Epidemiological patterns of cervical human papillomavirus infection among women presenting for cervical cancer screening in North-Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Sub-Saharan countries including Nigeria have the highest burden of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the world. Most studies on HPV surveillance in Nigeria were done in the southern part of the country. Geographical and socio-cultural diversity of Nigeria makes these data unlikely to be universally representative for the entire country.

Ecthyma gangrenosum in Saudi Arabia.

We report a diagnosis of ecthyma gangrenosum EG in 4 females of mean age 54.8 range 43-64 years, within 10 months. Severe drug reaction treated with high dose systemic corticosteroids in patient one, acute myelocytic leukemia treated with high dose dexamethasone, and multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics in patient 2 preceded the onset of EG.

BK virus infection in a renal transplant Saudi child.

BK human polyomavirus BKV causes an asymptomatic primary infection in children, but later, establishes latency mainly in the urinary tract. Virus-host interactions influencing persistence and pathogenicity are not well-understood. We present here a 12-year-old Saudi boy, who had renal transplant in Egypt.

Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among Hajj pilgrims.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among a cohort of pilgrims during 2004 Hajj season.

Methods: Pilgrims attending the 2004 Hajj season were recruited and screened for carriage of MRSA. Standard microbiological techniques were used to screen for the presence of MRSA.

International travel and sexually transmitted diseases.

Despite concerted efforts to control sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) worldwide, they still remain a major public health problem. Out of the 25 organisms known to be transmitted sexually, travelers are at greater risk of acquiring HIV and other STDs in developing countries in view of the high prevalence rates in these countries, particularly after sexual exposure to local commercial sex workers (CSWs). Some of the STDs acquired during international travel are more likely to be resistant to standard antimicrobial regimens for the STDs.

Enterococcus avium. An unusual cause of cerebral abscess.

Enterococci are responsible for an increasing number of human infections. They are normally part of the flora of the human gastrointestinal tract, buccal cavity, perineal skin, vagina, urethra and gallbladder, but may occur as pathogens in several sites causing urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, fatal bacteremia, meningitis and endocarditis. Enterococcus avium is a rare cause of infection in humans.

Evaluation of 2 real-time PCR assays for the investigation of mecA gene in clinical isolates of MRSA in Western Saudi Arabia.

Objective: In diagnostic microbiology laboratories, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is identified by positive coagulase test and positive deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity followed by demonstration of oxacillin resistance on susceptibility testing on agar plate. This usually takes an approximately 48-72 hours. The purpose of this study is to evaluate 2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the presence of mecA gene in a population of MRSA strains circulating in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia, in order to determine their usefulness in the speedy diagnosis of MRSA in our clinical setting and their contribution to optimal patient management.

Abdominal tuberculosis. On-going challenge to gastroenterologists.

Objective: The aim of this study is to record the observations and experience on the diagnosis and management of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to highlight the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of this condition.

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients attending the Gastroenterology Department of the King Khalid National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between May 1991 and May 2001, suspected with abdominal TB were investigated. A detailed clinical history and physical examination were obtained.

Comparison of helicobacter pylori stool antigen test with CLO test in the diagnosis of helicobacter pylori associated dyspepsia in a Saudi population.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic usefulness of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) stool antigen test (HpSA) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test in Saudi patients with H.pylori associated dyspepsia.

Neisseria meningitidis W-135 carriage during the Hajj season 2003.

During the 2003 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, 344 pilgrims of 29 different nationalities were screened by means of a throat swab to detect Neisseria meningitidis carriage. N. meningitidis was isolated from 11 subjects; 2 were serogroup W-135, 1 serogroup B, and 8 were non-groupable.

MRSA prevalence in a teaching hospital in Western Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in our institution.

Methods: A 5-day period prevalence study of all adult and pediatric patients. Excluded areas were the adult intensive care unit (screened on admission and weekly thereafter), the outpatient hemodialysis population (screened monthly), and newborns.

Candidemia and the susceptibility pattern of Candida isolates in blood.

Objective: Candida species has become one of the most common blood isolates as well as one of the leading causes of nosocomial bloodstream infections. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of Candida species among our bloodstream infecting organisms and the susceptibility pattern of the Candida isolates to antifungal agents.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the Division of Microbiology, King Khalid National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of all positive blood cultures for Candida species.

Sexually transmitted diseases and travel.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections and resulting clinical syndromes caused by more than 25 infectious organisms transmitted through sexual activity. International travellers are at great risk of contracting any of these STDs, including HIV, if they have been sexually exposed to persons with any of these diseases. Population movement has been shown to be a major contributing factor in the global spread of STDs.

Meningococcal carriage among local inhabitants during the pilgrimage 2000-2001.

The first international outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 occurred in 2000, in direct association with the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. In anticipation of the following Hajj, we conducted a survey of oropharyngeal carriage rates of N. meningitidis both pre- and post-pilgrimage in the King Khalid National Guard Hospital (KKNGH) employees preparing to attend the Hajj.

Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis.

The increasing usage of cephalosporins, to which the enterococci are resistant, has resulted in the rising number of enterococcal infections worldwide. Enterococci are a normal part of the flora of the human gastrointestinal tract, buccal cavity, perineal skin, vagina, urethra and gallbladder, but may occur as pathogens in a number of sites causing urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, fatal bacteremia, meningitis and endocarditis. A Saudi male who developed enterococcal endocarditis with vegetations on both aortic and mitral valves required mitral and aortic valve replacement.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Saudi Arabia.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes have been associated with specific geographical areas and in many cases with specific mode of transmission. In developed countries, genotype determination has formed a part of the management of patients with hepatitis C virus seropositivity and liver diseases due to hepatitis C virus. The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus has been shown to be changing rapidly in many countries due to population movement and different life-styles; hence the distribution of the genotypes is being monitored closely in many countries.

Mumps virus encephalitis can mimic herpes simplex encephalitis.

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