Search

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection among health care workers (HCWs) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A prospective cross-sectional study of HCWs confirmed to have COVID-19 infection from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. A total of 746 HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients' age ranged from 22 to 60 years with a mean ± standard deviation of 37.4 ± 8.7 years. The infection was community-acquired in 584 (78.3%) HCWs. The vast majority (82.6%) of the infected HCWs had no comorbidities. Nurses (400/746 or 53.6%) represented the largest professional group, followed by physicians (128/746 or 17.2%), administrative staff (125/746 or 16.8%), respiratory therapists (54/746 or 7.2%), and physiotherapists (39/746 or 5.2%). Symptoms included fever (64.1%), cough (55.6%), sore throat (44.6%), headache (22.9%), runny nose (19.6%), shortness of breath (19.0%), fatigue (12.7%), body aches (11.4%), diarrhea (10.9%), vomiting (4.4%), and abdominal pain (2.8%). Most (647 or 86.7%) patients were managed as outpatients. Four (0.5%) HCWs died. HCWs face a dual risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, both from community exposure and within the hospital setting. Comprehensive infection control strategies are needed to protect HCWs both inside and outside the hospital environment. • 78.3% of COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers (HCWs) were community-acquired. • The vast majority (82.6%) of the infected HCWs had no comorbidities. • Nurses (53.6%) represented the largest professional group, followed by physicians (17.2%). • Most (86.7%) patients were managed as outpatients and 4 (0.5%) patients died. • HCWs face a dual risk of infection, both from community and hospital exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus causes the dengue fever as well as hemorrhagic fever in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is now endemic in most parts of the South East Asia. Full-genome information of dengue virus 3 is not available from Yemen. In this study, the dengue virus 3 was detected by diagnostic tools like serology and RT-PCR in the samples isolated from a patient in Yemen. The full-genome was sequenced, and the identity, phylogenetic relationship and recombination analysis was performed by using BioEdit, MEGA X and RDP4 softwares. The full-genome of the Yemen isolate was found to be 10,643 nt long with 3390 amino acids. The Yemen dengue virus 3 isolate showed the sequence similarity (98.5–92.4%) with dengue virus 3 isolates from China, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh respectively. The significant non-synonymous substitutions of amino acid in Yemen isolate were observed with selected isolates. The phylogenetic tree of Yemen isolate formed a unique clade within genotype III and sub-clade into lineage III. The Dengue virus isolate from Jeddah formed separated cluster with lineage IV. This reveals the unique genetic variability among DENV-3 serotypes from Jeddah and earlier reported isolates from other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MERS-coronavirus infection is currently responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia. Understanding its burden, as an emerging infectious disease, is vital for devising appropriate control strategies. In this study, the burden of MERS-CoV was estimated over 31 months period from June 6, 2012 to January 5, 2015. The total number of patients was 835; 528 (63.2%) patients were male, 771 (92.3%) patients were ≥25 years of age, and 210 (25.1%) patients were healthcare workers. A total of 751 (89.9%) patients required hospitalization. The median duration between onset of illness and hospitalization was 2 days (interquartile range, 0–5). The median length of hospital stay was 14 days (IQR, 6–27). The overall case fatality rate was 43.1%. Basic reproductive number was 0.9. Being Saudi, non-healthcare workers, and age ≥65 years were significantly associated with higher mortality. In conclusion, MERS-CoV infection caused a substantial health burden in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The presence of large number of pilgrims during Hajj in Makkah region increases the risk of respiratory diseases. In this study, we aimed to assess the bacteriology of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) during Hajj season and to demonstrate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns that should guide the clinicians towards more appropriate antibiotic use. Methods Patients with ARS presenting during Hajj season of 2014 were prospectively enrolled. According to EPOS2012 criteria. Sampling of sinus secretions was performed from the middle meatus adjacent to the maxillary sinus ostium via endoscopic guidance. Over all, the study has covered all ENT, emergency and outpatient departments in Hajj. Results Two hundred and twenty six patients with ARS were enrolled in the study. Pathogenic bacteria were identified in 93 (41.2%) patients. Of the 93 patients with bacterial ARS, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 46 (49.5%) patients, out of which 13 (28.3%) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).The second most common group of bacterial isolates was Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli , and various Klebsiella species . Antibiotic sensitivity showed that methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was also sensitive to cephalosporins, quinolones and clindamycin, while exhibiting relatively less sensitivity rates to amoxicillin-clavulinic acid and macrolides. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the importance of assessing the bacteriology of ARS to help implement guidelines for proper treatment and prevention protocols during Hajj season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: After its first appearance in Alkhumra district of Jeddah in 1994–1995, and then in Makkah in 2001–2003, the new hemorrhagic fever virus, known as Alkhumra (misnamed as Alkhurma) virus (ALKV), has subsequently been reported from Najran, in the south border of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a descriptive cohort study summarizing the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ALKV infected patients diagnosed in Najran from 1 August 2003 through 31 December 2009. Results: A total of 148 suspected cases were reported, of which 78 (52.7%) cases were laboratory confirmed; 2 cases in 2003, 1 case in 2004, 4 cases in 2005, 1 case in 2007, 12 cases in 2008, and 58 cases in 2009. The cases were reported year round but 64.1% (50/78) of them occurred in the summer time. Twenty-five (32.1%) cases occurred as clusters in 5 families. The virus seemed to be transmitted from livestock animals to humans by direct contact with these animals and likely by mosquito bites. Ticks did not seem to be involved in the transmission of infection from animals to humans. Clinical and laboratory features included fever (100%), headache (85.9%), malaise (85.9%), arthralgia (83.3%), anorexia (82.1%), myalgia (82.1%), backache (71.8%), nausea and vomiting (71.8%), chills (60.3%), retro-orbital pain (55.1%), diarrhea (51.3%), abdominal pain (48.7%), hemorrhagic manifestations (25.6%), central nervous system manifestations (23.1%), leucopenia (87.7%), elevated liver enzymes (85.7%), prolonged partial thromboplastin time (52.6%), thrombocytopenia (46.2%), elevated creatine kinase level (45.7%), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (25.0%). Conclusion: ALKV infection has now been recognized outside its original boundaries in Saudi Arabia which may herald its identification in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the relation between the urban centers of the Maghreb and its rural counterparts during the Middle Ages. It describes the complex communal relationships between the cities and the villages, the commercial exchange of agricultural goods, and the immigration patterns between cities and rural areas. Other subjects under discussion include the division of labor in urban centers compared to villages, the acculturation of ethnic groups during the Islamization of the Maghreb, and the assimilation of rural communities into the urban way of life.

Abstract: Objectives: Four patients with typical acute viral hemorrhagic fever were identified in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, between 8 and 23 February 2001, the Hajj (pilgrimage) period of that year. Tests for Rift Valley fever (RVF), Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and dengue were negative. Blood specimens were sent to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta for viral culture and testing for other hemorrhagic fever viruses. A new flavivirus closely related to the tick-borne Kyasanur forest disease virus was isolated. This new flavivirus was originally isolated in 1995 from 6 patients with dengue-like hemorrhagic fever from Alkhumra district, south of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A case definition was formulated for surveillance of this new disease in Saudi Arabia. Blood specimens were collected from all patients with suspect ‘Alkhumra’ virus (ALKV) infection and tested for ALKV, RVF, CCHF, dengue, and West Nile encephalitis. Patients data were prospectively collected on standardized data collection forms. Results: From 8 February 2001 through 9 February 2003, a total of 37 cases were identified in Makkah, 20 of them were laboratory confirmed. Acute febrile flu-like illness with hepatitis (100%), hemorrhagic manifestations (55%), and encephalitis (20%) were the main clinical features. The case fatality was 25%. The disease seemed to be transmitted from sheep or goat to humans by the mosquito bites or direct contact with these animals. Conclusions: ALKV infection is a novel serious zoonotic hemorrhagic fever virus discovered in Saudi Arabia. The role of arthropods such as ticks and mosquitoes, and animals such as sheep, goat, and rodents in the transmission and maintenance of the virus remains to be elucidated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Effective treatment for Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is under intensive research. Nigella sativa oil (NSO) is a herbal medicine with antiviral and immunomodulatory activities, and has been recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NSO treatment in patients with COVID-19.Methods: All adult patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms presented to King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were recruited for an open label randomized clinical trial (RCT). They were randomly divided into control or treatment groups, with the latter receiving 500 mg NSO (MARNYS® Cuminmar) twice daily for 10 days. Symptoms were daily monitored via telecommunication. The primary outcome focused on the percentage of patients who recovered (symptom-free for 3 days) within 14-days. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04401202).Results: A total of 173 patients were enrolled for RCT. The average age was 36(±11) years, and 53 % of patients were males. The control and NSO groups included 87 and 86 patients respectively. The percentage of recovered patients in NSO group (54[62 %]) was significantly higher than that in the control group (31[36 %]; p = 0.001). The mean duration to recovery was also shorter for patients receiving NSO (10.7 ± 3.2 days) compared with the control group (12.3 ± 2.8 days); p = 0.001.Conclusions: NSO supplementation was associated with faster recovery of symptoms than usual care alone for patients with mild COVID-19 infection. These potential therapeutic benefits require further exploration with placebo-controlled, double-blinded studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the survival of a pandemic strain of influenza A H1N1 on a variety of common household surfaces where multiple samples were taken from 4 types of common household fomite at 7 time points. Results showed that influenza A H1N1sw virus particles remained infectious for 48 hours on a wooden surface, for 24 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, and for 8 hours on a cloth surface, although virus recovery from the cloth may have been suboptimal. Our results suggest that pandemic influenza A H1N1 can survive on common household fomites for extended periods of time, and that good hand hygiene and regular disinfection of commonly touched surfaces should be practiced during the influenza season to help reduce transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]