Browsing by Author "Okur, DS"

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    Adolescents With Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections Requiring Hospitalization: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
    Bal, ZS; Arslan, SY; Ozenen, GG; Okur, DS; Kiliçaslan,Ö; Demirbuga, A; Turgut, EA; Dalgic, N; Belet, N; Inceli, HB; Elvan-Tuz, A; Kara, TT; Bulbul, B; Demirdag, T; Çakici,Ö; Bal, A; Ergun, D; Altug, U; Arslan, A; Isancli, DK; Torun, SH; Çelik,Ü; Yasar, B; Erbas, IC; Oncel, EK; Akbas, A; Gudeloglu, E; Sen, S; Kacar, P; Dede, E; Petmezci, E; Aksoy, FD; Karbuz, A; Öncel, S; Tezer, H; Devrim, I; Ciftci, E; Hacimustafaoglu, M; Kurugol, Z
    Background Vaccines have the most important role in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. With the widespread use of vaccines, COVID-19 has remarkably declined. Adolescents were vaccinated after approvals for this age group, which was later than adults, and a nationwide vaccination program was implemented in August 2021 in Turkey for adolescents >= 12 years of age. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of the COVID-19 nationwide adolescent vaccination program on adolescent hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) by comparing two periods, including the vaccination period (VP) and the pre-VP (PVP). The second aim of this study is to compare the clinical features and disease severity of vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations with unvaccinated individuals in the VP. Methods A retrospective multicenter study was conducted to determine and compare the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and MIS-C between the VP (September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022) and PVP (September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021). We also compared the characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of breakthrough infections of adolescents aged 12-18, which required hospitalization with the same age group of unvaccinated hospitalized individuals during the VP. Results During the study period, 3967 children (0-18 years) were hospitalized in the PVP and 5143 (0-18 years) in the VP. Of them, 35.4% were adolescents (12-18 years) in the PVP, and this rate was 18.6% in the VP; relative risk was 0.6467 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6058-0.6904; p < 0.001). Patients with breakthrough COVID- 19 were older (201 vs. 175 months, p < 0.001) and less commonly hospitalized for COVID-19 (81.5% vs. 60.4%, p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR]: 0.347 [95% CI: 0.184-0.654]). The majority of these infections were asymptomatic and mild (32% vs.72.9%: p < 0.001, OR: 5.718 [95% CI: 2.920-11.200]), and PICU admission was less frequently required (p = 0.011, OR: 0.188 [95% CI: 0.045-0.793]). Most breakthrough COVID-19 infections occurred within three months after the last vaccine dose (54.2%). Conclusions This study demonstrated a significant decrease in adolescent hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and MIS -C after implementing COVID-19 vaccines in Turkey. Breakthrough cases were less severe and mostly occurred three months after the last dose. This study emphasizes the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and that parents' decisions may be changed, particularly those who hesitate to or refuse vaccination.
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    Education of Healthcare Personnel Working with Pediatric Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic within the Framework of Infection Control
    Oygar, PD; Büyükçam, A; Bal, ZS; Dalgiç, N; Bozdemir, SE; Karbuz, A; Çetin, BS; Kara, Y; Çetin, C; Hatipoglu, N; Uygun, H; Aygün, FD; Törün, SH; Okur, DS; Çiftdogan, DY; Kara, TT; Yahsi, A; Özer, A; Demir, SÖ; Akkoç, G; Turan, C; Sali, E; Sen, S; Erdeniz, EH; Kara, SS; Emiroglu, M; Erat, T; Aktürk, H; Gürlevik, SL; Sütçü, M; Aydin, ZGG; Atikan, BY; Yesil, E; Güner, G; Çelebi, E; Efe, K; Isançli, DK; Durmus, HS; Tekeli, S; Karaarslan, A; Bülbül, L; Almis, H; Kaba, Ö; Keles, YE; Yazicioglu, B; Oguz, SB; Ovali, HF; Dogan, HH; Çelebi, S; Çakir, D; Karasulu, B; Alkan, G; Yenidogan, I; Gül, D; Küçükalioglu, BP; Avcu, G; Kukul, MG; Bilen, M; Yasar, B; Üstün, T; Kiliç, Ö; Akin, Y; Cebeci, SO; Turgut, M; Yanartas, MS; Sahin, A; Arslanoglu, S; Elevli, M; Öz, SKT; Hatipoglu, H; Erkum, IT; Demirbuga, A; Özçelik, T; Sari, EE; Akkus, G; Hatipoglu, SS; Dinleyici, EÇ; Hacimustafaoglu, M; Özkinay, F; Kurugöl, Z; Cengiz, AB; Somer, A; Tezer, H; Kara, A
    Objective: In the early stages of any epidemic caused by new emerging pathogens healthcare personnel is subject to a great risk. Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, proved to be no exception. Many healthcare workers died in the early stages of pandemic due to inadequate precautions and insufficient protection. It is essential to protect and maintain the safety of healthcare personnel for the confinement of pandemic as well as continuity of qualified healthcare services which is already under strain. Educating healthcare personnel on appropiate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is as essential as procuring them. Material and Methods: A survey is conducted on 4927 healthcare personnel working solely with pediatric patients from 32 different centers. Education given on PPE usage were questioned and analyzed depending on age, sex, occupation and region. Results: Among four thousand nine hundred twelve healthcare personnel from 32 different centers 91% (n=4457) received education on PPE usage. Of those who received education only 36% was given both theoretical and applied education. Although there was no differences among different occupation groups, receiving education depended on regions. Conclusion: It is essential to educate healthcare personnel appropiately nationwidely for the continuity of qualified healthcare services during the pandemic.
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    SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of the pandemic: nationwide surveillance in Turkey
    Oygar, PD; Büyükçam, A; Bal, ZS; Dalgiç, N; Bozdemir, SE; Karbuz, A; Çetin, BS; Kara, Y; Çetin, C; Hatipoglu, N; Uygun, H; Aygün, FD; Törün, SH; Okur, DS; Çiftdogan, DY; Kara, TT; Yahsi, A; Özer, A; Demir, SÖ; Akkoç, G; Turan, C; Sali, E; Sen, S; Erdeniz, EH; Kara, SS; Emiroglu, M; Erat, T; Aktürk, H; Gürlevik, SL; Sütçü, M; Aydin, ZGG; Atikan, BY; Yesil, E; Güner, G; Çelebi, E; Efe, K; Isançli, DK; Durmus, HS; Tekeli, S; Karaaslan, A; Bülbül, L; Almis, H; Kaba, Ö; Keles, YE; Yazicioglu, B; Oguz, SB; Ovali, HF; Dogan, HH; Çelebi, S; Çakir, D; Karasulu, B; Alkan, G; Yenidogan, I; Gül, D; Küçükalioglu, BP; Avcu, G; Kukul, MG; Bilen, M; Yasar, B; Üstün, T; Kiliç, Ö; Akin, Y; Cebeci, SO; Bucak, IH; Yanartas, MS; Sahin, A; Arslanoglu, S; Elevli, M; Çoban, R; Öz, SKT; Hatipoglu, H; Erkum, IT; Turgut, M; Demirbuga, A; Özçelik, T; Çiftçi, D; Sari, EE; Akkus, G; Hatipoglu, SS; Dinleyici, EÇ; Hacimustafaoglu, M; Özkinay, F; Kurugöl, Z; Cengiz, AB; Somer, A; Tezer, H; Kara, A
    Background: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health care personnel is important to ex-plore risk factors for transmission, develop elimination strategies and form a view on the necessity and frequency of surveillance in the future. Methods: We enrolled 4927 health care personnel working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from 7 different regions of Turkey in a study to determine SARS Co-V-2 seroprevalence after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG was used. Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. Results: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity prevalence in health care personnel tested was 6.1%. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19-positive co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel were more likely to be infected. Most of the seropositive health care personnel (68.0%) did not suspect that they had previously had COVID-19. Conclusions: Health surveillance for health care personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing and monitoring personal protective equipment adherence are suggested as important strategies to protect health care personnel from COVID-19 and reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.
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    Epidemiological, Clinical, and Laboratory Features of Children With COVID-19 in Turkey
    Karbuz, A; Akkoc, G; Demirdag, TB; Ciftdogan, DY; Ozer, A; Cakir, D; Torun, SH; Kepenekli, E; Erat, T; Dalgic, N; Ilbay, S; Karaaslan, A; Erdeniz, EH; Aygun, FD; Bozdemir, SE; Hatipoglu, N; Emiroglu, M; Bal, ZS; Ciftci, E; Bayhan, GI; Aydin, ZGG; Demir, SO; Kilic, O; Hacimustafaoglu, M; Okur, DS; Sen, S; Yahsi, A; Akturk, H; Cetin, B; Sutcu, M; Kara, M; Uygun, H; Kara, TT; Korukluoglu, G; Akgun, O; èstundag, G; Mis, MD; Sali, E; Kaba, O; Yakut, N; Kilic, O; Kanik, MK; Cetin, C; Dursun, A; Cicek, M; Kockuzu, E; Sevketoglu, E; Alkan, G; Ozenen, GG; Ince, E; Baydar, Z; Ozkaya, AK; Ovali, HF; Tekeli, S; Celebi, S; Cubukcu, B; Bal, A; Khalilova, F; Kose, M; Hatipoglu, HU; Dalkiran, T; Turgut, M; Altas, AB; Duru, HNS; Aksay, A; Saglam, S; Yanartas, MS; Ergenc, Z; Akin, Y; Kar, YD; Sahin, S; Tuteroz, SK; Bilen, NM; Ozdemir, H; Senoglu, MC; Kucukalioglu, BP; Besli, GE; Kara, Y; Turan, C; Demirtas, BS; Celikyurt, A; Cosgun, Y; Elevli, M; Sahin, A; Oguz, SB; Somer, A; Karadag, B; Demirhan, R; Dagi, HT; Kurugol, Z; Taskin, EC; Sahiner, A; Yesil, E; Keles, YE; Sarikaya, R; Eralp, EE; Ozkinay, F; Konca, HK; Yilmaz, S; Gokdemir, Y; Arga, G; Ozen, S; Coksuer, F; Vatansever, G; Tezer, H; Kara, A
    Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by pediatric infectious disease specialists from 32 different hospitals from all over Turkey by case record forms. Pediatric cases who were diagnosed as COVID-19 between March 16, 2020, and June 15, 2020 were included. Case characteristics including age, sex, dates of disease onset and diagnosis, family, and contact information were recorded. Clinical data, including the duration and severity of symptoms, were also collected. Laboratory parameters like biochemical tests and complete blood count, chest X-ray, and chest computed tomography (CT) were determined. Results: There were 1,156 confirmed pediatric COVID-19 cases. In total, male cases constituted 50.3% (n = 582) and females constituted 49.7% (n = 574). The median age of the confirmed cases was 10.75 years (4.5-14.6). Of the total cases, 90 were younger than 1 year of age (7.8%), 108 were 1-3 years of age (9.3%), 148 were 3-6 years of age (12.8%), 298 were 6-12 years of age (25.8%), 233 were 12-15 years of age (20.2%), and 268 cases were older than 15 years of age (23.2%). The most common symptom of the patients at the first visit was fever (50.4%) (n = 583) for a median of 2 days (IQR: 1-3 days). Fever was median at 38.4 degrees C (38.0-38.7 degrees C). The second most common symptom was cough (n = 543, 46.9%). The other common symptoms were sore throat (n = 143, 12.4%), myalgia (n = 141, 12.2%), dyspnea (n = 118, 10.2%), diarrhea (n = 112, 9.7%), stomachache (n = 71, 6.1%), and nasal discharge (n = 63, 5.4%). When patients were classified according to disease severity, 263 (22.7%) patients were asymptomatic, 668 (57.7%) patients had mild disease, 209 (18.1%) had moderate disease, and 16 (1.5%) cases had severe disease. One hundred and forty-nine (12.9%) cases had underlying diseases among the total cases; 56% of the patients who had severe disease had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). The need for hospitalization did not differ between patients who had an underlying condition and those who do not have (p = 0.38), but the need for intensive care was higher in patients who had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). Forty-seven (31.5%) of the cases having underlying conditions had asthma or lung disease (38 of them had asthma). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the largest pediatric data about confirmed COVID-19 cases. Children from all ages appear to be susceptible to COVID-19, and there is a significant difference in symptomatology and laboratory findings by means of age distribution.