Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Saudi Arabia: Knowledge and Perceptions Among Healthcare Workers.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a serious threat to public health despite great efforts. For many years, management and screening for active TB cases have been the main focus of TB control programs. Latent TB is a stage where TB can be prevented and controlled. Therefore, designing a comprehensive TB control program that includes latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management diseases is needed to be implemented among the healthcare workers (HCWs) who have been found to be at a higher risk for active TB compared to the general population. The objective of the study The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and perceptions of LTBI among HCWs. In addition to estimating the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs using closed-end questions in a self-administered questionnaire. Subjects and methods Through a cross-sectional study and non-random sampling technique, 324 (84%) healthcare workers who met the inclusion criteria completed and submitted the electronic questionnaire. Results Among all participants, the study reported a good knowledge about LTBI; however, a third of HCWs had poor knowledge about the difference between LTBI and active TB. Eighteen percent of participants were diagnosed with LTBI, and two-thirds accepted the treatment. Of all participants who started the treatment, 55% completed the treatment course. The compliance rate was high among young HCWs and physicians who had a short course of LTB treatment regimen.  Conclusion The study reported a low acceptance and completion rate of LTBI therapy among HCWs. Low knowledge about some clinical facts of LTBI, the long duration of treatment, and being the treatment optional in Saudi health institutes were all barriers to accepting and completing the treatment of LTBI. All of these factors need to be addressed to increase the compliance rate to LTBI treatment.

Salpingopharyngeus myomucosal flap.

OBJECTIVES: Improvements in the efficacy of extended endonasal approaches to resect skull base pathologies have created the need for new reconstructive alternatives. Hereby, we describe a novel pedicled myomucosal flap that allows the reconstruction of dural defects in the lower clivus and craniovertebral junction or to cover the paraclival and petrous segments of the internal carotid artery. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomic description. Technical report. Feasibility. METHODS: We describe a myomucosal flap with a cephalic pedicle based on the salpingopharyngeus muscle and its vessels. Subsequently, using a cadaveric model, we harvested the flap and explored its potential for the reconstruction of various dural defects or to cover the internal carotid artery. RESULTS: Our study confirmed the feasibility of harvesting and transposing the myomucosal salpingopharyngeus (Dicle flap) flap for the reconstruction of inferior clival and craniovertebral junction defects or to cover the petrous and paraclival segments of the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS: The Dicle flap is a feasible, reconstructive alternative for the reconstruction of select small- to medium-sized defects of the posterior and inferior aspects of the ventral skull base.

Endoscopic anatomy of the middle ethmoidal artery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of the middle ethmoidal artery and its anatomical nuances via an endoscopic endonasal approach. METHODS: A cadaveric study was performed on 22 adult specimens. First, a frontal sinusotomy and ethmoidectomy were performed via an endoscopic endonasal approach in order to fully expose the anterior skull base. Subsequently, the lamina papyracea and the bone of the canals covering the ethmoidal neurovascular bundles were removed to identify the anterior, middle, and posterior ethmoidal arteries. Presence, laterality, and location of the middle ethmoidal artery were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 14 middle ethmoidal arteries were identified (10 right and 4 left), among 44 sides (22 specimens), accounting for an incidence of 31.8%. Bilateral middle ethmoidal arteries were found in 3 of 22 specimens (14%). Endonasal endoscopy features of the middle ethmoidal artery were noted. CONCLUSION: This is the first study assessing the anatomical features of the middle ethmoidal arteries from an endonasal endoscopic perspective. The findings of this research have clinical significance in guiding surgeries that involve the medial orbital wall, intractable epistaxis, and anterior skull base pathologies, as well as endoscopic endonasal surgeries.