Use of Smartphone-Based Video Directly Observed Therapy to Increase Tuberculosis Medication Adherence: An Interventional Study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment through Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) has an alternative form of video surveillance therapy (VOT) that utilizes the technological capabilities of smartphones to provide patients with low-cost access to doctors without impacting their work and personal life. We aimed to assess TB patients' drug compliance, perceptions, and feasibility towards smartphone-based video direct observed therapy (VDOT) in Jeddah, KSA.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective non-randomized interventional study.

T Cells Immunophenotyping and CD38 Overexpression as Hallmarks of the Severity of COVID-19 and Predictors of Patients' Outcomes.

Background: By the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic spread all around the world with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from mild to moderate to severe or critical cases. T cell subtype dysregulation is mostly involved in the immunopathogenic mechanism. The present study aimed to highlight the role of monitoring T cell subtypes and their activation (expression of CD38) in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects and their role in predicting severity and patients' outcomes.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Re-Detected on PCR Test after Discharge from Isolation.

There have been multiple reports of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after discharge; however, information on the characteristics of such cases is limited. In this case report, we aimed to identify clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who had a repeat positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed data of 22 COVID-19 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing after two consecutive negative PCR results following discharge from hospitals.

High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among high-density communities in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection had been investigated utilizing serology.

Materials And Methods: This community-based sero-survey was carried out in the neighborhoods of three cities in Saudi Arabia.

Results: Of 5629 participants, 2766 (49.

High non-compliance rate with anti-tuberculosis treatment: a need to shift facility-based directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) to community mobile outreach team supervision in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health problem in many developing countries including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Patient compliance with anti-tuberculosis treatment is a determining factor in controlling the spread of TB. This study compares the default rate and the perception of their treatment among TB patients being treated by means of a community mobile outreach approach, with those of patients being treated by means of a facility-based Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) in the Jeddah region of Saudi Arabia.

Health care workers' awareness and infection control practices about Ebola virus disease in Hajj 2015.

Background: Saudi Arabia being a major pilgrimage center with an annual turnover of millions of pilgrims from all over the world has a high risk for transmission of infections; Ebola virus disease (EVD) being one of them. Health care workers (HCWs) are particularly vulnerable to these infections. The objectives of this research were to assess the overall knowledge and infection control practices of HCWs about EVD, and to evaluate and compare the role of pre deployment Hajj training of HCWs assigned Hajj duties with those HCWs who did not receive this training.

Hepatitis C virus infection in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia: Seroprevalence and knowledge.

The infection rate of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Saudi Arabia is among the lowest in the world. However, it is likely that poor knowledge and awareness of HCV infection could minimize the effectiveness of prevention and control programs in the kingdom. Thus, the study objective was to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection, and to assess current knowledge about it, in the targeted population.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Healthcare Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS Coronavirus and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has experienced a prolonged outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus since 2012. Healthcare workers (HCWs) form a significant risk group for infection. The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, infection control practices and educational needs of HCWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS coronavirus and other emerging infectious diseases.

Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis B in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia: a population-based seroprevalence study.

Introduction: Despite solid preventive strategies to reduce the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, recent reports about its prevalence and predictors are lacking in several Saudi cities at the community level. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HBV and to identify the most important predictors among the Saudi population in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,584 Saudi people attending primary health-care centers in Jeddah city during 2012/2013.

The epidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2012-2015.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the epidemiology of cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2012 when the first MERS-CoV was confirmed up to July 2015.

Methods: MERS-CoV data were obtained from the Saudi Ministry of Health for the period 2012 to July 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results regarding the risk factors and mortality of MERS-CoV infection.

Human infection with MERS coronavirus after exposure to infected camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013.

We investigated a case of human infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after exposure to infected camels. Analysis of the whole human-derived virus and 15% of the camel-derived virus sequence yielded nucleotide polymorphism signatures suggestive of cross-species transmission. Camels may act as a direct source of human MERS-CoV infection.