore, caution is indicated in diagnosing and treating endocarditis in these particular patient subgroups.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if inflammation biomarkers elabela, visfatin, and chemerin will be useful in the diagnosis of patients with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective case-control study included 33 patients with COVID-19 and 30 healthy matched controls. 33 patients, aged 18 years and older, diagnosed with COVID-19 and followed up for one month were included in the study. Blood samples were taken from the patients on the first day they were diagnosed with COVID-19, and levels of elabela (ELA), visfatin, chemerin, white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were assessed. Blood samples were also taken from 30 healthy volunteers for the control group. The ELA, visfatin and chemerin levels measured in the patients on day one were compared with those measured in the control group and with the WBC, CRP and PCT levels measured in the patients. RESULTS: Visfatin levels measured in COVID-19 patients were significantly higher than in the healthy control group. There was no significant difference in ELA and chemerin levels between the two groups. A significant positive correlation was found between chemerin and visfatin levels in the patients. A significant negative correlation was found between the levels of ELA-chemerin and ELA-visfatin in the patients. There was no significant correlation between elabela, visfatin and chemerin levels and WBC, CRP, PCT levels. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of visfatin levels may be helpful in patients with COVID-19. However, two other biomarkers in our study, ELA and chemerin, were found not to be useful in diagnosing COVID-19. New inflammatory biomarkers may help to diagnose a disease in which the inflammatory response is at the forefront, such as COVID-19. New studies are needed on this subject.

A 65-year-old man presented with complaints of pain and swelling over the left scapula for 11 months. Upon examination, he had swelling on the left side in the suprascapular area, and the shoulder joint was a mildly painful movement with minimal limitation. A radiological examination of the left humerus revealed osteolytic lesions, and soft tissue showed irregular radiolucent areas in the margin (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging of the patient’s left shoulder area revealed multiple T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense lesions in the humeral head with a cortical FIGURE 1: Radiological examination of the left humerus revealed osteolytic lesions.

Background: Although anthrax is a rare zoonotic infection, it still causes significant mortality and morbidity. In this multicenter study, which is the largest anthrax case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the factors leading to dissemination of cutaneous anthrax.Methods: Adult patients with cutaneous anthrax from 16 referral centers were pooled. The study had a retrospective design, and included patients treated between January 1, 1990 and December 1, 2019. Probable, and confirmed cases based upon CDC anthrax 2018 case definition were included in the study. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed for all variables.Results: A total of 141 cutaneous anthrax patients were included. Of these, 105 (74%) patients had probable and 36 (26%) had confirmed diagnosis. Anthrax meningitis and bacteremia occurred in three and six patients, respectively. Sequelae were observed in three patients: cicatricial ectropion followed by ocular anthrax (n = 2) and movement restriction on the left hand after surgical intervention (n = 1). One patient had gastrointestinal anthrax. The parameters related to poor outcome (p < 0.05) were fever, anorexia, hypoxia, malaise/fatigue, cellulitis, fasciitis, lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis, high CRP and creatinine levels, longer duration of antimicrobial therapy, and combined therapy. The last two were seemingly the consequences of dissemination rather than being the reasons. The fatality rate was 1.4%.Conclusions: Rapid identification of anthrax is crucial for prompt and effective treatment. Systemic symptoms, disseminated local infection, and high inflammatory markers should alert the treating physicians for the dissemination of the disease. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A 51-year-old man with a 1-day history of dyspnea; cough; and production of yellowish, foul-smelling, and salty sputum was admitted to the emergence department. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a voluminous cavitary lesion in the middle part of the right lung containing irregular, serpigi-nous intracavitary material compatible with the free- fl oating membrane of a hydatid cyst (Figure 1). The patient lived in a region endemic for hydatid disease. Eosinophilia in a peripheral blood sample and serum IgG against Echinococcus granulosus was positive at 1/5,120 titer on an immuno fl uorescence assay test. On the basis of the clinical, laboratory, and radiological fi ndings, ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst was diagnosed. On the second day of hospitalization, he reported fever, myalgia, and sore throat. A polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid from the nasopharyngeal swab con- fi rmed the diagnosis of COVID-19. Chest CT scan was highly suggestive of COVID-19. Axial and coronal reformatted unenhanced thorax CT image demonstrates subpleural ground-glass opacities and vascular dilatation (arrows) in the bilateral lung (Figure 2). The patient underwent enucleation of the hydatid cysts with capitonnage as one-stage posterolateral thoracotomy (Figure 3). Histopathological examination of cysts con fi rmed the diagnosis of hydatid disease. It is rare for an indi-vidual

We explored the self-reported antibiotic stewardship (AS), and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in intensive care units (ICUs) of different income settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data about IPC and AS measures in participating ICUs. The study participants were Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (IDI-IR) members, committed as per their institutional agreement form. We analyzed responses from 57 ICUs in 24 countries (Lower-middle income (LMI), n = 13; Upper-middle income (UMI), n = 33; High-income (HI), n = 11). This represented (similar to 5%) of centers represented in the ID-IRI. Surveillance programs were implemented in (76.9%-90.9%) of ICUs with fewer contact precaution measures in LMI ones (p = 0.02); (LMI:69.2%, UMI:97%, HI:100%). Participation in regional antimicrobial resistance programs was more significantly applied in HI (p = 0.02) (LMI:38.4%,UMI:81.8%,HI:72.2%). AS programs are implemented in 77.2% of institutions with AS champions in 66.7%. Infectious diseases physicians and microbiologists are members of many AS teams (59%&50%) respectively. Unqualified healthcare professionals(42.1%), and deficient incentives(28.1%) are the main barriers to implementing AS. We underscore the existing differences in IPC and AS programs' implementation, team composition, and faced barriers. Continuous collaboration and sharing best practices on APM is needed. The role of regional and international organizations should be encouraged. Global support for capacity building of healthcare practitioners is warranted. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.