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Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), first identified in 2012, has emerged as a cause of severe acute respiratory illness in humans. As of May 1, 2016, a total of [...]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first reported in September 2012 in a patient in Saudi Arabia (1,2). MERS-CoV is known to cause a severe acute febrile respiratory illness [...]

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (CoV) is a new group C betacoronavirus first reported in a man hospitalized in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in June 2012 (1). In retrospect, MERS-CoV [...]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) is a newly recognized respiratory pathogen first identified in a patient from Saudi Arabia in June 2012 (1). MERS-CoV causes acute respiratory disease that [...]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first reported in September 2012 in a patient from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) who had pneumonia (1). From September 20, 2012 [...]

Background: Approximately 2 to 3 million pilgrims perform Hajj every year. We describe the pattern of diseases, complications, and outcome of pilgrims who required admission to intensive care units (ICUs) during the Hajj period of the Islamic year 1424 (2004). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of all patients admitted to 104 ICU beds in four hospitals in Mena and three hospitals in Arafat during the Hajj. Results: Of 140 patients admitted to ICUs, 75 (54%) patients were older than 60 years. The risk of complications and death increased with age, with the highest risk noticed among pilgrims older than 80 years. Ninety- four (67.6%) patients were men. Eighty-nine (63.6%) patients were admitted with cardiovascular diseases and 37 (26.4%) patients with infections. Myocardial infarction (25%) and pneumonia (22%) were the most common admitting diagnoses. Trauma accounted for only 6.4% (9 patients) of admissions. Sixty-three (45.0%) patients recovered and were discharged or transferred to hospital wards in stable condition, 40 (28.6%) were transferred to tertiary care centers for specialized services, 21 (15.0%) were transferred to tertiary care centers after closure of the temporary hospitals in Mena and Arafat, 15 (10.7%) patients died, and one (0.7%) patient was discharged against medical advice. Conclusion: This study revealed information on the pattern of diseases and the most common causes of admission of pilgrims to ICUs and the required medical services during Hajj. It is hoped that this information will be of help to health care planners and officials to provide optimal and cost effective health care services to pilgrims in Hajj.

Background: Approximately 2 to 3 million pilgrims perform Hajj every year. Planning for health care requires knowledge of the pattern of dis-eases, complications, and outcome of pilgrims who require hospitaliza-tion during the Hajj period. Methods: In a cross-sectional study we compiled data on all patients admitted to 1487 beds in four hospitals in Mena (793 beds) and three hos-pitals in Arafat (694 beds) from the seventh to the thirteenth day of the Hajj season of the Islamic year 1423, corresponding to 8 to 14 February 2003. Results: Of 808 patients hospitalized, most (79%) were older than 40 years. There was no sex preponderance. A total of 575 (71.2%) patients were admitted to medical wards, 105 (13.0%) to surgical wards, and 76 (9.4%) to intensive care units. Most patients (84.8%) had one acute medical problem. Pneumonia (19.7%), ischemic heart disease (12.3%), and trauma (9.4%) were the most common admitting diagnoses. More than one third (39%) had co-morbid conditions. A total of 644 (79.7%) pa-tients were discharged from the hospital in stable condition to continue therapy in their residential camps, 140 (17.3%) were transferred to other hospitals in Makkah for specialized services or further care, 19 (2.3%) were discharged against medical advice, and 5 (0.7%) patients died. Conclusion: This study provided information on the most common causes of hospitalization, pattern of diseases, and required medical ser-vices for pilgrims in Hajj. It is hoped that this data will be of help to health sector planners and officials to provide optimal and cost-effective health care services to pilgrims in Hajj.

Urogenital tuberculosis (UGTB) is almost 8%–15% of the extrapulmonary site of TB of all kinds, and epididymal involvement is rarer, counted only 28% of UGTB. Isolated tuberculous epididymitis (ITE), without the inclusion of prostate or clinical evidence of renal involvement, is an even more rare entity and is challenging to diagnose. However, isolated epididymis TB presented as a huge scrotal abscess with scrotal sack involvement is exceptionally uncommon. The symptoms of such ITE resemble the epididymo-orchitis or malignant tumor, which results in misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis. A 32-year-young man, sexually inactive, was presented with a rapid, painless scrotal growing. There was no clinical evidence for TB. Clinical examination of the genitalia revealed an enlarged right tactical with intratesticular masses (abuses) and swollen spermatic cord along with inflamed epididymitis. The radiological and laboratory shows no evidence of TB with clear chest X-rays, normal blood, and urine analysis. There were no symptoms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the microdot enzyme immunoassay analysis. A repeated magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonic investigations were performed that revealed findings suggesting a chronic inflammatory process with severe abscess involving the spasmatic cord and scrotal sack, which mislead the diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis. Later, the extensive formation of superficial abscess breaches the scrotal sack. A pathological investigation of excretion and intrascrotal tissues established the diagnosis of ITE. The patient was kept on anti TB treatment medications for 12 months due to delay in diagnosis (12 weeks), continuous discharge, and severe involvement of epididymitis along with a scrotal sack and spermatic cord and had a remarkable recovery. The delayed diagnosis of ITE could lead the severe complication, which could result in surgical intervention or an orchiectomy. The first line of treatment should be the pharmacological approach for cases of epididymis TB, and surgery should be the 2nd option. A surgical procedure should be considered only in cases where the diagnosis is not established or when there is a strong clinical indication such as abscesses, cutaneous fistulas, or extensive involvement of the epididymis and testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to assess the compliance of health care workers (HCWs) employed in Hajj in receiving the meningococcal, influenza, and hepatitis B vaccines. Methods A cross-sectional survey of doctors and nurses working in all Mena and Arafat hospitals and primary health care centers who attended Hajj-medicine training programs immediately before the beginning of Hajj of the lunar Islamic year 1423 (2003) using self-administered structured questionnaire which included demographic data and data on vaccination history. Results A total of 392 HCWs were studied including 215 (54.8%) nurses and 177 (45.2%) doctors. One hundred and sixty four (41.8%) HCWs were from Makkah and the rest were recruited from other regions in Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and twenty three (82.4%) HCWs received the quadrivalent (ACYW135) meningococcal meningitis vaccine with 271 (83.9%) HCWs receiving it at least 2 weeks before coming to Hajj, whereas the remaining 52 (16.1%) HCWs received it within < 2 weeks. Only 23 (5.9%) HCWs received the current year's influenza virus vaccine. Two hundred and sixty (66.3%) of HCWs received the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine series, 19.3% received one or two doses, and 14.3% did not receive any dose. There was no statistically significant difference in compliance with the three vaccines between doctors and nurses. Conclusion The meningococcal and hepatitis B vaccination coverage level among HCWs in Hajj was suboptimal and the influenza vaccination level was notably low. Strategies to improve vaccination coverage among HCWs should be adopted by all health care facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract Background the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of annual review of the infection control practice in all Ministry of Health hospitals in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during the Hajj period of four lunar Islamic years, 1423 to 1426 corresponding to 2003 to 2006. Methods audit of infection control service was conducted annually over a 10-day period in six community hospitals with bed capacities ranging from 140 to 557 beds. Data were collected on standardized checklists on various infection control service items during surprise visits to the medical, pediatric, surgical, and critical care units, and the kitchens. Percentage scores were calculated for audited items. The results of the audit for hospitals were confidentially sent to them within four weeks after the end of Hajj. Results deficiencies observed in the first audit included lack of infection control committees, infection control units, infection control educational activities, and surveillance system and shortage of staff. These deficiencies were resolved in the subsequent audits. The average (range) scores of hospitals in 11 infection control items increased from 43% (20–67%) in the first audit to 78% (61–93%) in the fourth audit. Conclusion regular hospital infection control audits lead to significant improvement of infection control practice. There is a need to build a rigorous infection control audit into hospitals' ongoing monitoring and reporting to the Ministry of Health and to provide these hospitals with feed back on such audits to continuously strengthen the safety standards for patients, visitors, and employees.