Profile of a large cohort of children with persistent fetal vasculature and their predictors of poor visual outcome in a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To present the profile of a large cohort of children with persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) and identify their predictors of poor visual outcome in a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This was a single-center study. Medical records of children diagnosed with persistent fetal vasculature between January 1990 and January 2020 at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), Riyadh, were reviewed. Data were collected on PFV type, presenting features, management, and visual acuity. Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to identify the predictors of poor visual outcome. RESULTS: Data of 175 eyes of 170 children with PFV were analyzed. Most had unilateral disease (n = 165, 96.2%), and over half of them (57.1%) were males. The main presenting complaints were leukocoria (n = 126, 72.0%), followed by smaller eye (n = 36, 20.6%), poor vision (n = 15, 8.6%), and strabismus (n = 13, 7.4%). Anterior, posterior, and combined PFV were present in 30.9%, 10.9%, and 58.3% eyes, respectively. In eyes with measurable visual acuity (n = 124), BCVA at the last follow-up was ≥20/100, <20/100-20/400, CF/HM and LP/NLP in 11 (8.9%), 32 (25.8%), 43 (34.7%), and 38 (30.6%) eyes, respectively. In the multivariable poisson regression analysis, eyes with posterior PFV were approximately two times more likely to have a BCVA of CF or worse than those with anterior PFV (Adjusted incidence ratio: 1.82 (95%: 1.23, 2.70; P = 0.003). Compared with eyes with primary or secondary IOL implantation, aphakic eyes or those with no cataract surgery were significantly more likely to have BCVA of CF or worse (adjusted incidence ratio: 1.84 [95%: 1.18, 2.86], p = 0.007 and adjusted incidence ratio: 1.64 [95%: 1.08, 2.50], p = 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of PFV varies depending on the severity of the disease. Patients with posterior PFV had worse visual outcome than anterior or combined type. Whether primary or secondary, IOL implantation increases the probability of having BCVA better than CF.

The bacterial colonization of healthcare workers' mobile phones in a large tertiary care teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: The use of mobile phones by healthcare workers is a risk factor for microorganism transmission in healthcare settings. Pathogenic bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli that are known to cause nosocomial infection have been isolated from mobile phones. In this cross-sectional study, we assess the burden and related risk factors of the bacterial colonization of healthcare workers' mobile phones. METHODOLOGY: We collected samples from the mobile phones of 130 healthcare workers' in a Saudi Arabian teaching hospital, using moistened cotton swabs. The isolated organisms were identified using an automated identification and susceptibility system. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test the data. RESULTS: Of 130 swabs collected, 45 (34.6%) grew one species and 48 (36.9%) grew two or more. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most commonly isolated bacteria (52.3%), followed by Micrococcus and related species (25.4%), Staphylococcus hominis (13.8%), and Bacillus species (6.9%). Clinically significant microorganisms such as S. aureus and Pseudomonas sp. were identified in 2 (1.5%) samples, respectively. The odds of mobile phone colonization were 8.5 times higher (95% CI = 3.2-23.1) in the laboratory, neonatal intensive care unit, and medicine departments. Mobile phones owned for more than one year were more likely to be culture positive (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.1-7.6). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the prevalence of bacterial colonization among healthcare workers' mobile phones was high. Our findings suggest that high-risk groups for mobile phone colonization-such as laboratory, neonatal intensive care unit, and medicine department staff-should be a priority for preventative measures, to improve infection control.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain Questionnaire.

This study aimed to translate and adapt the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire into the Arabic language and evaluate the validity and reliability of this scale for participants with knee or hip osteoarthritis. This questionnaire was translated based on the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation protocol. The test-retest reliability was calculated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Then, Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire. After that, the criterion validity was evaluated against the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. A total of 90 participants were included in this study, of which 29 participants were re-evaluated for reliability testing. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of the Knee Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire were 0.841, 0.923 and 0.911 for the total, constant, and intermittent knee pain, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.88, 0.93 and 0.94 for the total score, the intermittent knee pain and the constant knee pain, respectively. Eventually, criterion validity was r=0.24(P<0.05). Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain in Arabic is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in Arabic-speaking patients with knee/hip osteoarthritis.

Impact of attitude and knowledge on intention to breastfeed: Can mHealth based education influence decision to breastfeed exclusively?

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding has been endorsed as the healthiest feeding choice for newborns. This study aims to assess impact of expecting mothers' knowledge and attitude toward intention to breastfeed exclusively. Utilizing mobile health (mHealth) as educational tool can offer a widely distributed and affordable platform to promote exclusive breastfeeding. RESEARCH AIMS AND QUESTIONS: This study aims to assess impact of expecting mothers' knowledge, attitude and beliefs on decision to breastfeed exclusively. Furthermore, it purposes mobile health (mHealth) as educational tool offering a widely distributed, affordable and accessible platform to promote exclusive breastfeeding. METHODS: The study was conducted in prenatal clinics' waiting areas to interview expecting mothers utilizing a translated version of Infant Feeding Practices Survey II (IFPS II, CDC). After completing the survey, an educational video was shown utilizing a tablet and the question was re-asked about intention toward breastfeeding exclusively. RESULTS: Most expecting mothers indicated having some awareness about breastfeeding (67%) but only 46.1% intended to initiate exclusive breastfeeding early in life prior to the intervention. Moreover, only 53.7% believed breastfeeding is the best nutritional choice. Actually, 39.5% of participants considered breastfeeding equal to formula. Most working mothers complained of lack of workplace support to breastfeed. Also, they were not comfortable breastfeeding in front of others except spouse. Additionally, most participants found nurses and media as poor information resources. Resources utilizing social media and Internet were found useful. After watching the educational video, the majority expressed positive intention to breastfeed exclusively (80.8%). Positive intentions were associated with advance maternal age, prior breastfeeding knowledge and willingness to hear experts' opinions. CONCLUSION: Saudi women have limited knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation. They feel unprepared, unsupported, lack resources and socially challenged. An educational material utilizing mHealth can alter intentions to breastfeed exclusively.

Performance of the BD ProbeTec ET direct detection assay for the analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory and non-respiratory clinical specimens.

OBJECTIVES: Early detection of Mycobacterial tuberculosis infection (MTB) is pivotal for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the performance of BD ProbeTec ET direct detection assay (DTB) against the gold standard culture technique for confirmation of MTB infection. METHODS: A total of 266 consecutive and non-duplicate clinical specimens for detection of MTB were included in this study. There were 118 respiratory and 148 non-respiratory samples. All samples were tested by microscopy for acid-fast bacillus (AFB), MTB culture and biochemical identification with simultaneous testing by DTB. RESULTS: A total of 88 samples (33%) were culture-positive for MTB including 39/118 respiratory, 29/99 fluid and 20/49 tissue samples. DTB sensitivity for respiratory samples was 97% and specificity was 96% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. Sensitivity of DTB in fluid samples was 80%, specificity 88%, PPV 69% and NPV 93% whereas sensitivity of DTB for tissue samples was 25%, specificity 90%, PPV 63% and NPV 63%. Of the 50 (56.8%) smear-positive samples, DTB sensitivity was 100% for respiratory, 85% for fluid and 100% for tissue samples. CONCLUSION: DTB performed within acceptable limits for the rapid detection of MTB in respiratory samples compared to fluid and tissue specimens.