Low Rate of Bacterial Coinfections and Antibiotic Overprescribing During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study from Oman.

Objectives: The recommended treatment for COVID-19 includes antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, immunomodulatory drugs, low molecular weight heparin, as well as antibiotics. Although COVID-19 is a viral disease, many studies indicate that antibiotics are prescribed frequently, mainly to treat suspected bacterial coinfection. At the same time, the prevalence of bacterial coinfections during COVID-19 is rather low indicating the significant antibiotic overuse in these patients.

Comparison of Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation With High-Flow Nasal Cannula, Face-Mask, and Helmet in Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: For COVID-19-related respiratory failure, noninvasive respiratory assistance via a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), helmet, and face-mask noninvasive ventilation is used. However, which of these options is most effective is yet to be determined. This study aimed to compare the three techniques of noninvasive respiratory support and to determine the superior technique.

COVID-19 in a Cystic Fibrosis Patient.

Based on experience with other viral respiratory illnesses, patients with cystic fibrosis were believed to have worse prognosis when infected with COVID-19. We report a case of a 14-year-old female with cystic fibrosis who developed COVID-19 with short-term evolution and made a good recovery with no known major long-term sequelae.

A Rare Case of a Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm With Lateral Wall Rupture.

In this report, we present a case of a 51-year-old male patient with a left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm and a ruptured lateral wall due to a previous myocardial infarction. This patient was referred to the Coronary Care Unit with a past history of acute coronary syndrome of two months. He presented with palpitations and acute pulmonary edema upon admission.

Letters to Editor.

Huntington and Pennington's recent article1 on a case of Fatal Methaeglobinaemia Due To Intentional Sodium Nitrate Poisoning was very interesting, is a useful overview of initial diagnosis and management, and has helped remind the readers of this potentially life-threatening condition.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: An Open Label Trial.

Objectives: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic continues to spread globally without an effective treatment. In search of the cure, convalescent plasma (CP) containing protective antibodies from survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has shown potential benefit in a non-intensive care unit setting. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of CP therapy for patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation (MV) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Healthcare Workers Exposed During Use of Non-invasive Ventilation in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs), especially those working on the front line, are considered to be at high risk of nosocomial acquisition of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about the effectiveness of the recommended protective methods as few reports have described spread of the disease in hospital settings among this high-risk population. We describe the hospital-based transmission of SARS-CoV-2 related to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in one of the main tertiary care hospitals in Oman.

Randomized controlled open label trial on the use of favipiravir combined with inhaled interferon beta-1b in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of favipiravir combined with inhaled interferon beta-1b in adult patients hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: A randomized, open-label controlled trial of oral favipiravir in adults hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia from June 22nd 2020 to August 13th 2020 was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a combination of favipiravir with interferon beta-1b by inhalation aerosol or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: A Case Report.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease caused by a mutation in the SLC34A2 gene encoding the type IIb sodium phosphate cotransporter in alveolar type II cells. This results in the formation and accumulation of calcium phosphates crystals in the alveoli. Early in the disease, most patients are asymptomatic or might experience mild symptoms.

Latent Tuberculosis in Health Care Workers Exposed to Active Tuberculosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: Data on the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in healthcare workers (HCW) in Oman and the Arabian Gulf is scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis (LTB) among HCW exposed to active TB in one of the tertiary care hospitals in Muscat.

Methods: Exposed HCW were screened for LTB from January to June 2012 using skin tuberculin and serum interferon tests.

Continuing aspirin causes higher drainage even under full protection with antifibrinolytics.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of continuation of aspirin on bleeding complications following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery operated by a single surgeon.

Methods: A total of 109 patients underwent isolated, primary, on-pump surgery performed over a 17-month period. These patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 51) received aspirin (81 mg daily) to within 7 days of surgery and group 2 (n = 58) in which aspirin was discontinued > 7 days before surgery.

Acquired methemoglobinaemia.

Acquired methemoglobinaemia is a relatively rare condition and, therefore infrequently encountered in acute medical practice. Suspicion of the condition may be triggered when the measured PaO2 is 'out of keeping' with the oxygen saturations that are discovered with pulse oximetry. We describe two separate cases of acquired methemoglobinaemia secondary to the recreational use of alkyl nitrites ('poppers').

Epidemiology and outcome of snake bite cases evaluated at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: To study the epidemiology of snake bite patients evaluated at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, and to study their clinical course and outcome.

Methods: A retrospective study of 65 adult patients presenting at Royal Hospital following a snake bite from May 2006 to August 2008.

Results: The main symptoms were local pain at the bite site (26 patients, 40%) and swelling (17 patients, 26%).

Pregnancy and mechanical heart valves replacement; dilemma of anticoagulation.

Objectives: To establish a uniform anticoagulation regimen for pregnant patients with mechanical heart valves taking into account the socio-economic background and to evaluate the incidence of anticoagulant related complications.

Methods: A retrospective study on 63 pregnancies in 21 women with mechanical heart valves was evaluated. These pregnancies were divided into two groups: Group I (n=42) received oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy and Group II (n=21) received subcutaneous heparin in the 1st trimester and oral anticoagulants for the rest of pregnancy period.