Microbiological risk assessment and resistome analysis from shotgun metagenomics of bovine colostrum microbiome.

Colostrum is known for its nutraceutical qualities, probiotic attributes, and health benefits. The aim of this study was to profile colostrum microbiome from bovine in rural sites of a developing country. The focus was on microbiological safety assessments and antimicrobial resistance, taking into account the risks linked with the consumption of raw colostrum.

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia following the implementation of end tuberculosis strategy: Analysis of the surveillance data 2015-2019.

Objectives: To analyze the evolution of tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology in Saudi Arabia in the 5 years following the implementation of the end-TB Strategy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data, reported by the national tuberculosis control program from 2015-2019, was carried out. The annual incidence and the percentage of yearly changes were calculated and compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) milestones, which anticipate a 4-5% annual decline.

Repurposing of antibacterial compounds for suppression of dormancy reactivation by targeting resuscitation-promoting factors B.

Tuberculosis infection has always been a global concern for public health, and the mortality rate has increased tremendously every year. The ability of the resuscitation () from the dormant state is one of the major reasons for the epidemic spread of tuberculosis infection, especially latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The element that encourages resuscitation, RpfB (resuscitation-promoting factors B), is mostly in charge of bringing out of slumber.

Analysis of the nasopharyngeal microbiome and respiratory pathogens in COVID-19 patients from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 may perturb normal microbiota, leading to secondary infections that can complicate the viral disease. The aim of this study was to probe the alteration of nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiota in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and obesity and to identify other respiratory pathogens among COVID-19 cases that may affect patients' health.

Methods: A total of 107 NP swabs, including 22 from control subjects and 85 from COVID-19 patients, were processed for 6S amplicon sequencing.

The effectiveness of simulation-based training on KAU hospital housekeeping staff performance.

Background: Hospital Housekeeping staff play a key role in maintaining safe and clean environments to prevent infection and its spread in hospital. Innovative training approaches are necessary for this category; especially since their educational level is below average. Simulation based training can be a valuable tool for them in health care sector.

Exploration of Microbially Derived Natural Compounds against Monkeypox Virus as Viral Core Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a member of the genus and the family, which instigated a rising epidemic called monkeypox disease. Proteinases are majorly engaged in viral propagation by catalyzing the cleavage of precursor polyproteins. Therefore, proteinase is essential for monkeypox and a critical drug target.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and co-morbidities on mortality in patients with COVID-19: A single-center retrospective study.

Objectives: To describe the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on clinical outcomes of patients admitted with COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We carried out a single center, observational, retrospective study. We included adult patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from April 2020 to December 2020.

Glycosylated Flavonoid Compounds as Potent CYP121 Inhibitors of .

Due to the concerning rise in the number of multiple- and prolonged-drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) (Mtb) strains, unprecedented demand has been created to design and develop novel therapeutic drugs with higher efficacy and safety. In this study, with a focused view on implementing an in silico drug design pipeline, a diverse set of glycosylated flavonoids were screened against the Mtb cytochrome-P450 enzyme 121 (CYP121), which is established as an approved drug target for the treatment of Mtb infection. A total of 148 glycosylated flavonoids were screened using structure-based virtual screening against the crystallized ligand, i.

Predictors and Outcome of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Background: Shunt infection critically affects approximately 8-10% of all inserted shunts, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the clinical and laboratory factors associated with shunt infection and outcomes in patients treated for hydrocephalus. Methods A retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery for hydrocephalus between January 2015 and June 2018.

Bacterial Community and Genomic Analysis of Carbapenem-Resistant Isolates from the Environment of a Health Care Facility in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

The escalating transmission of hospital-acquired infections, especially those due to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, is a major health challenge worldwide. In this study, a culturomic analysis of bacterial community in a tertiary care hospital in the western region of Saudi Arabia is performed using environmental samples. The genome sequencing of four was performed on isolates recovered from an intensive care unit (ICU) environment and clinical samples.

Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in Long-Term Care: A Five-Year Prospective Single-Center Study.

Objective: To report the effectiveness of the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in a long-term care (LTC) facility, by analyzing the change in antimicrobial consumption and cost and multidrug resistance (MDR) rates over a 5-year period.

Method: A prospective interventional study was conducted at a 106-bed facility (nursing home: 100 beds and an intensive care unit (ICU): 6 beds). The ASP was designed and led by a multidisciplinary team including an infectious disease consultant, two clinical pharmacists, a clinical microbiologist, and an infection control preventionist.

In-vitro activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam against recent clinical bacterial isolates from two Saudi Arabian hospitals.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is continuously increasing. Adding tazobactam to ceftolozane improves the latter's activity spectrum against resistant strains. We aimed to determine the susceptibility of recently collected bacterial isolates to ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) and other antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance trends of non-fermenter Gram negative bacteria in Saudi Arabia: A six-year national study.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) is increasingly recognized as urgent healthcare threat. Trend data on AMR of NFGNB in Saudi Arabia are either old or limited. The objective was to estimate the prevalence and resistance trends of isolated NFGNB in Saudi Arabia.

Risk factors for surgical site infection following spinal surgery in Saudi Arabia: A retrospective case-control study.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after spinal surgery that result in increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. It was estimated that SSIs after spinal surgery resulted in a 4-fold increase in health care costs. The reported SSI rate following spinal surgery remains highly variable between approximately 0.

Successful management of COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Epidemiology, challenges for prevention and adaptive management strategies.

The global transmission of SARS-COV-2 constitutes a highly challenging situation for long-term care facilities, especially with the lack of standardized and approved procedures. Residents in these facilities are at high risk for contamination due to proximity, and to morbidity and mortality given their advanced age and critical baseline health conditions. This paper exposes the experience and outcomes of a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which occurred after admission of a new resident despite high baseline level of alertness including systematic isolation and screening of all newly admitted residents.

Treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Results of a community mobile outreach directly observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) project, compared to a standard facility-based DOTS: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health threat affecting people in many developing countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Maintaining a long-term treatment regimen has always been the cornerstone of successful treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients. In the Jeddah region, the National Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Program is now treating TB patients by means of a community mobile outreach team approach.

Assessment of the new World Health Organization's dengue classification for predicting severity of illness and level of healthcare required.

The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the new dengue classification proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009 and to develop pragmatic guidelines for case triage and management. This retrospective study involved 357 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue infection diagnosed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over a 4-year period from 2014 to 2017. The sensitivity of the new classification for identifying severe cases was limited (65%) but higher than the old one (30%).

Draft genome sequence of a clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolate of new sequence type ST1688 from Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a prevalent multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen worldwide. Here we report the draft genome sequence of A. baumannii strain Ab174 isolated from a neonatal patient diagnosed with acute peritonitis.

Genomic and antimicrobial resistance genes diversity in multidrug-resistant CTX-M-positive isolates of Escherichia coli at a health care facility in Jeddah.

Background: Whole genome sequencing has revolutionized epidemiological investigations of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria worldwide. Aim of this study was to perform comprehensive characterization of ESBL-positive isolates of Escherichia coli obtained from clinical samples at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital utilizing whole genome sequencing.

Methods: Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Characterization of Clinical Strains of in Western Saudi Arabia.

has emerged as a problematic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen worldwide. The aim of this study was to characterize clinical isolates of from Jeddah, a coastal city in the western region of Saudi Arabia that has an ∼50% expatriate population. In this study, 135 nonrepetitive clinical isolates of were identified through MALDI-TOF and susceptibility was determined with VITEK-2 systems and broth microdilution method.

Genomic analysis of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates for antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors from the western region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: is a ubiquitous member of the gut microbiota and has emerged as a life- threatening multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial pathogen. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of multidrug-resistant and epidemiologically important strains of in the western region of Saudi Arabia using phenotypic and whole genome sequencing approaches.

Methods: In total, 155 patients positive for infection were included in this study.

Development and validation of different indirect ELISAs for MERS-CoV serological testing.

Since 2012, MERS-CoV has caused up to 2220 cases and 790 deaths in 27 countries with Saudi Arabia being the most affected country with ~83.1% of the cases and ~38.8% local death rate.