RESUMO
Small ruminants and camels are important livestock species in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although Brucella infection can limit their productivity. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Brucella infection and its associated risk factors in small ruminants and camels in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, seropositive animals were tested for the DNA of Brucella. Multispecies competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and multispecies indirect (i-ELISA) were used to test 3,086 animals from 2022 to 2023. Brucella cell surface 31 kDa protein (bcsp31) gene-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was used to detect Brucella DNA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between seroprevalence and potential risk factors. The overall seroprevalences of Brucella infection were 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2%-2.2%) and 5.8% (95% CI, 5.0%-6.7%) based on serial and parallel testing, respectively. The DNA of Brucella was detected in 13 of the 51 seropositive animals. The overall seroprevalence of Brucella infection was associated with the region, type of animal holding, species, and age of the animals. In conclusion, this study documented Brucella infection in small ruminants and camels in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, warranting necessary intervention strategies to eliminate Brucella infections in livestock populations.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe and analyze the risk factors associated with patient safety events (PSEs), defined as adverse events (AEs), preventable AEs (PAEs), and near-miss events (NMEs), in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: It was a retrospective cohort study using ED patients' data retrieved from January 2010 to December 2016. Quality assurance issues (QAIs) used as triggers included the following: issues during procedural sedation, death within 24 hours of admission, patients' and physicians' complaints, returns to the ED within 72 hours, and transfers to an intensive care unit within 24 hours. RESULTS: Of 383,586 ED visits, 6519 (1.7%) QAIs were reported with a PSEs incidence of 6.1%. Among the 397 PSEs, 258 were AEs including 82 PAEs, and 139 NMEs. During the 7-year period, we observed a fourfold increase in NMEs, and despite a decrease in the rate of AEs with the highest (3.1%) and lowest (0.8%) incidence in 2011 and 2016, respectively, the incidence of PAEs events remained relatively constant. Unadjusted analysis showed that ED waiting time, boarding time, ED length of stay (LOS), ED disposition, as well as diagnostic and QAIs were significantly related to PSEs (P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that the type of QAIs and diagnostic were associated with PSEs (P < 0.001). Type of QAIs was a risk factor for AEs and PAEs occurrence and factors involved in NMEs were type of QAIs (P = 0.02) and ED LOS (P < 0.001). "The odds of a PSE occurring increased by 0.2% for each additional minute increase in the ED waiting time, by 5.2% for each additional boarding hour, and by 4.5% for each ED LOS hour." CONCLUSIONS: This study showed several potential risk factors for PSEs, especially ED LOS, type of QAIs, and diagnostic. Systematic interventions might have more impact on risk of PSE.