ABSTRACT
Background/aims Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), also known as "shin splint", is most often described as exertional leg pain along the shinbone (tibia), which occurs due to the inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue in this area. This study aims to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and their association with the development of MTSS, as well as the effective treatments that reduce pain and improve functions among the Saudi general population. Materials and method The present cross-sectional study was conducted on the general population of Saudi Arabia through an electronic survey over a period of three months. The study sample of 443 patients was deemed and considered. The study included participants from the general population in Saudi Arabia above the age of 18. A structured self-response questionnaire was given to the participants after institutional research ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results Among the 443 participants, the majority were male (n = 228, 51.5%), aged 18-29 (n = 227, 51.2%), and residing in the central region of Saudi Arabia (n = 398, 89.8%). Most participants reported engaging in sporting activities (n = 211, 47.6%), with high-intensity training being the most common (n = 93, 44.1%). Only a small proportion (n = 8, 1.8%) reported a previous diagnosis of MTSS. Analysis revealed associations between MTSS prevalence and certain demographic factors, including walking surface preferences and engagement in specific sports. Treatment strategies for MTSS included rest, ice application, physiotherapy, and pain-relieving medication, with varying degrees of satisfaction and recurrence rates among participants. Conclusion The study provides valuable insights into the prevalence, risk factors, management, and preventive measures related to MTSS among the Saudi general population. While certain demographic factors and exercise practices were associated with MTSS prevalence, effective treatment options such as rest, physiotherapy, and appropriate footwear were reported. Moreover, adherence to preventive measures such as stretching, proper footwear selection, and gradual training progression may help mitigate the risk of MTSS development.
ABSTRACT
The successful treatment of bacterial disease is relied on selecting a suitable drug based on the type of bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The study's objective was to identify bacterial isolates from urine samples of patients from the community, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolated bacteria. A total of seventy urine samples were received in the clinical microbiology laboratory; out of which 18 culture-positive cultures and by direct identification using MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry) were identified. Of 18 identified bacteria, 17 (94%) were pathogenic. The culture demonstrated that the major species detected in urine samples were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Aeromonas caviae. E. coli (72.2%) was the most common bacterium retrieved from urine samples followed by K. pneumoniae (16.6%). Interestingly, all the isolates, except Enterococcus faecalis, were resistant to erythromycin. The isolates 8 of 13 (61.5%) were resistant to both of the cotrimoxazole and tetracycline. We performed MLST (Multi-locus Sequence Typing) typing of 13 E. coli isolates to study their genetic relatedness and diversity. MLST typing of E. coli showed a total of nine different STs (Sequence Types), which showed the diversity among them. ST 129 was the most common ST found in three E. coli isolates. In our study, two isolates with ST 1126 and ST 1432 represented the global clonal complex 155. MALDI-TOF MS provided dependable results for identifying the bacteria up to species level from urine samples by indirect culture methods. Such local surveillances are highly recommended for empirical therapy awareness and determining isolates' level of resistance.
