The Association of Smartphone Usage with Sleep Disturbances among Medical Students.

 Smartphones have become an important and vital instrument that all medical students utilize, but the usage of such devices has been found to be connected to sleep disturbances. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and the relationship between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality among medical students.  A cross-sectional study was conducted among the fifth- and sixth-year medical students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Clinical, Radiological Features and Treatment Outcomes of Tuberculosis in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. With a progressively aging population, TB is increasingly encountered in older adults. Understanding the clinical presentation and optimal treatment strategies for TB in this population is essential.

Disseminated tuberculosis: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes in a tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the primary infectious cause of mortality worldwide. Although TB incidence and prevalence are declining, the use of immunosuppressive drugs and the growing prevalence of immunocompromising conditions such as comorbidities, malignancies, and the use of immunosuppressive agents are risk factors for disseminated TB (DTB). This study aims to identify the relevant clinical, laboratory, radiological, and histopathological features of DTB, as well as to assess the typical anatomical distributions and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with the disease at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC).

Physician Attitude toward Their Attires and Laundering Habit Changes during the COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Care Center.

 Patient safety is of utmost importance and every effort is to be made to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection. Contaminated attire is proposed as a mode of hospital infections spread. This study aims to assess the laundering habits, the perception of healthcare workers toward the contamination of their attire, and the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on their cleaning practices in non-operative settings.

A Clot in Transit: A Cause of Death or a Bystander?

Introduction: The clot in transit is a rare manifestation of thromboembolic disease occurring usually in the setting of PE and frequently associated with poor outcomes. The best therapeutic option is not well established. We describe a series of 35 patients diagnosed with clots in transit including their therapeutic interventions and outcome between the period January 2016 to December 2020.

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Adult Patients, Risk Factors, and Efficacy of Low Dose Prophylactic Antibiotics Therapy.

Background: Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs in sizable percentages of patients after a single episode and is a frequent cause of primary healthcare visits and hospital admissions, accounting for up to one quarter of emergency department visits. We aim to describe the pattern of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis prescription for recurrent urinary tract infections, in what group of adult patients they are prescribed and their efficacy.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all adult patients diagnosed with single and recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infection in the period of January 2016 to December 2018.

Adequacy of physician clinical rounds and nursing care elements for non-COVID-19 infected patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for healthcare systems. Frontline workers and especially healthcare professionals were the most severely affected through increased working hours, burnout and major psychological distress.

Objectives: To evaluate the changes in standard care elements which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the physician clinical rounds and nursing care provided to non-COVID-19 infected patients.

Knowledge and Confidence of Final-Year Medical Students Regarding Critical Care Core-Concepts, a Comparison between Problem-Based Learning and a Traditional Curriculum.

Background: Medical undergraduates should be prepared to recognize life threating critical conditions. Undergraduate medical curriculum development to incorporate more critical care education is an essential requirement. Problem Based Learning curriculum has a potential advantage in providing more focused critical care education to medical undergraduate.

Outcomes associated with tocilizumab with or without corticosteroid versus dexamethasone for treatment of patients with severe to critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

Introduction: Immunomodulators, including dexamethasone (DEX), have been recommended by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) to treat moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19. Tocilizumab (TCZ) was added to the treatment recommendations based on recent data from two large randomized controlled trials and its potential synergistic effect with DEX.

Method: We included adult patients admitted from June until October 2020 with a PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Longevity of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Antibody Responses in Humans, Saudi Arabia.

Understanding the immune response to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is crucial for disease prevention and vaccine development. We studied the antibody responses in 48 human MERS-CoV infection survivors who had variable disease severity in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected for 6 years postinfection.

A Case of Seronegative Pediatric Neurobrucellosis Presenting With Ataxia.

Neurobrucellosis is an uncommon and dangerous complication of brucellosis. Meningitis is the most common presentation of neurobrucellosis, but it may present in a wide range of clinical manifestations such as myelitis, brain abscess, radiculopathy, and cranial nerve involvement. It tends to present insidiously with symptoms appearing gradually.

Brucellosis in Saudi Children: Presentation, Complications, and Treatment Outcome.

Background Brucellosis, an endemic disease in Saudi Arabia, has an infection rate of 70 per 100,000 people, with a varying morbidity rate in different parts of the country. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological and clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment modalities, complications, and outcomes in children with brucellosis. Materials and methods The medical records of 153 patients attending King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2015 to January 2019 were reviewed retrospectively.

T-cell responses to MERS coronavirus infection in people with occupational exposure to dromedary camels in Nigeria: an observational cohort study.

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) remains of global public health concern. Dromedary camels are the source of zoonotic infection. Over 70% of MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-infected dromedaries are found in Africa but no zoonotic disease has been reported in Africa.

Patient reluctance to accept Do Not Resuscitate order: impact on clinical care.

Background: A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order should only impede the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest; it should not interfere with any other treatment decisions.

Aims: To study the impact of DNR order placement on daily clinical care of patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 72 patients in a tertiary care centre in Saudi Arabia.

Occurrence of vancomycin MIC creep in methicillin resistant isolates in Saudi Arabia.

Background: "MIC creep" is a phenomenon that describes an increase of an organism MICs over time and have been reported from different parts of the world. High MIC in MRSA has been theoretically liked to treatment failure and may be a precursor to hVISA and VISA. This study was conducted to assess presence of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) creeps among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Saudi Arabia.

Top Ethical Issues Concerning Healthcare Providers Working in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Healthcare providers working in Saudi Arabia come from various nationalities, cultures, and training backgrounds. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of healthcare providers working in Riyadh hospitals about ethical dilemmas and solutions.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among physicians working in Riyadh's private and governmental hospitals between June and December 2017.

Attitudes and behaviours of physicians towards the relationship with the pharmaceutical industry in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The relationship and interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry can affect patient care. A physician's practice can be influenced by this relationship. It is believed that these interactions are common among doctors in Saudi Arabia.

Bloodstream Infection: Changing Pattern of Occurrence and Antifungal Susceptibility over 10 Years in a Tertiary Care Saudi Hospital.

Background: has emerged as one of the most important pathogens that cause bloodstream infection (BSI).Understanding the current BSI trends, the dominant species causing disease and the mortality associated with this infection are crucial to optimize therapeutic and prophylaxis measures.

Objectives: To study the epidemiology and to evaluate the risk factors, prognostic factors, and mortality associated with candidemia and to compare these findings with previously published studies from Saudi Arabia.

Advance directive preferences of patients with chronic and terminal illness towards end of life decisions: a sample from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Advance directives towards end of life decisions are seldom used among Arabs.

Aims: This study aimed at investigating advance care preferences among a sample of Arab patients.

Method: This cross-sectional study was undertaken over the period March 2012-March 2013 on a sample of 300 patients with chronic illness in King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, a major tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

MERS-CoV as an emerging respiratory illness: A review of prevention methods.

Introduction: Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus Virus (MERS-CoV) first emerged from Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since been recognized as a significant human respiratory pathogen on a global level.

Methods: In this narrative review, we focus on the prevention of MERS-CoV. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the following terms: 'MERS', 'MERS-CoV', 'Middle East respiratory syndrome' in combination with 'prevention' or 'infection control'.

Pattern of Dermatological Disease Encountered in a Hematology Ward: A Retrospective Analysis of Dermatology Consultation in a Hematology Ward in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia.

Skin manifestations are common in hematology ward patients and can result from infection, malignancy, or chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to identify the most common dermatological problems encountered in the adult hematology ward at King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital (KASCH). This was retrospective chart review of 78 dermatology consultations based on electronic health records for all inpatients in hematology wards at KASCH between January 2016 and December 2017.

Antimicrobial consumption in five adult intensive care units: a 33-month surveillance study.

Background: Estimating the baseline antimicrobial consumption is extremely important to monitor the impact of antimicrobial stewardship activities that aim to reduce the burden and cost of antimicrobial consumption.

Objectives: To quantify service-specific antimicrobial consumption using different metrics.

Methods: A surveillance study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between October 2012 and June 2015 in five adult intensive care units (ICUs).

High Prevalence of MERS-CoV Infection in Camel Workers in Saudi Arabia.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a highly lethal respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is an emerging disease with high potential for epidemic spread. It has been listed by the WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) as an important target for vaccine development. While initially the majority of MERS cases were hospital acquired, continued emergence of MERS is attributed to community acquisition, with camels likely being the direct or indirect source.