Antibiotic resistance trends in paediatric community-acquired first urinary tract infections in the United Arab Emirates

We analysed the trend of antibiotic resistance of community-acquired uropathogens over a 4-year period in a cohort of children with a first episode of culture-proven urinary tract infection presenting to the department of paediatrics at a large general secondary care hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Comparisons were made between 2 time periods: 2003-04 versus 2005-06 for 145 children aged 2 months to 12 years of age. Although some changes in resistance were observed for some antibiotics between the 2 time periods, the differences were not significant, nor were the trends, except for a significant increase in resistance to nitrofurantoin [from 5.4% to 35.6%], with a significant increasing trend over the 4 years

Comparison of erythrocyte indices to differentiate between iron deficiency and alpha-thalassaemias in children with microcytosis and/or hypochromia

Erythrocyte indices used to differentiate between iron deficiency anaemia [IDA] and thalassaemias have been studied mainly in countries with a high prevalence of IDA or beta-thalassaemias. This study was carried out in the United Arab Emirates where alpha-thalassaemias are prevalent. We studied the predictive value and Youden index of several indices in 85 children aged 6 months to 12 years with microcytosis and/or hypochromia, with or without anaemia [determined by serum measurement of iron or therapeutic iron trial]. The best discriminatory indices for detecting IDA versus alpha-thalassaemias were a Green -King index > 65 [correctly identified 75.3% of children, Youden index 44.3] and red cell distribution width > 14% [correctly identified 57.8%, Youden index 38.1]

Congenital hypothyroidism screening program: a five-year experience at Saudi Aramco Al Hasa health center

We report the results of a five-year study of cord blood screening for congenital hypothyroidism in a genetically homogeneous population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was 1/5061 and is compared to other reports. The prevalence of dyshormonogenesis was 1/7592, higher than in other reports