Leprosy with subsequent type 2 reaction masquerading as cutaneous tuberculosis: a case report and diagnostic pitfalls in a non-endemic area.

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by complex, remains a significant global health concern despite being curable with multidrug therapy. Delayed diagnosis is common, particularly in non-endemic regions or when presenting with atypical symptoms. This can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention, potential disabilities, and increased transmission.

Diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in the paediatric emergency department using a fluorescence-based RADT: predicted impact on antibiotic prescription.

. Using rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) in clinical practice has shown excellent specificity but often has diminished sensitivity..

Low levels of soluble DPP4 among Saudis may have constituted a risk factor for MERS endemicity.

Most of the cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were reported in Saudi Arabia. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) was identified as the receptor for the virus. The level of soluble DPP4 (sDPP4) was found to be reduced in MERS-CoV infected patients while high levels of sDPP4 were suggested to be protective against MERS-CoV in animal models.

Bacterial and Fungal Coinfection in Critically Ill COVID-19 Cases and Predictive Role of Procalcitonin During the First Wave at an Academic Health Center.

Background: Coinfection at various sites can complicate the clinical course of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients leading to worse prognosis and increased mortality. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of coinfection in critically ill COVID-19 cases, and the predictive role of routinely tested biomarkers on admission for mortality.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of all SARS-CoV-2-infected cases, who were admitted to King Fahad Hospital of the University between March 2020 and December 2020.

Pooled Specimen Testing Using Automated Cartridge-Based System for COVID-19: The Cost on Sensitivity.

Background: Pooled specimen screening for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can improve laboratory testing capacity. This study assessed the impact of pooling and retesting individual swabs on the overall detection rate and reduction in the frequency of retesting.

Methods: One hundred respiratory swabs specimens were tested individually and in pools of three or five samples using the Cepheid's Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test kit.

The diagnostic impact of implementing a molecular-based algorithm to standard mycobacterial screening at a reference laboratory with an intermediate prevalence for non-respiratory samples.

Rapid, reliable results can be given by molecular, direct detection and identification of the (MTB/Mtb) complex from clinical samples. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay is an assay that has been availablefor more than a decade for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to rifampicin. However, there is minimal evidence on its clinical usefulness in paucibacillary, non-respiratory samples.

A seven-year surveillance of bloodstream infection at a university hospital in KSA.

Objectives: Candidemia incidence has increased in the past few years, with high mortality. Previous studies have reported a variable distribution of spp. among different regions.

Biofilm-Formation in Clonally Unrelated Multidrug-Resistant Isolates.

This study analyzed the genotype, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation of strains and assessed the correlation between biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm-related risk factors. A total of 207 non-replicate multi-drug-resistant strains were prospectively isolated. Phenotypic identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were carried out.

Antimicrobial activity of cephalosporin-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations against drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains.

Objectives: We conducted this study to test the susceptibility of to the routinely used drugs and to the two recently available antimicrobial agents, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam.

Methods: We isolated the non-replicate strains of from inpatients between December 2018 and April 2019. The VITEK® MS system was used for phenotypic identification and VITEK 2 for initial antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Molecular Surveillance of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterial strain which demonstrates an elevated wide range multidrug resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics, has been linked to recent major global outbreaks, raising a major clinical concern. Its reduced antibiotic susceptibility is closely related to the acquisition of a potent carbapenemase and/or intrinsic gene "over expression" through insertion sequences. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular mechanisms underlying β-lactam resistance in A.

Non O1 Vibrio cholerae as a cause of bacteremic lower limb cellulitis: A case report.

Introduction: Self-limiting gastroenteritis and wound infections in immunocompetent patients are most of the cases involved with Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae which its microorganism occasionally accountable for intestinal and extra-intestinal infections. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and underlying soft tissue mostly affected by bacteria. Diabetic foot ulcer is the most costly and devastating complication of diabetes mellitus.

Phenotypic and molecular study of pneumococci causing respiratory tract infections. A 3-year prospective cohort.

To study serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance to beta-lactams and macrolides in pneumococci causing respiratory diseases after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a hospital-based and a cross-sectional prospective surveillance study conducted at King Fahad Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Kingdom  of Saudi Arabia, in which respiratory pneumococcal isolates collected between 2012 and 2014 were serotyped by multiplex sequential polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Pneumotest-Latex. Resistance genes to beta-lactams and macrolides were detected by multiplex PCR.

Sensitivity and specificity of subgingival bacteria in predicting preterm birth- a pilot cohort study.

Objective: Preterm birth (PTB) increases the risk of adverse outcomes for new born infants. Subgingival bacteria are implicated in causing PTB. The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of some subgingival gram positive and gram negative bacteria detected by routine lab procedures in predicting PTB.

Dormancy models for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A minireview.

Dormancy models for Mycobacterium tuberculosis play important roles in understanding various aspects of tuberculosis pathogenesis and in the testing of novel therapeutic regimens. By simulating the latent tuberculosis infection, in which the bacteria exist in a non-replicative state, the models demonstrate reduced susceptibility to antimycobacterial agents. This minireview outlines the models available for simulating latent tuberculosis both in vitro and in several animal species.

A case of bacteremia caused by Campylobacter fetus: an unusual presentation in an infant.

Bacteremia due to Campylobacter spp. is rarely reported, and Campylobacter fetus is the species most commonly exhibiting vascular tropism, as occurred in this case report describing the diagnosis of C. fetus bacteremia in an infant presenting with respiratory tract infection.

Potential of two nucleic acid amplification assays for quantifying mycobacterial load in respiratory and non-respiratory specimens: a prospective study.

Quantification of bacillary load plays a critical prognostic role in tuberculosis patients. This study evaluated the potential of the Cepheid GeneXpert (GX) MTB/RIF and the BD ProbeTec system as quantitative assays. The time to positivity (TTP) measured by the Mycobacterial Growth Index Tube system was compared to the cycle threshold (Ct) of GX MTB/RIF and the Metric Other than Acceleration (MOTA) scores generated by the ProbeTec system.