The prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) serves as a pivotal metric, reflecting the TB burden within a specific demographic. It quantifies the number of individuals affected by either active TB disease or latent TB (LTBI). Such data is crucial for assessing the efficacy of TB control interventions and determining the demand for diagnostic and treatment services. This study aims to consolidate data on TB infection prevalence in Saudi Arabia from existing literature. Additionally, we stratify this prevalence based on age, professional involvement in healthcare, gender, and region. Our search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to determine relevant studies. The pooled prevalence of TB infection among the total population residing in Saudi Arabia was estimated using a random-effect meta-analysis approach and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, No: CRD42023400984. We included 21 studies, 11 of which were pooled in the analysis. The overall prevalence was 17%.Regarding the specific population, we found that the prevalence of TB in Saudi Arabia was 9.8% and 26.7% in the general population and the healthcare workers, respectively. Stratifying by age, the highest prevalence was observed in individuals over 50 years (33.0%), while the lowest was in the 10-19 age group (6.4%). In terms of gender, men had a higher prevalence (12.0%) compared to women (9.4%). The prevalence of TB in Riyadh was 6.4%, and 3.6% in Mecca and Medina. Among healthcare workers, nurses and physicians had a prevalence of 14.7% and 15.0%, respectively. Our study found a TB prevalence of 17.0% in Saudi Arabia, higher than the worldwide average of 12.0%. Men had a higher prevalence than women, and healthcare workers had a relatively low prevalence compared to other countries. Age was a significant risk factor, with the highest prevalence in individuals above 50 years. Standardized protocols for screening and diagnosis and targeted interventions are needed to combat TB effectively in the country.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s44197-024-00274-w | DOI Listing |
BMC Med Ethics
January 2025
Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Ha'il, Hail city, Saudi Arabia.
Background: Ethics is based on moral principles that should be the foundation for every healthcare decision, however, ethical concepts can often be challenging to define in specific clinical scenarios. There are several instances where a practising clinician often finds it difficult to make a proper decision despite maintaining integrity and professionalism. The objective of the present study was to explore the ethical dilemma faced by orthodontists practicing in Saudi Arabia concerning orthodontic treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlob Public Health
December 2025
Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Community pharmacies have expanded to include new services such as health screenings and medication reviews. However, developing and implementing new applications tends to be challenging and entails comprehensive planning by multiple stakeholders. This qualitative study explores stakeholders' perspectives of these new services and identifies perceived barriers or facilitators for implementing practice changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int
January 2025
Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The majority of industries throughout the world rely largely on fossil fuels as their primary energy source. However, these resources are finite and become scarcer by the day. Therefore, exploring alternative fuels and additives for diesel fuel is imperative to mitigate fuel consumption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurocrit Care
January 2025
Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Background: Ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a satisfactory noninvasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring test. Our aim was to evaluate ONSD as an objective screening tool to predict and diagnose ICP changes early in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).
Methods: Our prospective observational study was conducted on patients with sepsis, and after intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the time to diagnose SAE was recorded, and patients were divided into a non-SAE group including conscious patients with sepsis and a SAE group including patients with sepsis with acute onset of disturbed conscious level.
Mikrochim Acta
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt.
The hydrothermal synthesis is presented of copper-doped carbon dots (Cu-CDs) from citric acid, urea, and copper chloride, resulting in blue-fluorescent particles with stable emission at 438 nm when excited at 340 nm. Through comprehensive spectroscopic and microscopic characterization (FTIR, XPS, UV, and HRTEM), the Cu-CDs demonstrated remarkable stability across varying pH levels, ionic strengths, temperatures, and UV exposure. Notably, Cu-CDs exhibit ultra-sensitive and selective detection of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] ions in aqueous environments driven by fluorescence quenching.
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