Publications by authors named "Souad BelKebir"

Objectives: In the West Bank, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly and alarmingly common. Efforts are being made to introduce antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). This study explores doctors' perceptions of AMR and context-specific barriers and facilitators to ASPs at a critical point in national ASP development.

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Background: In Palestine, women face a challenging environment and a demanding lifestyle, which puts them at a higher risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the risk factors linked with abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) levels, gestational diabetes (GD), and gestational hypertension (GH) among pregnant women. The results was compared between women residing in cities or villages areas and those in refugee camps.

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Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) has a huge negative impact on the health of the mother and the family, both physically and mentally. Few postpartum depression studies have been done in Palestine. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the most probable risk factor of PDD among Palestinian women in the northern West Bank.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to identify risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care units (ICUs) of low- and middle-income countries, where VAP rates are significantly higher than in high-income countries.
  • The research was a prospective cohort analysis covering 743 ICUs across 282 hospitals in 42 diverse countries over 24 years, following 289,643 patients for a total of nearly 2 million patient days.
  • Key identified risk factors for acquiring VAP included male sex, prolonged ICU stay, use of mechanical ventilation, and specific ICU admissions (such as oncology and respiratory ICUs), with CPAP showing the highest associated risk.
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Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a prominent cause of death and hospitalization among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) is making the management of these infections more challenging. This study describes the clinical characteristics, microbial profiles and antibiotic resistance patterns in patients with BSIs.

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Purpose: The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) found a high mortality rate in ICUs of the Middle East (ME). Our goal was to identify mortality risk factor (RF) in ICUs of the ME.

Materials: From 08/01/2003 to 02/12/2022, we conducted a prospective cohort study in 236 ICUs of 77 hospitals in 44 cities in 10 countries of ME.

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Article Synopsis
  • The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium identified high mortality rates in ICU patients and aimed to find risk factors associated with all-cause mortality.
  • A study involving over 300,000 patients in ICUs across multiple countries revealed key mortality risk factors, including infections and longer hospital stays.
  • To improve patient outcomes, the study recommends targeting modifiable factors like infection prevention and managing the length of stay in ICUs.
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Background: This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care-associated infection (HAI) incidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Patients from 7 LMICs were followed up during hospital intensive care unit (ICU) stays from January 2019 to May 2020. HAI rates were calculated using the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Surveillance Online System applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) criteria.

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Background: Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infestation is a common condition that primarily affects children.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of and the risk factors for E. vermicularis infestation in preschool children in north West Bank.

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Background: Uncertainty about vaccination among nurses are major barriers to managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.

Purpose: To explore nurseś perceptions about receiving the SARS CoV-2 vaccine to inform the upcoming Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) vaccination efforts.

Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with nurses between January 18 and 30, 2021, before MOH launched vaccinations in Palestine.

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Introduction: Due to their stressful lives, Palestinian refugees are prone to use cognitive enhancers (CE) and psychostimulant substances (PS). Recognising health problems associated with CE/PS use can indicate how preventive programs should be directed towards adolescents. Unfortunately, research has not thoroughly investigated the health problems related to tobacco and caffeine products, the most socially acceptable CE/PS among Palestinian refugee adolescents.

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Background: We report the results of INICC surveillance study from 2013 to 2018, in 664 intensive care units (ICUs) in 133 cities, of 45 countries, from Latin-America, Europe, Africa, Eastern-Mediterranean, Southeast-Asia, and Western-Pacific.

Methods: Prospective data from patients hospitalized in ICUs were collected through INICC Surveillance Online System. CDC-NHSN definitions for device-associated healthcare-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied.

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Purpose: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) screening among Palestinian diabetic patients is limited. To improve the care of our patients, we explored the barriers to DR screening with a qualitative study.

Methods: Three focus groups were conducted in the northern West Bank.

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Background: Short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infections (PVCR-BSIs) rates have not been systematically studied, and data on their incidence by number of device-days is not available.

Methods: Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1st, 2013 to 31st Mays, 2019 in 246 intensive care units (ICUs), members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 83 hospitals in 52 cities of 14 countries in the Middle East (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates). We applied U.

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Background: Short-term peripheral venous catheter-related bloodstream infection (PVCR-BSI) rates have not been systematically studied in resource-limited countries, and data on their incidence by number of device days are not available.

Methods: Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013, to May 31, 2019, in 727 intensive care units (ICUs), by members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. For this research, we applied definition and criteria of the CDC NHSN, methodology of the INICC, and software named INICC Surveillance Online System.

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Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2012 to December 2017 in 523 intensive care units (ICUs) in 45 countries from Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

Methods: During the 6-year study period, prospective data from 532,483 ICU patients hospitalized in 242 hospitals, for an aggregate of 2,197,304 patient days, were collected through the INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied.

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Background: Organ transplantation is the treatment of choice for organ failure, but organs are scarce and their availability is affected by relational ties, religious beliefs, cultural influences, body integrity, medical mistrust, and other factors. This aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Palestinian population with respect to organ donation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used a validated questionnaire delivered by land telephone to collect data on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to organ donation in the general population of the West Bank.

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