Shirwan Hussein Darweesh

M.S.

Medical Microbiology

B.S

Medical Laboratory

Assistant Lecturer

Hospital-acquired infections: current trends and prevention strategies

Cihan University-Duhok

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are the primary cause of preventable death and disability among hospitalized patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), complications or infections secondary to either device implantation or surgery are referred to as HAIs. Specifically, the CDC monitors surgical site infections, central-line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonias. This article explores HAIs specific to pathophysiology, epidemiology, and prevention, and how nurses can work together with other health care providers to decrease the incidence of these preventable complications.

The Immunopathology of Hepatitis C

Cihan University-Duhok

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is known for its ability to establish persistent infection and cause chronic hepatitis in most infected individuals. The immunopathology of hepatitis C involves the interplay between host and viral factors, particularly the immune response and viral persistence. HCV infection often progresses to chronic persistent infection, and liver injury associated with chronic HCV infection is likely mediated by immune responses against HCV-infected hepatocytes.

Hepatitis B Complications

Cihan University-Duhok

Hepatitis B is a significant global health concern, affecting millions of people and posing a heightened risk of severe liver-related complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding the complexities and ramifications of HBV infections is crucial for effective prevention, management, and the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

Pedagogical Training for Teacher Professional Development

.

How to write and Publish Articles in the International and Reputable Journals

.

Scientific Training on the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area

.

Entrepreneurship development

.

Microbial Pollution: Impacts on Public Health and Strategies for Controlling

On November 09, 2024, a scientific workshop entitled "Microbial Pollution: Impacts on Public Health and Strategies for Controlling" was conducted by Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory departments at Cihan University-Duhok. presented by Dr. Mervan Y. Huseyin, Ms. Hileen M. Haji, and Mr. Shirwan H. Darweesh. It was aimed to Identify and analyze primary sources of microbial pollution in various environments (e.g., water, soil, air) and understand their contributions to public health risks.

Essential Steps for a Successful Graduation Project

A graduation project is a detailed academic research activity that demonstrates a student's ability to conduct scientific studies, analyze data, and present findings systematically. The main objective of this workshop was to guide students through the essential steps of conducting a successful graduation project.

Statistics and prevalence of cancer in the Kurdistan Region

Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs. Nowadays, It is regarded as the second major cause of death worldwide and also became a health concern in Kurdistan region of Iraq. The objective of this workshop is to provide an overview of cancer statistics in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, with the goal of enhancing the knowledge of healthcare professionals, scholars, and Students. By analyzing and discussing recent statistics and information about the cancer incidence, participants will get knowledge into the cancer prevalence, trends, and challenges related to the cancer’s incidence in our country.

Obesity & Overweight in Kurdistan Region, Obesity rates, Causes, disorders and symptoms

the causes of obesity and overweight are multifactorial, including caloric imbalance, genetic, behavioral, metabolic, and hormonal influences, unhealthy dietary habits, and lack of physical activity. These conditions are associated with a wide range of health disorders and symptoms, emphasizing the importance of addressing and managing them effectively. Overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing various health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver diseases, certain cancers, breathing problems, osteoarthritis, gout, diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas, kidney disease, pregnancy problems, fertility problems, and sexual function problems

Molecular Detection of hpmA Gene in Proteus mirabilis Isolates and its Association with Inflammatory Biomarkers among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium most noted for its swarming motility and urease activity. It is recognized as one of considerable uropathogens. It is particularly common among patients with chronic inflammatory conditions. One of these conditions is rheumatoid arthritis an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that primarily affects and damages joints. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of P. mirabilis along with its virulence gene (hpmA) in urinary tract infections, and determine its association with key inflammatory biomarkers among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Eighty urine samples were collected from clinics and laboratories in Zakho city from September to December 2024. Phenotypic tests were used to identify P. mirabilis in patients’ urine, and PCR assays were performed to investigate the hpmA gene. In addition, Blood samples were analyzed for Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), and C- Reactive protein (CRP) from the same RA suspected patients to confirm Rheumatoid Arthritis and evaluate inflammation level. cultural and biochemical tests identified P. mirabilis in 15 samples (18.75%). Molecular analysis revealed that all 15 isolates (100%) of P. mirabilis samples had hpmA gene. Notably, patients with P. mirabilis–positive UTIs, especially those carrying hpmA, showed elevated ESR and CRP levels. This indicates an association between hpmA-mediated pathogenicity and inflammatory responses in RA. These results suggest the importance of screening P. mirabilis and its virulence factors in RA patients with UTIs. The presence of hpmA which is responsible for hemolysin production, may be associated with increased levels of inflammation in these patients.

Investigation of Carbapenemase Production Among Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunist organism that causes potentially life threatening nosocomial infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Carbapenems are regarded to be the last line of treatment against severe infections caused by multi drug resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. isolates. Production of the carbapenemase enzyme is the primary mechanism of carbapenem resistance and has become a serious health concern worldwide as these enzymes are highly transferable and limit therapeutic alternatives. Rapid detection of carbapenemase production is important for prompt planning the treatment of carbapenemase-producing isolates and preventing the spread of these strains. This study aimed to investigate carbapenemase production in carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates by the Carbapenem inactivation method. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study a total of 172 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were obtained from different samples sent from various clinics to Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Research and Application Hospital Microbiology Laboratory between 2016-2019 and were evaluated. Of the 172 isolates, 51 (29.7%) were found to be carbapenem- resistant and included in this investigation. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests of the isolates were performed with the Vitek 2 (Biomerieux, France) automated system. Carbapenem sensitivities were also determined by the disc diffusion method. Carbapenemase production in isolates was investigated by the Carbapenem inactivation method. Results: These samples were sent from clinical units, such as neurology (n =10), general surgery (n =8), internal medicine (n =7), and pediatric (n =6). The isolates were identified from wounds (n = 17), sputum (n = 15), blood (n = 11), urine (n = 5), and cerebrospinal fluid (n = 3) samples. Of all the carbapenem –resistant samples 32 (62.8%) were obtained from male, and 19 (37.3%) from female patients. Of the 51 carbapenem resistant isolates, 38 (74.5%) were found to be resistant to both imipenem and meropenem. Eight (15.7%) isolates were found to be resistant to imipenem only, and five (9.8%) isolates were resistant to meropenem. Carbapenemase production was detected in 31 (60.8%) isolates by using using the Carbapenem inactivation method. The antibiotic resistance rates of the carbapenem resistant isolates were as follows: piperacillin-tazobactam 65%, amikacin 6.8%, gentamicin 15.2%, ceftazidime 34.6%, cefepime 38.3%, ciprofloxacin 26.7%, levofloxacin 24.2%. Conclusions: Rapid identification of carbapenemase enzymes among carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates using phenotypic and genotypic approaches is important to control the transmission of infection caused by carbapenem-resistant isolates and to control the morbidity and mortality associated with them. In this study, the carbapenem inactivation test was seen as a method that can be preferred in the laboratory in terms of its easy and fast application in the detection of carbapenemase production.

Patterns of Urinary Biomarkers And Blood Immunological Markers of Patients with Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a serious public health problem caused by a variety of microorganisms, the most prevalent of which are bacteria. The diversity of the immune system in the urinary tract is a critical factor in the defense against infections. This research included 127 clinically suspected UTI patients that all are treated with urine analysis and complete blood count test in order to observe the increased effects of neutrophils, total white blood cells, mainly granulocytes, and lymphocytes, in response to bacteria in urinary tract infection patients. All were classified into three groups: adult males, females, and children's girls, boys were excluded as they rarely encounter with this infection. In males, significant differences appear between bacteria and pus cells, bacteria and white blood cells as well as bacteria and granulocytes. Regarding females, a significant difference was seen between bacteria and lymphocytes in asymptomatic UTI cases, in contrast, the symptomatic cases showed a significant difference between bacteria and pus cells. Girls with asymptomatic UTI showed a significant difference between bacteria and pus cells, and bacteria and white blood cells. The significant difference between men and women appeared in bacterial presence in urine, white blood cells, and granulocytes. Conclusion; this study supports the great role of neutrophil cells that fight bacteria in blood circulation and later become pus cells in urine