RESUMEN
Background Because of the use of invasive devices and procedures in critically sick patients, patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are particularly vulnerable to nosocomial infections. Although a significant illness may necessitate admission to the PICU, infections can also emerge after admission. Nosocomial infection is a major public health issue related to increased morbidity, death, and healthcare costs. This study aimed to determine the pattern, frequency, and outcomes of nosocomial infections among children who were admitted to the PICU. Methodology This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric population aged from one month to 14 years old who acquired infections after 48 hours of admission to the PICU at East Jeddah General Hospital, Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2022. The data were collected from medical and laboratory records. Results A total of 51 patients developed 145 nosocomial infections. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were the most commonly reported type of nosocomial infections (28.3%). The majority of the isolated organisms (58.7%) were gram-negative, followed by fungal infections (35.1%) and gram-positive organisms (6.2%). The death rate for patients with nosocomial infections was 29.4%. Increased death rates among individuals with CLABSIs and gram-negative isolates were observed to be significantly correlated (p = 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that regular surveillance systems were necessary to assess the relationship between these well-known risk variables with PICU, implying that preventing these infections through particular treatments could be cost-effective and contribute to the safety of healthcare systems.
RESUMEN
Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders that has substantial health and economic consequences. Several modifiable risk factors are associated with GERD, hence we conducted the present study to assess the prevalence and risk factors of GERD in a previously understudied population of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out to calculate the prevalence of GERD and assess its risk factors. A structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed on a random sample of 853 participants from Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the participants' sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. The presence of GERD was detected using the GERD questionnaire (GerdQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test, with a significance level of P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. Results The study included 853 participants; 69.1% males and 30.9% females. The proportion of participants who scored >8 on the GerdQ (had GERD) was 32.2%. GERD was associated with age (P < 0.01), marital status (P < 0.01), employment status (P < 0.01), fast food intake (P < 0.01), analgesics use (P < 0.01), and smoking (P < 0.01). GERD was more common among Khat chewers compared to non-Khat chewers (P < 0.05) and showed a significant association with the frequency of Khat use. Conclusion The results show a high prevalence of GERD in the general population of Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were associated with the disease.