Surveillance of preventive measures for ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and its rate in Makkah Region hospitals, Saudi Arabia.

Background/aim: The present study aimed to assess the VAP rate and to identify VAP prevention activities in public sector hospitals situated in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia (SA).

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the VAP data from 13 public sector hospitals were collected from January to December 2013 and analyzed using SPSS 16.

Results: The overall VAP rate in Makkah Region hospitals was 6.

Analysis of patient falls among hospitalised patients in Makkah region.

Objective: To assess the frequency and its correlation of patient fall with preventing or precipitating factors among inpatients.

Methods: The observational study was conducted in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia from October 15 2012 to November 4, 2013. Data was collected using a questionnaire from 16 hospitals in four districts of Makkah province.

Pattern of patients and diseases during mass transit: The day of Arafat experience.

Background And Objective: Every year 2-3 million Muslims gather for a few days around the Holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Managing enormous health issues associated with such a mass gathering requires a very vibrant health delivery plan. Related research is part of the strategy.

Cancellation of operations in Saudi Arabian hospitals: Frequency, reasons and suggestions for improvements.

Objective: To identify the frequency and reasons of operations cancellation in 25 Makkah region hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of the rate of surgery cancellation in 25 hospitals of Makkah region was performed in this study. The data of scheduled surgeries from 15 different surgical specialties was collected from January to December 2013.

Diseases pattern among patients attending Holy Mosque (Haram) Medical Centers during Hajj 1434 (2013).

Objective: To evaluate the diseases pattern among pilgrims attending the 2 Holy Mosque (Haram) Health Care Centers during the Hajj season 2013 (Hijra 1434). 

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data was collected from 2 medical centers located in the Holy Mosque in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, from the first of Dhul-Hijjah to sixteenth Dhul-Hijjah 1434. The present study was completed in 16 days (6th October to 21st October 2013).

Physicians' perception about electronic medical record system in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The study was done to determine the physicians' perception about electronic medical record system (EMRS) in the context of its productivity in order to improve its functionality and advantages.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed from July to August 2009 with structured questionnaire of 15 closed-ended questions with five points Likert scaling starting from strongly disagree to strongly agree as 1-5, reflecting the perception of physicians about EMRS. The physicians of the Makkah region working in six different hospitals were selected.

Hajj: infectious disease surveillance and control.

Religious festivals attract a large number of pilgrims from worldwide and are a potential risk for the transmission of infectious diseases between pilgrims, and to the indigenous population. The gathering of a large number of pilgrims could compromise the health system of the host country. The threat to global health security posed by infectious diseases with epidemic potential shows the importance of advanced planning of public health surveillance and response at these religious events.

Audit of an urban paediatric emergency department visits.

Background: This study aimed to highlight the health seeking behavior of children in an Emergency Department (ED).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective files review of ED was done for the month of July, 2008. Data about the children ≤12 years of age was gathered.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Patients of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: A total of 12,054 samples received from the outpatient as well as inpatient departments from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 in Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Stool examinations were performed by direct method and concentrated Techniques for all patients.

Predictors of asthma severity during the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Introduction: The annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) is one of the largest gatherings in the world and thus its participants are exposed to various communicable and noncommunicable diseases. This provides an opportunity to study travel epidemiology.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the predictors of asthma severity during the Hajj.

Clinical profile of haemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy leading to end stage renal disease.

Background: The incidence of patients with end-stage renal failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus as a comorbid condition has increased progressively in the past decades. Causes of renal disease might vary from one population to another. The aim of this study was to know the characteristics of the diabetic patients on regular dialysis at Al-noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Reasons for delay in inpatient admission at an emergency department.

Objective: This study highlighted the reasons which contributed to longer stay of patients in Emergency Department (ED) who were advised admission.

Methodology: This study was conducted from August 4 to 11, 2004G as a retrospective review of the ED cards of patients admitted to inpatients wards of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The demographic data, doctors & nurses notes with their timings were reviewed.

Pattern of psychiatry morbidity during Hajj period at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital.

Objective: To study the pattern and extent of psychiatric morbidity in the Hajj period (pilgrimage to Mecca by a Muslim).

Method: Study was conducted by psychiatry department and Health Research Centre, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital. We recorded demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients presenting during first two weeks of Zulhajjah, 1425H (11th to 24th of January 2005).

Evaluation of the available anti-HCV antibody detection tests and RT-PCR assay in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the commercially available antibody tests in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by comparing their results with the RT-PCR test. The study included 316 serum samples from three groups: blood donors, patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Samples were subjected to HCV-antibody detection by ELISA and RIBA tests and HCV-RNA detection by RT-PCR assay.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with laryngeal and voice disorders.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for the management of patients with laryngeal and voice disorders.

Methods: This study consisted of 30 patients from Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Phoniatric outpatient clinics at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia complaining of laryngeal symptoms mainly dysphonia, during one year period from May 2005 to May 2006. All patients were subjected to: voice evaluation, which include searching for etiological factors, auditory perceptual assessment (APA), laryngeal examination and upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy.

Initial experience with Swedish adjustable gastric band at Al-noor hospital.

Background: The aim of this 4-year study is to give an initial account of the weight loss and complications after applying the Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB) at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital-Makkah.

Materials And Methods: 97 morbidly obese patients underwent SAGB.

Results: 94 patients benefited by losing weight.