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Background: Noise pollution is a serious issue that faces healthcare centers. It is associated with detrimental effects on both the patient's and the healthcare provider's mental and physical well-being. It could also negatively impact the physician's decision-making. Aim: There are no similar studies conducted in the past 5 years in Saudi Arabia. This is the first study to measure noise levels and deem them pollutants in an emergency care center in Saudi Arabia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital to assess the level of noise pollution. Noise levels were evaluated in the ED by using a calibrated decibel meter device in three selected units including resuscitation, acute care, and pediatrics unit. Noise levels were only measured during weekdays. In each unit, readings were obtained over 24 hours. Results: Over 24 hours, measurements of all assessed units showed that noise levels exceeded WHO guidelines for hospitals, which recommend sound levels below 40 decibels (dB). Among all clinical areas, the pediatric unit exhibited the highest noise spike (97.3 dB), followed by the resuscitation unit (88.5 dB), and the acute care unit (87.3 dB). Conclusion: Noise levels were high in all the assessed units, which places the patient's well-being and recovery at risk. Moreover, high noise levels could contribute to adverse outcomes for the healthcare provider. More studies should focus on assessing the noise levels in other departments and the efficacy of different intervention methods. [SJEMed 2023; 4(2.000): 087-091]

Bayan A Alsaif,1,&ast; Abdulaziz Al Somali,2,&ast; Sumayah H Banaji,1 Askar K Alshaibani3 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 3Ophthalmology, Dhahran Eye Specialist Hospital, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Askar K Alshaibani, Email Asker0908@gmail.comPurpose: To analyze different tomographic and refractive parameters for predicting successful visual outcome following femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy (FSAK) for post-keratoplasty astigmatism.Design: Retrospective.Methods: Retrospective study evaluating patients with astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) who underwent FSAK. Vector analysis using the Alpins method was done to calculate surgically induced astigmatism (SIA). An improvement of 3 lines of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) lines was used for successful outcome. Outcome was measured at 3 months and 17 months.Results: This study included 106 eyes from 104 patients (65 males and 39 females). Mean age was 31.8± 8.6 years, and 89.4% (n=93) of cases were keratoconus (KC), 3.8% (n=4) scar, 3.8% (n=4) granular dystrophy, 1.9% (n=2) post-LASIK ectasia, and 1.0% (n=1) macular dystrophy. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) improved from 1.02± 0.53 logarithm minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) to 0.87± 0.49 logMAR (p=0.01) at 3 months and to 0.92± 1.08 logMAR (p=0.57) at 17 months. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved from 0.41± 0.30 logMAR to 0.31± 0.19 logMAR (p< 0.01) at 3 months and to 0.23± 0.27 logMAR (p< 0.01) at 17 months. Success was achieved in 50% (n=53) and 49% (n=52) at 3 and 17 months follow-up, respectively. Success group showed worse preoperative UCVA (1.21± 0.56 vs 0.83± 0.44 logMAR; p< 0.01), worse preoperative BSCVA (0.50± 0.36 vs 0.33± 0.19 logMAR; p=0.01). Preoperative UCVA had an area under the curve of 0.721 (95% CI: 0.622– 0.820; p< 0.01). The Youden’s optimal cutoff point was 0.90 logMAR (equivalent Snellen 20/159) with 76.9% sensitivity and 35.2% specificity. Flattening index (FI) was 87% in DALK and 73% in PKP (p=0.14). Correction index (CI) was 99% and 86% (p=0.18) for DALK and PKP, respectively. Success of the astigmatic surgery for DALK and PKP was 44% vs 42% (p=0.29), respectively.Conclusion: Improvement of at least three lines was achieved in 49% of patients who underwent FSAK following PKP or DALK; this improvement was achieved in patients who had a worse preoperative UCVA.Keywords: DALK, PKP, femtosecond arcuate keratotomy, astigmatic keratotomy, keratoplasty astigmatism, vector analysis

Heba Yaagoub AlNujaidi,1 Atheer Kalid AlSaif,1 Naof Faiz Saleem ALAnsary,1 Nora A Althumiri,2 Nasser F BinDhim2 1Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Scientific Department, Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Heba Yaagoub AlNujaidi, Email hnujaidi@iau.edu.saBackground: Sexual health is a necessary part of any society because it significantly influences the quality of life. Women’s knowledge regarding STIs and safe sex practices in Saudi Arabia has not been thoroughly investigated; therefore, this study aims to investigate and measure the knowledge and the determinants of sexual health and STIs among women in Saudi Arabia.Methods: This study is a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted through phone interviews in Saudi Arabia in 2021. This study included 1334 female participants aged 18 years or older.Results: The study’s results collectively show that women in Saudi Arabia have limited knowledge of sexual health and STIs. The primary causes are the lack of knowledge of different STIs-communicability, symptoms, and an overall lack of technical proficiency in the subject. The study analyzed factors associated with participants’ knowledge of sexual health and sexually transmitted infections. Significant associations were found between knowledge and age, region, educational level, and family income. In the multivariable analysis, participants aged 20– 29 had higher knowledge compared to those aged > 60. Participants in the Eastern region had higher knowledge than those in the Southern region. Participants with less than a bachelor’s degree had lower knowledge than those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Participants earning an average of 16,000 SAR to 19,999 SAR had higher knowledge than those with unstable monthly income.Conclusion: The study found that women’s understanding of sexual health and STIs in Saudi Arabia is low due to a lack of knowledge and awareness. Knowledge levels were correlated with educational levels; therefore, targeted health promotion initiatives are needed to increase understanding, particularly regarding condom use for HIV and STI prevention.Keywords: women’s health, STI, knowledge, sexual health, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background With the advances in neonatal intensive care, the survival rate of extremely preterm infants is increasing. However, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major cause of morbidity among infants in this group. This study examined the changes in respiratory support modalities, specifically heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC), and their association with BPD incidence among preterm infants born at

Background and Objectives: Asthma is associated with several comorbidities, one of which is obesity. The worldwide increase in obesity has been accompanied by a parallel rise in asthma prevalence, with obesity recognized as a significant risk factor for both the development and severity of asthma. Obesity is often linked to various comorbidities, which can complicate asthma management and lead to poorer clinical outcomes. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities in adults with asthma in a single center in Saudi Arabia, providing an overview of the associated health implications. Materials and Methods: This single-center, retrospective study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity and other comorbidities in asthma patients. Data were collected from King Khalid University Hospital in Saudi Arabia between July 2023 and December 2023. Results: This study revealed that 72.1% of asthma patients were either obese or overweight. Female patients had significantly higher BMI values compared to males. Our study revealed that 38.21% of female asthma patients (mean age = 57 ± 13.85 years) had comorbidities compared to 24.14% of male asthma patients (mean age = 59 ± 14.02 years). Furthermore, the proportion of obese asthmatic patients with comorbidities was significantly greater than those without comorbidities. Conclusions: This study investigates obesity prevalence and associated comorbidities in adult asthmatics in a single center in Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal a 72.1% rate of obesity and overweight among asthmatic patients, with higher BMI and comorbidity prevalence in females. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing obesity and comorbidities, especially in female asthmatics.

The utilization of recycled materials in concrete technology has gained significant attention in recent years, promoting sustainability and resource conservation. This paper investigates the behavior of lightweight self-compacting concrete (LWSCC) with recycled tire steel fibers (RTSFs). The effects of RTSFs on the flowability of the composite material and its density were assessed. The mechanical properties of the developed material were examined and beam tests were performed, aiming to assess its feasibility for structural applications. The compressive and tensile strengths were determined to evaluate the mechanical properties of the developed concrete mixtures. The beam tests were conducted to assess the flexural behavior of the beam specimens. Three different steel fiber contents of 0, 0.5, and 1% volumetric fractions of concrete were used in this study. The test results indicate that incorporating the fibers did not negatively impact the flowability and density of the LWSCC mixtures. In addition, the use of RTSFs enhanced the tensile strength of the developed concrete mixtures, where fibrous concrete showed increases in the splitting tensile strength in the range of 38 to 76% over that of non-fibrous concrete. On the other hand, the compressive strength of the mixtures was not affected. The test beams with RTSFs exhibited improved flexural performance in terms of delaying and controlling cracking, enhancing ultimate load, and increasing ductility. Compared with the control non-fibrous beam, the increases in the cracking load, ultimate load, and ductility index were up to 63.8, 9.3, and 16%, respectively. The test results of the beams were compared with theoretical predictions, and good agreement was found.

A considerable body of research has investigated the effectiveness of extensive reading on incidental vocabulary acquisition in second language (L2) learners. However, we still know very little about the relationship between extensive reading and vocabulary development among Saudi learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) where language classroom is the predominant source of learning, if not the only one. In the present case study, a single participant was instructed to read extensively for eight weeks as an informal activity outside the classroom. The participant's written receptive vocabulary knowledge was measured before and after the treatment. Results indicated that extensive reading contributed largely to the participant's vocabulary gain, suggesting that a vocabulary uptake of about eight words from extensive reading intervention has occurred compared to about two words per contact hour from language classroom input where reading texts are short and scattered throughout the textbook. Finding is interpreted in order to provide some pedagogical recommendations.

This article proposed a new triple-band transmission block metamaterial (MTM) for 5G mm-wave applications. The peak transmission-blocking attributes are achieved at 27.09 GHz, 38.71 GHz, and 41.81 GHz frequency by interconnected square split ring resonators (ISSRR). A thin Rogers RT5880 substrate material of thickness 0.79 mm is employed to design the MTM structure, and the unit cell dimension is 5 × 5 mm2. The designed metamaterial shows a −10 dB transmission coefficient (S21) from 24.60 to 28.47 GHz, 36.50–39.65 GHz and 40.77–44 GHz frequency bands. The design evolution, metamaterial properties, surface current distribution, electric field, magnetic field, and equivalent circuit model are investigated to understand the transmission-blocking property of the MTM. The simulated results of the MTM are validated by measurement of the fabricated prototype, and both results agree well. The transmission-blocking attributes lead the proposed MTM as a potential candidate for different fields like EMI shielding, sensing, and antenna performance enhancement. The dielectric sensor performance of the MTM structure is investigated for different dielectric materials. Besides, MIMO antenna performances are also investigated, and gains of 1–3 dBi, isolations of 5–10 dB, and the radiation pattern deflection angle of 45˚ are enhanced by the proposed MTM. These significant features and applications of the proposed MTM make it a special candidate for 5G mm-wave applications.

Abstract Background Influenza (flu) vaccination rates in UK care home staff are extremely low. Less than 40% of staff in care homes are vaccinated for influenza (flu), presenting risks to the health of frail residents and potential staff absence from cross-infection. Staff often do not perceive a need for vaccination and are unaware they are entitled to free flu vaccination. The FluCare study, a cluster randomised control trial (RCT), uses behavioural interventions to address barriers. Videos, posters, and leaflets are intended to raise awareness of flu vaccination benefits and debunk myths. On-site staff vaccination clinics increase accessibility. Financial incentives to care homes for improved vaccination rates and regular monitoring influence the environment. This paper outlines the planned process evaluation which will describe the intervention’s mechanisms of action, explain any changes in outcomes, identify local adaptations, and inform design of the implementation phase. Methods/design A mixed method process evaluation to inform the interpretation of trial findings. Objectives • Describe the intervention as delivered in terms of dose and fidelity, including adaptations and variations across care homes. • Explore the effects of individual intervention components on primary outcomes. • Investigate the mechanisms of impact. • Describe the perceived effectiveness of relevant intervention components (including videos, leaflets, posters, and flu clinics) from participant perspectives (care home manager, care home staff, flu clinic providers). • Describe the characteristics of care homes and participants to assess reach. A purposive sample of twenty care homes (ten in the intervention arm, ten in the control arm) for inclusion in the process evaluation. Data will include (1) study records including care home site profiles, (2) responses to a mechanism of action questionnaire, and (3) semi-structured interviews with care home staff and clinic providers. Quantitative data will be descriptively reported. Interview data will be thematically analysed and then categories mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion Adopting this systematic and comprehensive process evaluation approach will help ensure data is captured on all aspects of the trial, enabling a full understanding of the intervention implementation and RCT findings. Trial registration ISRCTN ISRCTN22729870. Registered on 24 August 2022.

BackgroundThe unprecedented emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development and global distribution of vaccines, making the understanding of global vaccine acceptance and hesitancy crucial to overcoming barriers to vaccination and achieving widespread immunization. ObjectiveThis umbrella review synthesizes findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide insights into global perceptions on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy across diverse populations and regions. MethodsWe conducted a literature search across major databases to identify systematic reviews and meta-analysis that reported COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. The AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) criteria were used to assess the methodological quality of included systematic reviews. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 17 with a random effect model. The data synthesis is presented in a table format and via a narrative. ResultsOur inclusion criteria were met by 78 meta-analyses published between 2021 and 2023. Our analysis revealed a moderate vaccine acceptance rate of 63% (95% CI 0.60%-0.67%) in the general population, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97.59%). Higher acceptance rates were observed among health care workers and individuals with chronic diseases, at 64% (95% CI 0.57%-0.71%) and 69% (95% CI 0.61%-0.76%), respectively. However, lower acceptance was noted among pregnant women, at 48% (95% CI 0.42%-0.53%), and parents consenting for their children, at 61.29% (95% CI 0.56%-0.67%). The pooled vaccine hesitancy rate was 32% (95% CI 0.25%-0.39%) in the general population. The quality assessment revealed 19 high-quality, 38 moderate-quality, 15 low-quality, and 6 critically low-quality meta-analyses. ConclusionsThis review revealed the presence of vaccine hesitancy globally, emphasizing the necessity for population-specific, culturally sensitive interventions and clear, credible information dissemination to foster vaccine acceptance. The observed disparities accentuate the need for continuous research to understand evolving vaccine perceptions and to address the unique concerns and needs of diverse populations, thereby aiding in the formulation of effective and inclusive vaccination strategies. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42023468363; https://tinyurl.com/2p9kv9cr

The prevalence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, is concerning and highlights the need for novel treatments, despite recent progress in NSCLC treatment. Plant-derived natural compounds, such as those found in Catharanthus roseus, have shown promising results in cancer research. By employing cutting-edge computational analysis techniques, such as molecular docking and network pharmacology, the study aimed to understand the mechanism of action of compounds isolated from C. roseus. The study identified several bioactive and drug-like compounds in C. roseus that displayed diverse interactions with important proteins associated with cancer. The compounds PubChem CIDs 5316490, 425978, and 261578 were found to form significant interactions within the binding site of the B-cell-lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. Compound 5316490, in particular, interacted with critical residues within the target protein, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent against lung cancer. The understanding of the molecular targets and mechanism of action of C. roseus bioactive compounds obtained from this study provides hope for improving current treatment options. In conclusion, the findings provide additional details on the evidence supporting the potential of C. roseus as a treatment for NSCLC and suggest that further research could lead to the development of innovative, potent therapies.

Background: Migraine is often associated with depression and anxiety, leading to a diminished quality of life. Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) antagonists have shown promise in treating migraines, but their effects on concurrent depression and anxiety have not been clarified. Methods: A literature review was conducted on ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Ovid Medline, and EMBASE focusing on phase 3 clinical trials, post-hoc analysis studies, and real-world evidence (RWE) published in the past 5 years. The review primarily utilized patient-reported outcome tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-7, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), to assess anxiety and depression in relation to CGRP-targeted monoclonal antibodies. Results: Out of 260 studies, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Eptinezumab lacked sufficient evidence regarding its impact on depression and anxiety. While sufficient evidence on its effect on comorbid anxiety was not available, fremanezumab was shown to significantly improve comorbid depression in one study while not achieving statistical significance in another. Erenumab and galcanezumab showed significant improvement in comorbid depression, implying possible benefits in patients with migraine. Galcanezumab showed faster relief from depressive symptoms than other injectable CGRP antagonists. Galcanezumab also exhibited improvements in GAD-7 scores for anxiety, although not statistically significant, whereas RWE showed promising HARS scores for both galcanezumab and erenumab. Conclusions: Galcanezumab and erenumab appear to be more effective in improving concurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms in migraine patients than fremanezumab. Notably, these psychometric questionnaires were not the primary outcome measures of the trials and were not specifically designed to investigate the effects of these medications on depression or anxiety. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of CGRP antagonists on mental health disorders associated with migraines. These findings have implications for enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life in individuals with migraines and comorbid psychiatric conditions.

Introduction Appropriate quality and quantity of sleep are critical for good mental health, optimal body functioning, memory consolidation, and other cognitive processes.

Semiconductor core optical fibers are highly desirable for fiber-based photonic and optoelectronic applications as they can combine strong optical nonlinearities, tight light confinement, wide transmission bands, and electronic functionality within a single platform. Perovskites have emerged as particularly exciting materials for semiconductor photonics as they have strong optical nonlinearities and tunable optoelectronic bandgaps. However, lead-based perovskites contain toxic elements and are, therefore, not environmentally friendly. Furthermore, in fiber form, their core-size is prohibitively large, making them unsuitable for nonlinear optics and applications that require single-mode guidance, such as telecommunications. Here, we report a metal-free perovskite core optical fiber where lead has been substituted for an ammonium cation in the perovskite structure. The core material has a wide bandgap greater than 5 eV, a high laser damage threshold, and a core diameter that can be produced as small as 5 µm. At this core size, the fiber supports just six modes, and the fundamental mode can readily be excited and isolated. Moreover, the metal-free perovskite has a second-order susceptibility that is absent in the archetypal lead-based perovskites and many other semiconductor core materials, such as silicon and germanium. The second-order susceptibility is important for many nonlinear optics applications, such as second-harmonic generation and quantum optics.

In this paper, a novel metamaterial sensor with excellent sensitivity and quality factor for microwave sensing applications is presented. The designed metamaterial sensor is assembled on a 1.575 mm thickness of low-cost dielectric substrate material (Rogers RT5880), and the copper is used as a resonator. Computer Simulation Technology version 2019 (CST-2019) software is employed to design and analyze the proposed metamaterial sensor. In addition, the Advanced Design System version 2016 (ADS 2016) software is used to validate the CST simulated model. Subsequently, the simulated results were validated using laboratory measurements. The optimized cell is small; its dimension is 10 × 10 mm2, and the obtained resonances are 3.85 and 6.85 GHz with notches of −26.29 and −40.03 dB, respectively. The textile material is detected by the resonance frequency change, and this frequency is dependent on the material’s permittivity values. To test the developed sensor’s sensing capabilities, three types of textiles—wool, fleece, and denim—are used. The effective medium ratio, sensitivity, and Q-factor of the structure are evaluated, and the obtained values are 8.96, 14.57%, and 345, respectively. The sensor for detecting textile materials works in the S and C bands. The resonances are shifted 530 MHz between the air and wool, 420 MHz between the air and fleece, and 640 MHz between the air and denim. The simulated outcomes and laboratory results almost matched. The projected sensor can be employed in the apparel sector to identify textile materials because it is small, inexpensive, has a high quality factor, and has high sensitivity.

Objective. To compare mortality and major neonatal morbidities between singleton preterm infants and preterm infants of multiple gestations born

The primary focus of this research is to create a precise, yet straightforward drift-flux model tailored for water-gas flow in variously angled pipes. This model is pivotal in estimating the volumetric flow rate of each phase in two-phase pipe flow scenarios. The proposed correlation is developed using twenty-two different (4367 data points) sources with a wide range of input data with different flow patterns. The drift-flux model created in this study underwent validation through the use of experimental data previously documented in the literature. Results indicate this model's stability and practicality, achieving 94.7 % accuracy within a margin of error of ±20 % for the chosen datasets. Furthermore, when compared against several drift-flux models, this newly proposed model consistently outperformed them across a liquid holdup range of 0.01–1. A comparative analysis with the state-of-the-art Unified Model underscores the accuracy of the proposed drift-flux model, highlighting its performance across diverse inclination angles and flow regimes. The proposed model demonstrates excellent predictive accuracy, particularly in vertical flow scenarios. Extending the scope of the study, further research could focus on the application of the developed drift-flux model to other fluid combinations and flow conditions, as well as its integration with mechanistic modeling and computational fluid dynamics simulations to provide more comprehensive insights into the behavior of two-phase flow in pipes with different inclination angles, enhancing the model predictive ability and operational range.

State-of-the art research on conventional microwave substrates reveals limitations of restricted flexibility, poor adaptability to irregular surfaces, and reduced effectiveness in complex sensing environments, leading to the development of a flexible microwave substrate using Co–Ca ferrite for feasible applications in detecting industrial chemicals. In this paper, CoxCa (0.90-x) Ni0.10Fe2O4 (x = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75) based flexible substrate is developed through the sol-gel method, and a rectangular enclosed cross-dumbbells (RECD) metamaterial structure is designed for industrial chemical contamination sensing. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) are used to morphological analysis of the nanoparticles of the substrate. XRD patterns shows the presence of crystalline phases, which facilitate the determination of strain within these materials. FESEM images demonstrate a structural composition characterized by nanosized grains and capillary-nanopores, where these nanosized grains are found uniformly distributed across the film's surface and results structural homogeneity. The synthesized nanoparticles are employed as a solid substrate utilizing PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) to ensure a uniform structure. The dielectric constant of the developed substrate is measured using the DAK 3.5 dielectric measurement kit, and it shows dielectric permittivity values ranging from 1.77 to 3.32 with loss tangents ranging from 0.031170 to 0.1929 for x = 25 % to x = 75 %. Metamaterial characteristics of the fabricated RECD structure on Co–Ca ferrite is analysed and μ-negative characteristics is achieved from 4.7 GHz to 6 GHz. Additionally, the reflection coefficient of the RECD metamaterial is also investigated for different bending condition up to an angle of 30ο. The simulated and measured S21 results strongly match each other. The sensing performance is evaluated for three concentrations of methanol and ethanol, demonstrating excellent contamination sensing capabilities with sequential frequency shifting. This study undoubtedly revealed that Co–Ca ferrite-based flexible metamaterial have great potential for high performance industrial chemical contamination sensing applications.

Abstract Recurring Listeria outbreaks in the United States is a growing public healthcare concern. Although no associated reported death, 17 were hospitalized out of the 18 reported illnesses in the recent outbreak in 15 US states. The United States has experienced about 30 Listeria outbreaks in the last decade with 524 Listeriosis cases and 80 deaths. The identified origin were ice cream, leafy greens, mushroom, meat slice, dairy products like cheese, packaged salads, cooked chicken, hard‐boiled egg, pork product, frozen vegetable, raw milk, packaged caramel apple, bean sprout and soya products. Although rare, Listeria may lead to serious illness (invasive listeriosis) or death. Listeriosis is critically harmful and medically complicated, especially in the pregnant, the old above 65 years and in the immunocompromised. It could cause premature birth, miscarriage or even neonatal death. Hospitalization is often necessary in the geriatric, being fatal at times. Among Listeria sp., Listeria monocytogenes is often human infection‐associated. It is a gram‐positive, non‐sporulating, motile bacillus opportunistic pathogen. Food‐borne listeriosis is often associated with frozen foods due to its ability to thrive at low temperatures. Hypervirulent strains of L. monocytogenes with an ability to infect the respiratory system (the lungs) was recently reported in the coronavirus disease‐19 patients during the pandemic. L. monocytogenes seemed to have developed antimicrobial resistance to ciprofloxacin and meropenem, possibly acquired through the food chain. An early onset of listeriosis in the newborn is evident in the first 7 days postparturition. As the bacteria colonize the genitourinary tract, majority of such cases result from teratogenic transfer during vaginal delivery. Premature newborns, neonates born outside healthcare facilities and low‐birth‐weight babies were increasingly predisposed to an early onset of listeriosis. Listeria outbreaks were earlier reported in South Africa, Australia and Europe, with an unclear origin of the outbreaks. Social media updates about such outbreaks, the most likely food source, and measures to self‐protect are suggested as preventive measures. The article deals on various such aspects related to listeriosis primarily originating from food, to ensure better public healthcare and human wellness.

Background: There has been a growing demand for clinical pharmacy services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the past 3 decades. The Ministry of Education has established agreements with several institutions in the United States to secure clinical pharmacy residency and research fellowship programs opportunities for Saudi scholars. The aims of this study were to describe the Saudi scholars’ clinical pharmacy training pathways and their contribution to the pharmacy profession in KSA. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study conducted on clinical pharmacy faculty in governmental Saudi universities who graduated from the US until 2023. The study outcomes included the post-graduate year-1 (PGY-1) residency match rate, post-graduate year-2 (PGY-2) acceptance rate, the PGY-2 specialties of Saudi scholars, and the number of clinical pharmacy programs established in KSA. Results: In total, 115 Saudi scholars have pursued clinical pharmacy pathway in the US. The PGY-1 residency match rate was 80 % (92/115). In contrast, the PGY-2 acceptance rate was 60.9 % (70/115). The most common PGY-2 specialty was in infectious diseases (N = 17; 24 %). Two pharmacy colleges had established residency programs and 1 pharmacy college had established a research fellowship. Conclusion: The Ministry of Education's efforts for clinical pharmacy program agreements were fundamental for advancing clinical pharmacy in Saudi universities. A significant number of Saudi scholars returned to KSA with clinical pharmacy degrees. There are more opportunities for further development, including expanding the clinical pharmacy program collaboration in the US and increasing the number of residency and research fellowship positions in KSA.