Perceptions of use of a case-based, integrated national electronic public health surveillance system in Jordan

Collection of real-time, standardized data remains a challenge for public health surveillance systems. The use of mobile information technology may facilitate this. A national case-based public health surveillance system was introduced in Jordan in 2015 using mobile tablets and an online framework. After training on the system, users were surveyed about their perceptions of it. Of 596 participants attending the training, 580 [97.3%] completed the survey. The majority of users were nurses [58.5%]. Overall perceptions of the system were highly positive across 5 areas of functionality [standardized case definitions, clinical guidance on signs and symptoms, risk factors and laboratory guidance, SMS and Email alerts for notifiable diseases, one-hour reporting of information via an online framework]. In all areas, over 80% of participants thought the system would help their work and would save time in identifying notifiable diseases and reporting this information centrally. Further work is encouraged to evaluate the system and consider the application of cloud-based models in other settings

Efficacy of agnique (mmf) monomolecular surface film against immature stages of Anopheles arabiensis patton and Culex spp (diptera: culicidae) in Khartoum, Sudan.

The efficacy of the larvicidal and pupicidal agent (Agnique) MMF was evaluated against larvae of An. arabiensis and Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) under field conditions in Bahary Locality, Khartoum, Sudan. At an applied dosage of 0.25 ml/m2, MMF resulted in 89.4, 79.8 and 88.2% reductions in L3-L4 instars An. arabiensis and 63.5% in Culex larvae (all stages) 24 to 72 hours post-treatment. Pupae were completely eliminated (100%) within 24 hours posttreatment. The earlier instars (L1-L2) of An. arabiensis were more tolerant with a 62.5% reduction at 72 hours post-treatment compared to (L3-L4) instars and pupae. At 7-days post-treatment Agnique gave a 57.5% reduction in L1-L2 and 92.6% in L3-L4 instar larvae of An. arabiensis and 57.3% and 86.4% in Culex larvae and pupae, respectively. We conclude that Agnique can perform effectively against L3-L4 instars and pupae of An. arabiensis for only 1 week, and 3 to 4 days against L1-L2 instars of Culex spp.

prevalence of streptococcus pneumoniae carriage among healthy children in Yemen

Elevated nasopharyngeal carriage rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important epidemiological factor in the incidence of clinical infections caused by this microorganism. This study was aimed to determine the carriage rate of S pneumoniae among healthy children in Sana'a, Yemen, the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates, risk factors predisposing to the colonization by this microorganism, and serotype the isolates of S pneumoniae. From January 2006 to June 2006, 602 nasophanygeal swabs from children were collected. A standard questionnaire for collecting information about risk factors for predisposing S pneumoniae carriage was filled for each child. Carriage was defined by positive cultures for S pneumoniae. The isolates identified as S pneumoniaee based on colony morphology, Gram staining, type of haemolysis on blood agar, optchin sensitivity, bile solubility and serotyping was done by using commercial antisera. Sensitivity to antibiotic for S. pneumoniaee was determined using standard Kirby Bauer technique. During the six months of the study, 602 children met the study criteria for collection nasopharyngeal swabs and were free from current upper respiratory tract infections. They were 365 [60.6%] males and 237 [39.4%] females. The crude prevalence rate of S pneumoniae was 5.6%, the male specific prevalence rate was 6% and the female specific prevalence rate was 5.1%. There were significant effect between S pneumoniae carriage and nose bleeding [OR=2.5, CI=1-6, X2=4.7, pv=0.02] and with tonsillectomy [OR=2.3, CI=0.8-6.8, X2=2.9 pv=0.08], and hospital visit [OR=4.1, CI=1.9-8.6, X2=17.4, and pv> 0.0001.]. 30 of the 32 isolates S pneumoniae were distributed among six different serotypes. 9 [30%] belonged to serotype 5. Serotype 19 count 7 [23.3%], and serotypes 1, 15 and 22 count 6 [20%] and 4 [13%], 2 [6.6%] respectively. S pneumoniae isolated in the present study was tested against 11 different antimicrobial agents, 93.3% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin, 93.3% to gentamycin. 33.3% to chloramphenicol, and 20% to co-trimoxazol and 0% to erythromycin. Multi-resistant S pneumoniae was occurring; the most predominant drug resistance pattern was of three antibiotics [73.3%]. We conclude that, the rate of carriages and frequency of different types of S pneumoniae strains are similar to that reported in Middle East countries. However multi and single drugs resistance were higher than those reported in developed and developing countries

[Review of the history of the teaching of medicine in Arabic]

This paper reviews the history of using Arabic as a working language in the development of medical sciences and education since the Arab-Islamic civilization took over the heritage of the Greek civilization and replaced it in the track of piomeer human civilizations. The paper also discusses the subsequent developments in teaching medical sciences in the Arab world up till now