A summary of the main themes and findings presented at the ASM Intermountain Branch meeting (2024).

The annual meeting for the Intermountain Branch was held in April 2024 on the campus of Brigham Young University. There were 127 branch members from Utah, Idaho, and Nevada who attended the meeting and were composed of undergraduate students, graduate or medical students, and faculty. This report highlights the diversity of, and the emerging trends in, the research conducted by American Society for Microbiology members in the Intermountain Branch.

Uptake of COVID-19 Booster Dose among Saudi Arabian Population.

Backgroundand objectives: Although several vaccines have been produced and administered around the world, new SARS-CoV-2 worsened the COVID-19 infection risk and impacted the initial vaccine dosage effectiveness. Based on studies indicating that the third and fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses significantly reduced COVID-19 transmission, Saudi Arabia has been administering COVID-19 booster vaccine doses to its citizens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine booster in relation to the socio-demographic characteristics and other associated factors among the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: This study was an online analytical cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Pearson Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 booster dose vaccines. Results: A total of 2332 responded to our study. Overall, 527 (22.6%) participants had received a booster dose. An age of 55 and above (aOR: 5.415; 95% CI: 2.719-10.783), Eastern region (aOR: 2.513; 95% CI: 1.566-4.033), history of influenza vaccination at annual intervals (aOR: 2.387; 95% CI: 1.730-3.293), the first dose of Moderna vaccine (aOR: 1.324; 95% CI: 1.160-1.510), and cancer (aOR: 2.161; 95% CI: 1.218-3.879) were independent factors most associated with a higher uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. In contrast, the second dose of Moderna vaccine (aOR: 0.794; 95% CI: 0.683-0.922), AstraZeneca vaccine (aOR: 0.691; 95% CI: 0.509-0.939), strong symptoms from side effects after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR: 0.615; 95% CI: 0.404-0.935) were independent factors most associated with a lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. Conclusions: Our findings indicate low COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake. This necessitates the need for strategies to address discouraging factors of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose uptake and engage the Saudi population to raise awareness about the importance of the booster dose.

Anxiety among patients undergoing various dental procedures.

Dental Anxiety (DA) was the most frequent problem which can lead to the avoidance of treatment. Therefore, is to evaluate the DA level among patients of different treatments. A questionnaire was distributed among the participants. The Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) was used to measure dental anxiety. In gender differences, it has been found that females were more anxious than male participants. The younger age group (18-30 years) was less anxious than the older age groups (P < 0.05). Most of the participants in all conditions were slightly anxious. Male participants exhibited less dental anxiety than females. This might be due to males being more stable emotionally.

Effectiveness of mechanical debridement with and without adjunct antimicrobial photodynamic for treating peri-implant mucositis among prediabetic cigarette-smokers and non-smokers.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of mechanical debridement (MD) with and without adjunct antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) for treating peri-implant mucositis among prediabetic cigarette-smokers and non-smokers. METHODS: Prediabetic and non-diabetic smokers and non-smokers with peri-implant mucositis were included. Patients with peri-implant mucositis were divided into 4 groups as follows: Group-1: Prediabetic smokers with peri-implant mucositis; Group-2: Prediabetic non-smokers with peri-implant mucositis; Group-3: Systemically-healthy smokers with peri-implant mucositis; and Group-4: Systemically-healthy non-smokers with peri-implant mucositis. Hemoglobin A1c levels were measured in all groups prior to MD with adjunct aPDT. Peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were assessed at baseline and at 4- and 12-weeks of follow-up. Sample-size estimation was done and data normality was assessed. Group-comparisons were performed. and P < 0.01 was selected as an indicator of statistical significance. RESULTS: Fifteen, 15, 15 and 15 individuals were included in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. At baseline, peri-implant PI, BOP and PD were comparable in all groups. In prediabetic smokers and non-smokers, there was no significant difference in peri-implant PI, BOP and PD at 4- and 12-weeks' follow-up. Among non-diabetic smokers and non-smokes MD with adjunct PDT significant reduced PI (P < 0.01) and PD (P < 0.01) at 4- and 12-weeks' follow-up. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of MD with adjunct aPDT for the treatment of peri-implant mucositis are compromised in smokers and non-smokers with prediabetes. In non-diabetic smokers and non-smokers, MD with aPDT is effective for treating peri-implant mucositis.