Leprosy in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

A study was conducted to establish age and sex distribution of leprosy, the type, incidence and prevalence of this disease and the outcome of control measures. From January 1983 to December 1986, 185 consecutive new leprosy patients were diagnosed by consultant dermatologists of the Ministry of Health in the Eastern Province. Of the patients, 71 were Saudis and 114 non-Saudis, 88 came from South India, ten from Sri Lanka, seven from Thailand, three from the Philippines. two from Yemen and one each from Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea and Indonesia. Among the Saudis men outnumbered women in the ratio of 3:1, with a mean age 32.2 years and range of 8-80 years. In the non-Saudi patients men outnumbered women in the ratio of 15:1, with a mean age of 35.6 years and range of 9-57 years. Overall, the disease was more prevalent in the age-group 21-40 years, although other age-groups were also affected. Tuberculoid leprosy was significantly more common in Saudi than in non-Saudi patients [0.01

Serious infection due to an outbreak of aminoglycoside resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 0: 12,pyocine type 1b, in an intensive care unit

An outbreak of aminoglycoside-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa occurred during the months of November 1983 to February 1984, among 14 patients admitted to the ICU of Dammam Central hospital. All the strains were resistant to gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomicin and carbenicillin; and six strains were in addition, resistant to amikacin. The index case appeared to be a patient admitted with multiple fractures following a motor vehicle accident from whom the resistant strain was isolated on the fourth day following admission to the unit. The outbreak was controlled only after the unit was closed for 1 week. Epidemiological investigations failed to reveal the mode of transmission, but the sinks were found to harbour this strain in large quantities. O-serotyping showed all the strains belonged to serotype 0:12. They all belonged to pyocine type 1 b and were lysed by a single phage [phage 68]. Aminoglycoside degrading enzymes were not detected in ultrasonic extracts of any of the strains

Alcaligenes faecalis meningitis complicated by hydrocephalus in a premature neonate

A premature infant with Alcaligenes faecalis meningitis complicated by hydrocephalus is described. The definitive microbiological diagnosis was made on ventricular CSF obtained at VP shunt operation. He died 5 days after operation due to Serratia marcescens septicaemia. Emphasis is placed on early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal meningitis