Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Brucella Endocarditis: A Case Series.

Purpose:  Brucella endocarditis is a rare complication with a high mortality risk. This research aims to evaluate patients diagnosed with Brucella Endocarditis and review clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to serve as a foundation for future research in managing Brucella endocarditis and improving patient care and outcomes.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with Brucella endocarditis from 2011 to 2022.

Estimating the prevalence of select non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia using a population-based sample: econometric analysis with natural language processing.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major public health challenge globally, including in Saudi Arabia. However, measuring the true extent of NCD prevalence has been hampered by a paucity of nationally representative epidemiological studies.

Objectives: Assess the prevalence of selected NCDs, using population-based electronic health records and applying novel analytical methods to identify cases of NCDs.

An unexpected opportunist: infection in an immunocompetent patient.

is an uncommon opportunistic fungal pathogen primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals. While rare, cases have been reported in immunocompetent patients. We present a documented case of invasive infection in an immunocompetent patient with no previous medical history.

Outcome of complicated osteoarticular brucellosis in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of complicated osteoarticular brucellosis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients aged more than 14 who have been diagnosed with complicated brucellosis with osteoarticular disease between July 2016 and December 2022 were included.

Outcome of Respiratory Viral Infections in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients.

Background: Respiratory viral infections (RVIs) commonly cause morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. This study aimed at the prevalence of RVIs in adult HSCT recipients and their outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on all adult patients who underwent HSCT in the period between January 2016 and December 2020.

Microbiological and Clinical Outcomes of Methicillin-Susceptible Isolated in Lung Transplant Perioperative Donor and Recipient Respiratory Cultures.

is one of the most common organisms isolated from respiratory secretions in lung transplant donors and recipients perioperatively. Within the first 90 days after lung transplantation, methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) infections have been associated with increased mortality and acute and chronic rejection. However, it is unclear whether respiratory cultures positive for MSSA at the time of transplantation can lead to clinically significant infection.

Case Report: COVID-19 Infection of a Transplanted Heart Simulating Cellular Rejection.

Contemporary reports showed that solid organ transplantation patients who contract SARS-CoV-2 infection have a high mortality rate. There are sparse data about recurrent cellular rejections and the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in patients after heart transplantation. Herein, we report a case of a 61-year-old male post-heart transplant patient who tested positive for COVID-19 and developed mild symptoms 4 months after transplantation.

The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 critically ill patients co-infected with other respiratory viruses: a multicenter, cohort study.

Background: Previous studies have shown that non-critically ill COVID-19 patients co-infected with other respiratory viruses have poor clinical outcomes. However, limited studies focused on this co-infections in critically ill patients. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of critically ill patients infected with COVID-19 and co-infected by other respiratory viruses.

Comparing Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Mortality Between Liposomal Amphotericin B and Voriconazole in Patients With Hematological Malignancy or Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Objectives We evaluated liposomal amphotericin B versus voriconazole for the treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with hematological malignancy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods This retrospective cohort, single-center study included patients with compatible radiological diagnosis of IPA between 2016 and 2021. Results Forty-six patients with hematological malignancy or HSCT were diagnosed with IPA.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of Covid-19 illness and predictors of in-hospital mortality in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Patients' race and ethnicity may play a role in mortality from Covid-19. Studies in China, the US, and Europe have been conducted on the predictors of Covid-19 mortality, yet in the EMR countries, such studies are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to describe the hospitalization rate, ICU-admission, and in-hospital mortality of Covid-19 and predictors of in-hospital mortality in Saudi Arabia.

In vitro activity of cefiderocol against clinically important carbapenem non-susceptible Gram-negative bacteria from Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Cefiderocol is a novel catechol-substituted siderophore cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative pathogens. However, variation of its activity among carbapenemase producers from various regions and countries has been reported. Here, we checked the in vitro activity against Gram-negative carbapenem non-susceptible bacteria collected in Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of ceftazidime/avibactam for treatment of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales with OXA-48 and/or NDM genes with or without combination therapy.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is an urgent public health threat of significant global concern. Few observational studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes for treatment of CRE harbouring OXA-48 or NDM genes with ceftazidime/avibactam. Previous findings showed lower 30 day mortality with ceftazidime/avibactam ranges between 8.

Immunogenicity of High-Dose MVA-Based MERS Vaccine Candidate in Mice and Camels.

Unlabelled: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen that can transmit from dromedary camels to humans, causing severe pneumonia, with a 35% mortality rate. Vaccine candidates have been developed and tested in mice, camels, and humans. Previously, we developed a vaccine based on the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) viral vector, encoding a full-length spike protein of MERS-CoV, MVA-MERS.

Risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients pre- and post-vaccination.

Background: Severe complications from COVID-19 and poor responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were commonly reported in cancer patients compared to those without cancer. Therefore, the identification of predisposing factors to SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients would assist in the prevention of COVID-19 and improve vaccination strategies. The literature lacks reports on this topic from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Clinical characteristics and outcome of mucormycosis: A multi-center retrospective analysis in Saudi Arabia over 11 years.

Background: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection with variable epidemiology between countries. Limited data are available locally; we aim to describe the clinical spectrum and outcome of mucormycosis in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective multi-center study including all patients with clinical and pathological evidence of mucormycosis in 3 tertiary care centers in Saudi Arabia from January 2009 to December 2019.

Penile Kaposi Sarcoma as an initial manifestation of HIV infection: A case report and literature review.

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is most commonly associated with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus is thought to play a huge role in the pathogenesis of KS. The diagnosis and management of KS can be quite challenging, and Physicians need high index of suspicion to diagnose KS as it can be mistaken for other skin pathologies.

Comparison of Hospital Readmission and Mortality between COVID-19 and Pneumonia Patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors can have lasting signs and symptoms, including various organ damage, indicating that COVID-19 can be a chronic illness. The current study aims to compare the 30-day hospital readmission and death rate of patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and pneumonia due to other causes. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Saudi National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA).

Current state of antimicrobial stewardship and organ transplantation in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance constitutes a major public health issue that leads to poor outcomes and increased costs associated with healthcare. Solid organ transplant recipients are more prone due to prolonged exposure to antimicrobials.

Methods: We reviewed existing programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and pattern of drug resistance, and the extent of transplant medicine in the kingdom through published articles in databases and official documents from health authorities.

Safety and Efficacy of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Kidney transplant recipients appear to be at high risk for critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness. They are considered a priority for COVID-19 vaccination. Only a few studies report on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in these patients.