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Sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) initiates intracellular calcium (Ca
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Human brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease and is especially concerning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA], where livestock importation is significant. We analyzed reported human brucellosis disease trends in KSA over time to help policymakers understand the magnitude of the disease and guide the design of prevention and control measures. By using data from the national registry from 2004 to 2012, we calculated the cumulative numbers by age group and months. Trends of incidence rates [IRs] by gender, nationality, and region were also calculated. We found that there was a greater number of cases [19,130] in the 15-44 years age group than in any other age group. The IRs significantly decreased from 22.9 in 2004 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.3, 23.5] to 12.5 in 2012 [95% CI = 12.1, 13]. Males had a significantly greater IR than females. Most cases were reported during spring and summer seasons. The IR of Saudi citizens was significantly greater than that of non-Saudis, but this difference reduced over time. The IRs of Al-Qassim, Aseer, and Hail were in the highest 25th percentile. Young, male Saudi citizens living in highly endemic areas were at greatest risk of acquiring brucellosis. We recommend vaccinating susceptible animals against brucellosis and increasing the public's awareness of preventive measures
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Diabetes mellitus substantially increases cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk. Among Saudi Arabian citizens with diabetes, little is known about the prevalence and control of other CVD risk factors. We extracted data from medical records of a random selection of 422 patients seen between 2008 and 2012 at two diabetic clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We calculated the proportion of patients who had additional CVD risk factors: obesity [body mass indexP 30 kg/m[2]], hypertension [BPP 140/90 mmHg], elevated cholesterol fractions, and multiple risk factors]. Further, we calculated the proportion of patients meeting the American Diabetes Association's recommended care targets for each risk factor. Of 422 patients [mean age, 52 years], half were women, 56% were obese, 45% had hypertension, and 77% had elevated LDL concentrations. In addition to diabetes, 70% had two or more CVD risk factors. Although 9%met both target HbA1c and BP values, only 3.5% had optimum HbA1c, BP, and lipid values. In Saudi Arabia's best diabetes clinics, most patients have poor control of their disease. This huge disease burden and related care gaps have important health and financial implications for the country
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The objective of the study is to evaluate the quality of the data, the sensitivity of the surveillance, and the completeness of identification and investigation of tuberculosis [TB] patient's contacts. The study covered the TB surveillance program in Al-Madinah province in 2011. First, we reviewed all the notifications, treatment cards, and register books, as well as monthly and quarterly reports, for completeness and accuracy of data. Then, we searched for the missed cases that were not reported. Finally, we reviewed all the patients' household contacts' reports to assess the degree of completion of identification and investigation. There were 444 cases detected during the study period; only 200 cases were reported. The sensitivity of the TB surveillance system was 45%. Among the 200 reported cases, the results revealed high completeness rates for demographic and disease data and low completeness rates for the test result fields. The contact identification and investigation showed that 34.4% of smear-positive cases' contacts were not identified. Only 67% of identified contacts were investigated. The review of hospital records and lab registers showed that 244 cases were not reported. In conclusion, the TB surveillance system has several areas that need improvement
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The Gulf Cooperation Council Center for Infection Control [GCC-IC] has placed the emergence of antimicrobial resistance [AMR] on the top of its agenda for the past four years. The board members have developed the initial draft for the GCC strategic plan for combating AMR in 2014. The strategic plan stems from the WHO mandate to combat AMR at all levels. The need for engaging a large number of stakeholders has prompted the GCC-IC to engage a wider core of professionals in finalizing the plan. A multi-disciplinary group of more than 40 experts were then identified. And a workshop was conducted in Riyadh January 2015 and included, for the first time, representation of relevant ministries and agencies as well as international experts in the field. Participants worked over a period of two and a half days in different groups. International experts shared the global experiences and challenges in addressing human, food, animal, and environmental aspects of controlling AMR. Participants were then divided into 4 groups each to address the human, animal, microbiological and diagnostic, or the environmental aspect of AMR. At the end of the workshop, the strategic plan was revised and endorsed by all participants. The GCC-IC board members then approved it as the strategic plan for AMR. The document produced here is the first GCC strategic plan addressing AMR, which shall be adopted by GCC countries to develop country-based plans and related key performance indicators [KPIs]. It is now the role of each country to identify the body that will be accountable for implementing the plan at the country level
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The aim of this study is to measure the degree of compliance with hand hygiene practices among health-care workers [HCWs] in intensive care facilities in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, before and after a multimodal intervention program based on WHO strategies. Data were collected by direct observation of HCWs while delivering routine care using standardized WHO method: "Five moments for hand hygiene approach". Observations were conducted before [February-April 2011] and after [February-April 2013] the intervention by well-trained, infection-control practitioners during their routine visits. The study included 1182 opportunities [observations] collected before and 2212 opportunities collected after the intervention. The overall, hand hygiene compliance increased significantly from 60.8% [95% CI: 57.9-63.6%] before the intervention to reach 86.4% [95% CI: 84.9-97.8%] post-intervention [P = 0.001]. The same trend was observed in different intensive care facilities. In logistic regression analyses, HCWs were significantly more compliant [aOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.6-3.8] after the intervention. Similarly, being a nurse and events after patient contact were significant determinants of compliance. It is important to provide sustained intensified training programs to help embed efficient and effective hand hygiene into all elements of care delivery. New approaches like accountability, motivation and sanctions are needed
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To study different risk factors associated with needle stick injury among health care workers of a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Retrospective study involving all reported cases of needle stick and sharp object injury among health care workers through using Epinet [TM] access U.K. version 1.3 program in King Saud Medical City [KSMC] during the period [January 2007-December 2011]. During the study period, 477 needle stick and sharp object injuries were reported with peak incidence [13.84%] during 2009. Distribution of needle stick and sharp object injuries according to the location of their occurrence clarified that patient room/ward was the most common place of occurrence of NSSIs 150/477, followed by emergency department 82/477, then the intensive and critical care units 70/477. The study presented that nurses were encountered as the most affected job category and use of items is the most common activity associated with the incidents. Most of the incidents were caused by needles with disposable needle and hands were the most affected body parts. Needle stick and sharp object injuries represent a major occupational challenge to health care workers. Prevention should be based on different working lines including immunization, education of health care workers and proper engineering control measures
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Humans , Health Personnel , Tertiary Healthcare , Risk Factors , Retrospective Studies , Occupational HealthABSTRACT
To assess the effect of rigid contact lens design and keratoconus severity when selecting initial lens back optic zone radius [BOZR] for keratoconus contact lens fitting. Seventy new keratoconus patients [56 female, 14 male; mean age 19.5 [SD 5.0] years; range 11-28 years] were recruited from referrals to the Department of Ophthalmology, Assir Central Hospital. Patients were classified for keratoconus severity according to keratometry reading, and then fitted with multicurve [McGuire Steep or Regular], tricurve or Percon continuous curve rigid lens designs, visual acuity check and slit-lamp examination were also performed for all Patients. [i] Percon lens is suitable for early corneal curvature changes; [ii] The tricurve lens is able to fit a wide range of corneal shapes from mild to severe keratoconus; [iii] The McGuire lenses are better suited for the moderate to severe forms of keratoconus, and the different lens diameters do not appear to influence the lens choice. BOZR correlated strongly with the keratometry readings [p< 0.001], but not with corneal eccentricity [p= 0.203]. Severity of keratoconus strongly influences the optimum lens design and BOZR. Tricurve or multicurve lens designs are better suited for advanced keratoconus, while Percon curve lenses are only suitable for very early stages of the disease