Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate and compare with healthy control subjects the levels of indirect inflammatory markers such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in adults and children with brucellosis. METHODS: White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were retrospectively recorded for all participants. RESULTS: NLR and neutrophil counts were significantly higher in adult patients compared to those in pediatric patients. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect inflammatory markers such as NLR, PLR, MPV, red distribution width, and CRP levels may be helpful for follow-up of brucellosis.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationships between the mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) variables and diagnosis or prediction of outcome in children with snakebite envenomation. Methods: Children diagnosed with snakebite envenomation and a control group of healthy subjects were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were classified into three groups as mild, moderate and severe. Results: 142 children were enrolled in the study. Leukocytosis (p= 0.003), neutrophilia (p= 0.026) and thrombocytopenia (p= 0.034) were significantly more common in severe snakebite envenomation, although no statistical significant were found in association with MPV, NLR and PLR between snakebite envenomation groups. The mean MPV, NLR and PLR were found to be significantly higher in children with snakebite compared to than among healthy controls. Conclusions: Our results suggested that MPV, NLR and PLR may be useful for the diagnosis as inflammatory markers in snakebite envenomation.

Objetivo.Evaluar la relación entre las variables de volumen plaquetario medio (VPM), índice de neutrófilos/linfocitos (INL) e índice de trombocitos/linfocitos (ITL) y el diagnóstico o la predicción del desenlace en los niños con intoxicación por mordedura de serpiente. Métodos.Se realizó una evaluación retrospectiva de niños con diagnóstico de intoxicación por mordedura de serpiente y un grupo de referencia de sujetos sanos. Se clasificó a los pacientes en tres grupos de intoxicación: leve, moderada y grave. Resultados.Se incluyeron 142 niños en el estudio. La leucocitosis (p= 0, 003), la neutrofilia (p= 0, 026) y la trombocitopenia (p= 0, 034) fueron significativamente más frecuentes en los casos de intoxicación por mordedura de serpiente grave; sin embargo, no se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en relación con el VPM, el INL y el ITL entre los diferentes grupos de intoxicación por mordedura de serpiente. La media del VPM, el INL y el ITL era significativamente mayor entre los niños con mordedura de serpiente en comparación con los controles sanos. Conclusiones.Según nuestros resultados, el uso del VPM, el INL y el ITL podría servir para el diagnóstico como marcadores inflamatorios en los casos de intoxicación por mordedura de serpiente.

Abstract Our aim in this study is to compare the standard culture method with the multiplex PCR and the Speed-Oligo® Bacterial Meningitis Test (SO-BMT) – a hybridization-based molecular test method – during the CSF examination of the patients with the pre-diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. For the purposes of this study, patients with acute bacterial meningitis treated at the Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic between December 2009 and April 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was made based on the clinical findings, laboratory test anomalies, CSF analysis results, and the radiological images. Growth was observed in the CSF cultures of 10 out of the 57 patients included in the study (17.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in all of them. The CSF samples of 34 patients (59.6%) were positive according to the SO-BMT and S. pneumoniae was detected in 33 of the samples (97.05%), while Neisseria meningitidis was found in 1 sample (2.95%). In a total of 10 patients, S. pneumoniae was both isolated in the CSF culture and detected in the SO-BMT. The culture and the SO-BMT were negative in 23 of the CSF samples. There was no sample in which the CSF culture was positive although the SO-BMT was negative. While SO-BMT seems to be a more efficient method than bacterial culturing to determine the pathogens that most commonly cause bacterial meningitis in adults, further studies conducted on larger populations are needed in order to assess its efficiency and uses.

Abstract Candida arthritis is an unusual manifestation that usually affects the knees. A 35-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of pain and swelling in the right knee. Swelling persisted after anti-inflammatory treatment. Peripheric spondyloarthritis was considered, but methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and methylprednisolone did not reduce the swelling. Direct examination of synovial fluid and a culture were positive for Candida albicans. Intravenous and intra-articular amphotericin-B were administered. The arthritis regressed and a culture and direct staining showed negative results. Candida arthritis should be considered in patients with arthritis that is resistant to treatment and prolonged, even if risk factors are absent.

Viral myositis associated with infections rarely may cause rhabdomyolysis. There is no any pediatric case with severe recurrent rhabdomyolysis triggered by infections in the literature. We reported a two-year-old boy who was hospitalized three times due to severe rhabdomyolysis associated with viral myositis in the winter months. This is the first child case presentation with severe rhabdomyolysis triggered by infections. Prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin treatments were ineffective in this case.

La miositis viral asociada a infecciones raramente produce rabdomiólisis. En las publicaciones científicas no se describe ningún caso pediátrico de rabdomiólisis grave recurrente inducida por infecciones. En este artículo presentamos el caso de un niño de sexo masculino de dos años de edad hospitalizado en tres ocasiones debido a rabdomiólisis grave asociada a miositis viral durante el invierno. Esta es la primera presentación de un caso pediátrico de rabdomiólisis grave inducida por infecciones. En este paciente, el tratamiento con prednisolona e inmunoglobulinas por vía i.v. fue ineficaz.