Epidemiology, clinical profiles, and antimicrobial susceptibility of infections: Insights from a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence rate, clinical characteristics across different age groups, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcomes of () infections.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out to include 66 cases with confirmed cultures from sterile samples between January 2014 and June 2022 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Results: A total of 66 cases were identified, with an incidence rate of 0.

Evolving Epidemiology of Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Cases Around COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact and Clinical Insights, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk pediatric patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to characterize pediatric RSV cases from January 2019 to December 2022 and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on RSV burden and RSV-related outcomes. In addition, examining factors influencing RSV-related hospitalization.

Observational cohort study of perinatal outcomes of women with COVID-19.

Background: Understanding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcomes and of pregnancy on COVID-19 outcomes is critical for ensuring proper prenatal and antenatal care. No similar studies have been published in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Diagnosis and management of community-acquired urinary tract infection in infants and children: Clinical guidelines endorsed by the Saudi Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (SPIDS).

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial disease in childhood worldwide and may have significant adverse consequences, particularly for young children. In this guideline, we provide the most up-to-date information for the diagnosis and management of community-acquired UTI in infants and children aged over 90 days up to 14 years. The current recommendations given by the American Academy of Pediatrics Practice guidelines, Canadian Pediatric Society guideline, and other international guidelines are considered as well as regional variations in susceptibility patterns and resources.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia in children: risk factors and mortality rate.

Purpose: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is an opportunistic and nosocomial pathogen that can cause an invasive and fatal infection, particularly in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. However, little is known about the impact of S.

Safety and tolerability of moxifloxacin for the treatment of disseminated BCGitis in children.

Background And Objective: Disseminated BCGitis is a rare but serious complication of BCG vaccine in patients with underlying primary immunodeficiency. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics containing antimycobacterial regimen have been considered in the treatment of disseminated BCGitis, but there are limited data about the dosing, safety, and tolerability of fluoroquinolone such as moxifloxacin in children. The aim of this study was to report the experience with the dosing, safety, and tolerability of moxifloxacin in children with disseminated BCGitis.

Approach to recurrent Herpes Simplex Encephalitis in children.

Herpes Simplex Encephalitis (HSE) is one of the commonest viral encephalitis and its recurrence is being increasingly reported were HSE relapse rate came up to 5%. Both herpes simplex virus (HSV) types can lead to encephalitis and it was established that HSV-1 is capable of nervous system invasion, latency, and recurrence. The recurrence of HSE used to be attributed to immunological compromise, but reports show many cases have no obvious immune system impairment.

The first case of infective endocarditis in a 4 year old child: A case report and review of literature.

Infective endocarditis is a complication of bacteremia that can lead to serious morbidity and even mortality if not appropriately treated, well known organisms commonly lead to this condition in many repeated scenarios so they are usually recognized and treated, but if it was caused by other organisms its detection and treatment can be harder. , a low virulent organism used to be part of the species, has been found in many reports to cause multiple human conditions. In this article, a novel case of is reported, and the organism was reviewed in many aspects for clinician to be able to recognize this infection and manage it in a more effective way.

The landscape of genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia based on the first 1000 diagnostic panels and exomes.

In this study, we report the experience of the only reference clinical next-generation sequencing lab in Saudi Arabia with the first 1000 families who span a wide-range of suspected Mendelian phenotypes. A total of 1019 tests were performed in the period of March 2016-December 2016 comprising 972 solo (index only), 14 duo (parents or affected siblings only), and 33 trio (index and parents). Multigene panels accounted for 672 tests, while whole exome sequencing (WES) represented the remaining 347 tests.

Guidelines for the secondary prevention of rheumatic heart disease: Endorsed by Saudi Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (SPIDS).

Rheumatic fever is a rare yet serious condition develop as a consequence of throat infection caused by It is the leading cause for rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is a worldwide public health concern. It is a chronic condition that results in carditis, irreversible valve damage and heart failure in children and young adults living in low-income countries.

Guidelines for palivizumab prophylaxis in infants and young children at increased risk for respiratory syncytial virus infection in Saudi Arabia.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of serious seasonal lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in high-risk infants and children, with epidemics occurring annually in Saudi Arabia from October to March. Premature infants born at less than 29 weeks gestation with chronic lung disease or those with significant congenital heart disease who have RSV infection are more likely to be hospitalized and have increased morbidity and mortality. Palivizumab (Synagis, Medimmune) is a humanized monoclonal antibody for the prevention of severe LRTI by RSV in high-risk children.

13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is immunogenic and safe in children 6-17 years of age with sickle cell disease previously vaccinated with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): Results of a phase 3 study.

Background: A large population of older children with sickle cell disease (SCD) is currently vaccinated with only 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). In immunocompetent adults, PPSV23 vaccination reduces immune responses to subsequent vaccination with a pneumococcal vaccine. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which addresses this limitation, may offer an advantage to this population at high risk of pneumococcal disease.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease in children.

Background: In the initial description of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, many affected patients were adults with underlying medical comorbidities. Data on the clinical presentation and outcome of pediatric cases are lacking. We report the clinical presentation and outcome of MERS-CoV infection in 11 pediatric patients.

Screening for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in hospital patients and their healthcare worker and family contacts: a prospective descriptive study.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health implemented a pro-active surveillance programme for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We report MERS-CoV data from 5065 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia individuals who were screened for MERS-CoV over a 12-month period. From 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013, demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected from all laboratory forms received at the Saudi Arabian Virology reference laboratory.

Transmission and evolution of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia: a descriptive genomic study.

Background: Since June, 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has, worldwide, caused 104 infections in people including 49 deaths, with 82 cases and 41 deaths reported from Saudi Arabia. In addition to confirming diagnosis, we generated the MERS-CoV genomic sequences obtained directly from patient samples to provide important information on MERS-CoV transmission, evolution, and origin.

Methods: Full genome deep sequencing was done on nucleic acid extracted directly from PCR-confirmed clinical samples.

Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study.

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a new human disease caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV). Clinical data on MERS-CoV infections are scarce. We report epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of 47 cases of MERS-CoV infections, identify knowledge gaps, and define research priorities.

Inherited IL-12p40 deficiency: genetic, immunologic, and clinical features of 49 patients from 30 kindreds.

Autosomal recessive interleukin (IL)-12 p40 (IL-12p40) deficiency is a rare genetic etiology of mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD). We report the genetic, immunologic, and clinical features of 49 patients from 30 kindreds originating from 5 countries (India, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia). There are only 9 different mutant alleles of the IL12B gene: 2 small insertions, 3 small deletions, 2 splice site mutations, and 1 large deletion, each causing a frameshift and leading to a premature stop codon, and 1 nonsense mutation.

Antiretroviral resistance in HIV-infected Saudi children failing first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background And Objectives: The use of a potent combination of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, so-called highly active ARV therapy (HAART), has dramatically improved the quality of life and overall survival of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, these benefits can be compromised by the development of drug resistance. Our objectives were to analyze the prevalence and pattern of HIV-drug resistance among HIV-infected children failing first-line HAART.

Clinical management guidelines for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: technical basis and overview.

During the spring of 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus of swine origin caused human infection and acute respiratory illness in Mexico. After initially spreading in North America, the virus spread globally resulting in the first influenza pandemic since 1968. While the majority of illnesses caused by pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were mild and self-limiting, severe complications, including fatalities, were also reported.

Human metapneumovirus and human coronavirus infection and pathogenicity in Saudi children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness.

Background And Objectives: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the Netherlands human coronavirus (HCoV-NL63) have been isolated from children with respiratory tract infection. The prevalence of these viruses has not been reported from Saudi Arabia. We sought to determine whether hMPV and HCoV-NL63 are responsible for acute respiratory illness and also to determine clinical features and severity of illness in the hospitalized pediatric patient population.