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Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli presents a global challenge associated with nosocomial infections and increased mortality rates. Understanding resistance profiles is crucial for guiding treatment strategies and ensuring effective antibiotic use. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and in vitro resistance of E. coli to community-acquired and nosocomial infections. Various clinical samples from 700 patients were cultured on MacConkey's medium and blood agar. The disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the E. coli isolates following the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Urine, pus, seminal fluid, vaginal swabs, and other body fluids were among the clinical samples analyzed. Of the 112 E. coli isolates, 48.2% were from inpatients and 51.8% were from outpatients, with the majority (66%) isolated from urine samples. Higher resistance levels were observed in the urinary isolates than that in the previously recorded data from the same institutions. Notably, isolates exhibited high resistance to penicillin (98.2%), ampicillin (97.3%), first-generation cephalosporins (90.2%), erythromycin (72.2%), and roxithromycin (95.4%), whereas lower resistance was noted against piperacillin-tazobactam (25.0%), nitrofurantoin (12.5%), and imipenem (9.8%). The overall multidrug resistance rate was 62.5%, with higher rates observed in nosocomial infections (70%) compared to community-acquired isolates (55.6%). However, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). This study underscores the prevalence of E. coli isolates (27.0%) and highlights the concerning level of resistance, particularly to older antibiotics. These findings emphasize the importance of judicious antibiotic use and ongoing surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apart from the wasted resource, canceled tests cause delay of test results thus affecting patient care. The study aimed to identify the reasons for the test cancellation of samples received in a blood bank laboratory and determine the improvement target. Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed the canceled tests in a blood bank laboratory of a hospital in Hail, Saudi Arabia, from January 2017 to December 2020. Records of the canceled test taken from the quality assurance database were utilized to identify the various reasons. Results: A total of 2,017 (2.7%) test cancellations were recorded in the 4-year study period with increasing rates noted. The two primary reasons were specimen quality issues (61.9%) and problems related to test orders (33.9%). The main reason for test cancellation was clotted specimen (48.5%) followed by incorrect test order (15.6%) and duplicate test order (13.9%). Statistically, a significant difference exists between the annual rates and reasons of cancellation, X² (6, n = 2,017) = 83.24, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Test cancellations due to various reasons remain a significant challenge for clinical laboratories. Detailed analyses on these major reasons can aid in displaying an effective approach to decrease the cancellation rates. Harmonization among inter-professional health workers concerning specimen collection and handling, and involving clinical laboratory personnel could minimize laboratory errors and avoid test cancellations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transfusion-dependent patients in Saudi Arabia are numerous because of the existence of life-threatening inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Thus, analysis of the frequencies of the ABO and rhesus (Rh) phenotypes is vital. This study sought to evaluate the frequencies of the ABO and Rh phenotypes among male blood donors in Hail region. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six (126) blood samples were collected from male donors living in Hail region and were screened for ABO and Rh phenotypes. The collected data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism (version 9.3.1). Results: Among 126 blood donors, 43.6% were classified into the O blood group. Additionally, Rh antigen e was predominantly detected in this study (99.2%). A total of 103 blood donors exhibited D antigen, whereas 23 were negative for D antigen. The DCe/dce (R1r) phenotype was observed in 29.1% of RhD positive donors, while 73.9% of RhD negative blood donors expressed the dce/dce (rr) phenotype. Conclusions: The O phenotype and e antigen were most frequently observed in male blood donors from Hail province. RhD positive samples took advantage of total blood donor samples over RhD negative samples. CcDee (R1r) phenotype was commonly identified in the RhD positive population, whereas ccddee (rr) phenotype was consistently detected in the RhD negative male donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are regarded as one of the main public health problems and socio-economic issues adversely affecting the health of millions of people worldwide. Our study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitude, and practices of local urban schoolchildren in Taiz City towards intestinal parasitic infections. Methods and material: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Taiz, Yemen from March to May 2019. A total of 385 schoolchildren were selected using a random sampling technique from 7 primary schools. Wetmount microscopic examination, formol-ether concentration techniques, and Lugols' iodine were employed in parasite detection and cyst identification. Results: Of the 385 schoolchildren examined for IPIs, 107 (27.8%) were positive for the presence of enteric parasites, some having multiple infections. The prevalence was slightly higher in males 46 (28.6%) than in females 61 (27.2%) but have no statistical difference (P = 0.77). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was the most common infection with 16.4% of cases. A substantial percentage (40.5%) of the respondents displayed poor knowledge. The respondents also revealed inappropriate attitudes and practices that contribute to the prevalence of IPIs in the study. Conclusions: The study revealed the prevalence of intestinal parasites among the schoolchildren in Taiz, Yemen, suggesting that IPIs remain a major public health problem. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was the most prevalent intestinal parasites identified among the schoolchildren. Age, poor knowledge of the mode of transmission, prevention, and acquisition of IPIs, and poor habitual hygiene practices increase the risk of acquiring intestinal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological stress is a familiar occurrence as it is linked with a sense of lack of control when up fronted with uncertainty. The study examines the mindful self-care practices of health educators and professionals in various domains and determines their relationship to the self-perceived level of mental well-being., Materials and Methods: The study employs the quantitative descriptive approach. It was conducted in the Hail region in the academic year 2020-2021 and was participated by 91 respondents from various colleges. Self-care practices and mental well-being of health educators and professionals were determined using the Mindful Self-Care Scale and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Pearson correlation (2-tailed) was performed to assess the significant relationship between self-care behavior and mental well-being. Post-hoc test for correlation was conducted between the mean rating for each variable for self-care behavior and the mean rating for mental well-being. This was tested at an appropriate probability value of 0.01 and 0.05., Results: The overall mean for self-care behaviors of the respondents was 3.96 (SD 0.81) while the overall mental well-being score was 51.90 (SD 8.0). This was considered as average mental well-being, not indicative of possible/clinical depression. A significant relationship exists between the overall rating for self-care behavior and the overall rating for mental well-being (r = 0.661, P value < 0.001). Furthermore, with a correlation score of 0.661, the two variables have a moderately strong and significant positive relationship., Conclusions: The study affirmed the relationship between mindful self-care behaviors and mental well-being. Engaging in self-care practices regularly and frequently can develop one's well-being., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Background: Appendectomy remains the most common emergency surgery. With the lack of literature from Saudi Arabia regarding the treatment for appendix disorders, this study aimed to identify the common motives for appendectomy in Northern Saudi Arabia., Methodology: Data referring to be resected appendix patients who were diagnosed during the period from January 2018 to December 2018 were included in the present study. The diagnosis of the resected appendix was confirmed by conventional histopathology., Results: The most common cause for the appendectomy was acute appendicitis followed by gangrenous perforated appendicitis, chronic appendicitis, and lymphoid hyperplasia, representing 85/129(66%), 33/129(26%), 8/129(6%), and 3/129(2%), in this order., Conclusion: Appendectomy is a common procedure for the treatment of a large section of patients with appendicitis and appendicitis like clinical features. Acute appendicitis was the most motive for appendectomy followed by gangrenous perforated appendicitis in Northern Saudi Arabia., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: All authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2020 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.)

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the effect of some socioeconomic factors and lifestyle habits on the prevalence of obesity among adolescent male students in the Hail region, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was filled by 1495 male adolescents distributed among 12 schools in the Hail region. Body weight and height were taken, and the Z -score of students was measured using Anthroplus software with a cutoff 1-2 and +2 standard deviations to determine overweight and obesity, respectively. The study revealed that 21.3% of students were overweight and 27% were obese, respectively. There was a negative association between family size of >8 and obesity (OR: 0.68, CI: 0.48-0.92, p = 0.05). Family income of <5000 SR was negatively associated with obesity (OR: 0.59, CI: 0.36-0.97, p = 0.03). Whether a subject's mother worked (odds ratio (OR): 1.43, confidence interval CI: 1.03-1.99, p = 0.03) as well as the subject's mother's education-whether she can read and write, has a middle school degree, or has done postsecondary studies-were positively associated with obesity. Exercise, regardless of the duration, was negatively associated with obesity. In addition, sleeping <6 h/day had a positive association with obesity., Conclusion: a >8 family size and a low family income were negatively associated with obesity, while having an educated and working mother was positively associated with obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.