SEROPREVALENCE OF ERYTHROVIRUS B19 IgG AMONG SAUDI BLOOD DONORS IN MAKKAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to erythrovirus B19 in Saudi blood donors in Makkah. Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A total of 578 blood (serum) samples were tested for erythrovirus B19-specific-IgG antibody among Saudi blood donors in Makkah. Saudi Arabia. Results: Erythrovirus B19-specific-IgG antibodies were detected in 441/578 (76.3%) of Saudi blood donors of different age groups. Conclusion: This study indicated that 76.3% of Saudi blood donors in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, had been exposed to erythrovirus B19. This result is in accordance with previous studies performed in other countries

Seroprevalence of erythrovirus B19 in Saudi pregnant women

Background: Erythrovirus B19 infection is associated with clinical symptoms that range from mild to severe. The common clinical presentation of B19 virus (B19V) infection is erythema infectiosum, arthropathy, aplastic crisis, and fetal infection. Infection in seronegative pregnant women can lead to fetal hydrops. Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to erythrovirus B19 in Saudi pregnant women in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A total of 364 blood (serum) samples were tested for erythrovirus B19-specific-IgG antibody in Saudi pregnant women in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Results: Erythrovirus B19-specific-IgG antibodies were detected in 182/364 (50%) of Saudi pregnant women of different age groups. Conclusion: This study indicated that B19V is clearly circulating in the community in a way that is similar to what is found in most nontemperate countries

A meta-analysis of cohort and pilot studies indicates association of mouthwash use and risk of hypertension in adults

The relationship between high blood pressure (hypertension) incidence and mouthwash use is a subject of ongoing research. Origin of this link may lie in mouthwash-mediated destruction of oral microflora, and consequently reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. In this study, we evaluated the association between mouthwash use and the risk of hypertension through statistical meta-analysis of published cohort and cross-sectional studies. The search strategy and selection of research articles was in accord with PRISMA guidelines, and under pre-defined set of inclusion criteria. Primary research studies focused on “association among use of mouthwash and risk of hypertension incidence” were searched on databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. MesH keywords such as “hypertension”, “mouthwash use”, “risk of HTN”, “HTN incidence”, “nitric oxide bioavailability”, and “cohort studies” were used. Out of 1650 studies, 9 met all the inclusion criteria and were finally selected. RevMan 5.3 software was employed for statistical analyses of data retrieved from these selected studies. About 6384 adults with mild hypertension symptoms were included in this meta-analysis from different cohort, pilot and cross-sectional studies. All participants’ ages ranged between 40 and 60 years with mild symptoms of hypertension. While high statistical heterogeneity was observed, our results indicate a significant association of antiseptic mouthwash use with the risk of developing hypertension. The findings reveal a slightly but significantly elevated risk of development of hypertension among regular antiseptic mouthwash users, in comparison to non-users. However, further studies are needed to confirm and establish this relationship further

Molecular Modeling and simulation-based identification of inhibitors against new Delhi Metallo-Lactamase 1: Implications for bacterial antibiotic resistance

Objectives: Bacterial infections expressing New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) pose an escalating global threat to healthcare systems. NDM-1 is an enzyme that renders β-lactam antibiotics ineffective, leading to resistance against numerous antibiotics used in clinical practice. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify and develop a clinically relevant inhibitor for NDM-1. Methods: Vitas-M laboratory database was screened for small molecules with abilities to bind NDM-1, by generating structure-based pharmacophore hypothesis. Thereafter, molecular docking was performed between NDM-1 and the potential small molecule inhibitors. The outcomes of molecular docking were validated by molecular dynamics simulation and MM-GBSA protocols. Results: Based upon initial NDM-1-binding characteristics, two ligands (STK115225 and STK107343) were nominated for further analyses for stability and affinity of protein–ligand interactions. Assessment of conformational change parameters indicated that these showed tight and stable binding to the active site pocket of NDM-1 protein. Principal component analysis (PCA) further illustrated that the protein ligand complexes were highly stable. Molecular dynamics simulation along with high numbers of static hydrogen bonds signifies the potency of STK115225 and STK107343 in inhibiting NDM-1. Further, MM-GBSA-based binding free energy maps verified favorable energy changes for the binding of the two small molecules, indicating their abilities for high affinity-binding with NDM-1. Conclusions: This study has significant implications for addressing antibiotic resistance mediated by NDM-1. The identification of STK115225 and STK107343 as high-affinity binding ligands against NDM-1 provides a strong foundation for developing new therapeutic agents. However, to fully ascertain their clinical relevance, these findings must be validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. If successful, these inhibitors could restore the efficacy of β-lactam antibiotics and offer a new approach to combat NDM-1 mediated antibiotic resistance, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the global burden of resistant bacterial infections

Prevalence and Antibiogram Pattern of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: An 11-Year Experience

Infectious disease is one of the greatest causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the situation is worsening. In order to prevent this crisis, antimicrobial resistance needs to be monitored carefully to control the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and investigate the antimicrobial profile pattern of K. pneumoniae in the last eleven years. This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from January 2011 to December 2021. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 61,027 bacterial isolates were collected from clinical samples, among which 14.7% (n = 9014) were K. pneumoniae. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of K. pneumoniae revealed a significant increase in the resistance rate in most tested antibiotics during the study period. A marked jump in the resistance rate was seen in amoxicillin/clavulanate and piperacillin/tazobactam, from 33.6% and 13.6% in 2011 to 71.4% and 84.9% in 2021, respectively. Ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and cefepime resistance rates increased from 29.9%, 26.2%, and 53.9%, respectively, in 2011 to become 84.9%, 85.1%, and 85.8% in 2021. Moreover, a significant increase in the resistance rate was seen in both imipenem and amikacin, with an average resistance rate rise from 6.6% for imipenem and 11.9% for amikacin in 2011 to 59.9% and 62.2% in 2021, respectively. The present study showed that the prevalence and drug resistance of K. pneumoniae increased over the study period. Thus, preventing hospital-acquired infection and the reasonable use of antibiotics must be implemented to control and reduce antimicrobial resistance

Isolation and detection of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens in postoperative wound infections at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs), especially when caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, are a major healthcare concern worldwide. For optimal treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance, it is important for clinicians to be aware of local drug-resistant bacterial pathogens that cause SSIs. Objective: To determine the frequency patterns of drug-resistant bacterial strains causing SSIs at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and included wound swab samples from all cases of SSI between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2021. The swabs were processed for the identification of bacterial strains and their resistance pattern to antibiotics according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: A total of 5409 wound swabs were analyzed, of which 3604 samples (66.6%) were from male. Most samples were from the Department of Surgery (43.3%). A total of 14 bacterial strains were isolated, of which 9 were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). In terms of MDR in 2021, the highest rate of carbapenem-resistance was in A. baumannii (97%). MDR was as follows: A. baumannii, 97%; K. pneumoniae, 81%; E. coli, 71%; MRSA, 60%; P. aeruginosa, 33%; VRE, 22%; and VRSA, 2%. Conclusion: This study showed that in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the rates of MDR bacteria are high, with the majority being Gram-negative

Comparative Assessment of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Seven Surface Disinfectants against Eight Bacterial Strains in Saudi Arabia: An In Vitro Study

Environmental conditions in hospitals facilitate the growth and spread of pathogenic bacteria on surfaces such as floors, bed rails, air ventilation units, and mobile elements. These pathogens may be eliminated with proper disinfecting processes, including the use of appropriate surface disinfectants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate of the antibacterial effects of seven surface disinfectants (HAMAYA, DAC, AJAX, Jif, Mr. MUSCLE, CLOROX, and BACTIL) against eight bacterial strains Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis-ATCC 51299, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-ATCC 43300, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-ATCC 1544, using two methods. The first was to determine the effective contact time of disinfectant against the tested bacterial strains, and the second was an assessment of the disinfection efficacy of each disinfectant on six types of contaminated surfaces with on a mixture of the eight tested bacterial strains. The results showed the efficacy of the disinfectants against the tested strains depending on the effective contact time. BACTIL disinfectant showed an efficacy of 100% against all tested strains at the end of the first minute of contact time. HAMAYA, DAC, Jif, Mr. MUSCLE, and CLOROX showed 100% efficiency at the end of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and fourteenth minutes, respectively, while AJAX disinfectant required nineteen minutes of contact time to show 100% efficacy against all tested strains