Surveillance of nosocomial infections at a Saudi Arabian military hospital for a one-year period

The objectives of the current study are to define how many and what kind of nosocomial infections are occurring, what are the causative microbes and what kind of drugs can be used in treatment of infection at Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia during the year 2004. A prospective study was implemented for all cases admitted at Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital during the period 1st January, 2004 till 31st December, 2004 and which developed infection. Determination of nosocomial infections was performed using standardized CDC criteria. A total of 1382 patients had developed infection during hospital admission and were included in the study. Of them, 668 (48.3%) had nosocomial infection and 714 (51.7%) had community-acquired infection. Among those who developed nosocomial infections, 216 (32.3%), 172 (25.7%) and 124 (18.6%) had respiratory tract (RTI), urinary tract (UTI) and blood stream infections (BSI) respectively. Surgical site infection (SSI) was reported in 86 cases (12.9%). The overall nosocomial infection rate along the study period was 4.98 per 100 discharged patients. Gram-positive organisms were reported in 31.8%. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus) was the commonest (10.2%), followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (8.5%) and MSSA (Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, 7.4%). While Gram-negative organisms were reported in 66.2%, E. coli was the commonest (22.3%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.9%). Acinetobacter spp. and MRSA were highly sensitive to Imipenem (88.6%) and Vancomycin (98.5%) respectively. E. coli were highly sensitive to most of the antimicrobial agents except ampicillin (26.6%)

Prevalence, symptomatology, and risk factors for depression among high school students in Saudi Arabia

Hypothesis: Most studies of depressed mood and its correlates in adolescents have been conducted in Western countries. The present large scale epidemiological study was designed to assess the prevalence and pattern of depression in a secondary school sample of Saudi Arabia adolescents.Methods: A Cross-sectional survey, using the Arabic Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), by a team consisting of a psychiatrist and psychologist has been conducted.Participants: Secondary school students (n = 490, 306 males “62.4 %” and 184 females “37.6 %”) of age group from (16 to 20).Results: The prevalence of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI) (cut-off point: 19) was 110 (22.4 %) as moderate (19-29), 36 (7.3 %) as severe (30-40), and 18 (3.7%) as very severe (> 40) in this study group, with a clear predominance prevalence of depression in girls than in boys (1.5 times).Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the most significant risk factors involved were: sex, birth order, history of psychiatric illness, history of relative loss, and familial history of chronic diseases. Factor analysis revealed that self criticalness, agitation, and loss of energy had the highest scores in the total sample. In the male subgroup, loss of energy, self criticalness, punishment feeling and agitation had the highest score while in the female subgroup, self criticalness, agitation, and crying had the highest scores.Conclusion: Our findings provide gender differences in the prevalence and presentation of depressive symptoms. The experience of a stressful life events increase the risk of depression. Assessment using screening is recommended. The increased risk for the onset of depression in adolescents reinforces the importance of early recognition and intervention.

Depression and body image disturbances among females seeking treatment for obesity in Saudi Arabia

Hypothesis: Obesity is an increasingly prevalent disease around the world and is becoming one of the main public health problems in developed countries. The relationship between obesity and psychological distress continued to be debated by researchers and clinicians. This study aimed to assess depression and body image disturbances in obese patients seeking treatment for obesity. Method: A case-control design was adopted in the study. Total of (236) obese women, self-referred to a residential weight-loss facility for weight control, were invited to participate in this study. Obese women were compared with (296) of an age-matched control group. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms, Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire for body-image satisfaction and The Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire. Results: revealed that obesity were more common among older than younger females, among married than single females, and among those with lower level of education than those with higher level. Obese women as compared with non-obese reported significantly more symptoms of depression and significantly more negative body image. Conclusions and significance: Our results indicate a high frequency of depressive symptoms, and concern with body image among obese patients. Therefore, obese women who seek treatment should be screened for depression and body image dissatisfaction

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on polyaniline-single waller carbon nanotubes composite,”

This work presented the successful fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cell using polyaniline base (EB), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), organic dye (rhodamine B or riboflavin), zinc oxide (ZnO), and indium tin oxide (ITO). The electrical properties of the resultant devices were investigated by measuring the current density voltage (J-V), capacitance voltage (C-V), and impedance measurements under both dark and illuminated conditions. The photovoltaic cell characteristics, that is, open circuit voltage ( oc ), short circuit current density ( sc ), and energy conversion efficiency ( ), were evaluated under illumination and were found to be 0.48 mA/cm 2 , 400 mV, and 0.224%, respectively, for ITO/EB-MWCNTs/ZnO-rhodamine B/ITO heterostructure. Using impedance spectra, it was found that the series resistances of this type of solar cell are 62 and 60 Ω under darkness and illumination, respectively