Immediate outcome assessment of the rapid response team of home health care services at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

Background: Paediatrics rapid response team (RRT) is a newly developed service under paediatrics home health care (HHC) programme which is a standby visiting team that responds to non-critical emergency calls. The current study aimed to compare the total emergency visits and hospital admissions before and after implementation of RRT project. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted from December 2018 to December 2020. Paediatric patients registered under the home health care (HHC) programme were the target population. The admission and hospitalization rates were assessed before and after the implantation of an RRT. The variables related to patient profile were assessed to explore the association between hospitalization and admission. Result: Data for 117 patients and a total of 114 calls attended under HHC covered by RRT were analysed. In the first year after the implementation of RRT, the mean number of ER visits per patient per year was reduced from 4.78 ± 6.10 to 3.93 ± 4.12 with (P value, 0.06). Also, a slight decrease in the mean number of admissions from 3.74 ± 4.43 to a mean of 3.46 ± 4.1 with (P value, 0.29). Follow-up after receiving an RRT call for an initial complaint was statistically significant in reducing both ER visits and hospital admissions within 7 days with a P value of 0.03 and 0.04, respectively. Conclusion: The RRT was effective in decreasing the ER visits and hospital admissions for a very special group of patients. Additionally, the emplacement of proper triaging code at the time of attending to patients helped in reducing unnecessary ER visit and hospital admission.

A triple antimicrobial regimen for multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia in a neonatal intensive care unit outbreak: A case series.

Gram-negative bacteria are the major pathogens detected in neonatal intensive care units. In the last few years, outbreaks of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumonia have become a major health concern, especially given this population's limited antimicrobial choices. In the present case series, we report the effectiveness of using a combination of three antimicrobials (amikacin, colistin and meropenem) for the rapid eradication of MDR K. pneumonia in five septic neonates. One neonate (20%) died due to recurrent episodes of sepsis. The remaining four (80%) neonates recovered completely from sepsis. In conclusion, the triple regimen of amikacin, colistin and meropenem was effective in treating neonatal sepsis caused by MDR K. pneumonia. The findings of the present report propose that a combination of antimicrobial chemotherapies could be further explored in the fight against MDR bacterial isolates.

A 4-year-old boy with Lemierre's syndrome caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.

A pre-school aged boy presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department with a high grade fever and neck pain and stiffness. Blood culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Doppler ultrasound of the neck revealed partial thrombosis of the left internal jugular vein. He was diagnosed with Lemierre's syndrome (LS) and treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics and anticoagulation. After discharge home, he was followed in the outpatient clinics and had a full recovery. This case report will highlight the presentation of LS and will briefly review the microbiology of this condition.

Immunosuppressive burden and risk factors of infection in primary childhood nephrotic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with primary childhood nephrotic syndrome (PCNS) develop alterations in their cellular and humoral immunity that predisposes them to the development of infection, and lead them to have frequent relapses. Also, infection could be significantly enhanced by immunosuppressive agents. This study aims to estimate the immunosuppressive burden, rate of infection and identify possible risk factors in PCNS requiring hospitalization. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of hospitalized children≤14years of age diagnosed with PCNS in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh from January 2003 to December 2013. RESULT: Out of 111 patients admitted with PCNS, 84 (76%) had both minor and major types of infection. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was the most predominant type (n=44, 52%). Among the major types of infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) was the most common infection (n=21, 25%) followed by pneumonia (n=17, 20%) then cellulitis (n=6, 6%). Infection in children who received a higher annual cumulative dose of steroids (CDS) strikingly had a higher rate of infection in comparison to those who received lower CDS (p<0.01). Moreover, those who received primary and secondary immunosuppressant's had 100% infection rate. CONCLUSION: About half of infection encountered by PCNS patients were URTI followed by UTI and pneumonia. Higher annual CDS, combination of primary and secondary immunosuppressants were the highest independent risk factors for infection. Among the infection, URTI was considered as the predominant entity whereas among the major infection, UTI was predominant followed by pneumonia then cellulitis.

Impact of birth characteristics, breast feeding and vital statistics on the eruption of primary teeth among healthy infants in Saudi Arabia: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the impact of gender, birth weight, maternal age, type of delivery, gestational age and feeding practices on the eruption of teeth in children with no underlying medical conditions or developmental defects in their first year of life. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study design was used. SETTING: A primary healthcare setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: All children in their first year of life attending a vaccination clinic (n=422) were included in the study. Infants with chronic childhood illnesses, those who were below the 5th percentile in height or weight, infants with congenital birth defects and chronic illnesses, infants who were born preterm and low birth weight infants were excluded from the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The type of delivery, birth weight, age of mother, height and weight percentile for age (as plotted on the WHO growth chart for infants) and feeding practices were recorded by the examiner, and this was followed by a clinical examination to determine the presence or absence of each tooth. Regression models were developed to determine the effect of the different variables on the presence of primary teeth. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the weight percentile of the child (adjusted for age) and the number of erupted primary teeth, suggesting that heavier children have an earlier eruption of teeth. No association was observed between birth weight, height percentile for age or maternal age at the time of birth and the number of erupted primary teeth. Children who were exclusively breast fed were significantly more likely to have an erupted first primary tooth earlier than non-breastfed group. CONCLUSIONS: Breast feeding and the weight of the child may have an influence on the eruption of primary teeth in the first year of life.

Physicians' attire. Parents preferences in a tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To assess Saudi mother's preferences regarding Saudi children's physicians' attire, and its influence on the parents' level of trust and confidence. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2014. Our sample comprised mothers of pediatric patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings at National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mothers answered multiple questions, including their preferences regarding male and female pediatric physicians' attire, their preferences regarding their children's physician's gender, and the impact of physician's appearance on mothers' confidence. Results: There were 259 female participants. Of all caregivers, 51.4% were 32-years-old or younger. Of those, 170 (65.6%) were educated (had completed high school or higher). Forty-four percent preferred that male physicians wear scrubs, while 5.4% preferred formal attire (tie, shirt, and trousers) and 27.8% preferred Saudi national attire (Thobe and shemagh). Most caregivers (57.9%) preferred that female physicians wear long skirts. Most caregivers (87.6%) preferred physicians to wear a white coat. Most (89.2%) believed that a physician's appearance is very important. Conclusion: Gender of the treating physician is insignificant to mothers. However, the level of trust in a physician is related to his/her external appearance. Most mothers prefer their children's physicians to wear scrubs.

Applicability of adult guidelines for withholding or terminating resuscitation for prehospital traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest in pediatrics.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the applicability to a pediatric population of adult guidelines for withholding or terminating traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHOD: Using a trauma registry database and patient data from May 2001 to February 2011, a retrospective cohort study was conducted for all trauma patients less than 18 years of age who arrived at the emergency department (ED) with no pulse at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The clinical criteria of the adult guidelines were applied to the study population; these criteria include an absence of pulse, apnea, unorganized electrocardiogram and fixed pupils (all observed at the scene). Then the outcomes of the studied patients were interpreted based on these guidelines; this analysis highlighted the relationship between the outcomes and the four clinical criteria of the adult guidelines. RESULTS: During the study period, 104 patients arrived at the ED with no pulse. CPR was initiated for only 44 of these patients. Unfortunately, every patient in this group died within 24 hours of ED arrival. Out of these 104 patients, 92 met the four clinical criteria of the adult guidelines, 11 met only three criteria, and one met only two criteria. CONCLUSION: The clinical criteria of the previously published adult guidelines for terminating or withholding resuscitation correctly predicted 100% of the patient mortality when all criteria were met.

Effect of combined dexamethasone therapy with nebulized r-epinephrine or salbutamol in infants with bronchiolitis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of combining oral dexamethasone with either nebulized racemic epinephrine or salbutamol compared to bronchodilators alone for the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on infants (1 to 12 months) who were diagnosed in the emergency department with moderate-to-severe bronchiolitis. The primary outcome was the rate of hospital admission within 7 days of the first dose of treatment, and the secondary outcomes were changes in respiratory distress assessment instrument score, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation (O2 Sat) over a 4-hour observation period. Infants (n = 162) were randomly assigned to four groups: A (dexamethasone + racemic epinephrine) = 45, B (placebo and racemic epinephrine) =39, C (dexamethasone and salbutamol) = 40, or D (placebo and salbutamol) = 38. RESULTS: Patients who had received dexamethasone + epinephrine exhibited similar admission rates compared to placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.64). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of hospitalization for patients who received dexamethasone + salbutamol compared to those who received placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.51). Clinical parameters were improved at the end of the 4-hour observation period for all treatment groups. Treatment with dexamethasone + epinephrine resulted in a statistically significant change in HR over time (P < 0.005) compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to a body of evidence suggesting that corticosteroids have no role in the management of bronchiolitis for young infants who are first time wheezers with no risk of atopy.

Diagnosed congenital hypothyroidism with missing follow-up: is it time for a national registry?

A treatable and preventable disorder, congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is still a common cause of mental retardation. A 17-year-old Saudi boy with CH due to an ectopic thyroid gland was diagnosed by the neonatal screening program.Thyroxine replacement therapy was started for one month when the family chose to discontinue medication and follow-up. He was not then seen until 11 years of age. Thyroxine was restarted with a close follow-up, although thyroid function tests gradually improved back to normal levels, but his final height was short (159 cm) and IQ was negatively affected. Despite the diagnosis having been made at an appropriate time, patient was lost to follow up. This indicates an obvious flaw in the system for follow-up care. We recommend a registry of patients with CH to monitor their care. The aim of such a registry would be to monitor the efficiency and efficacy of neonatal screening.

Serologial screening of human T cell lymphotropic virus I and II (HTLV I/II) in blood banks by immunoblotting and enzyme-immuno assays: to demand or to defeat?

Human T cell lymphotropic virus I and II (HTLV I/II) has been recommended to be screened for blood donors since 1988, and it become a mandatory test to get college of american Pathologists (CAP) accreditation. The present study aimed at investigating the prevalence rate of HTLV I/II among Arab blood donors, to revise whether is its screening mandatory? Thirty-thousand (30,000) Arab donors along two years attending two central hospital blood banks in Jeddah. Antibodies to HTLV I/II have been screened using enzyme immunoassay (E.I.A) and immunoblotting assay (Western blot). Results revealed zero prevalence rate. Based upon this finding, no potential risk of HTLV I/II transmission among blood donors population exist. As screening for HTLV I/II is still mandatory, it could be done on pools of sera rather than on individual serum samples, after standardization of a pooling protocol, to fulfill coast-effectiveness and reduce the coasts by 90-95%.