Trends in emergency department visits for mental health disorder diagnoses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study 2018-2021.

BACKGROUND: As the pandemic started, Saudi Arabia applied extreme measures in responses to the pandemic crises, which have adversely affected individuals' mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe trends in mental health disorder ED visit before and after the pandemic in two medical centers in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using data from electronic health records in the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs' (MNG-HA) in Saudi Arabia. Multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the age and sex differences in mental health disorder ED visits before and during the COVID19 pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 1117 ED psychiatric visits, a sharp increase in the number of psychiatric ED visits during the pandemic with an average increase of 25.66% was observed. During the pandemic, psychiatric ED visits were significantly higher in females (adjusted AOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08, 1.83) than males. During the COVID19 pandemic, generalized anxiety disorder was the most common psychiatric ED disorder with reported increase of visits by 53.34% (p-value 0.005). CONCLUSION: ED psychiatric visits have consistently increased before and during the COVID19 pandemic. Interventions for mental health related disorders are urgently needed for preventing mental health problems among females.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19 among children in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter chart review study.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected over 100 million cases worldwide. Children accounted for 1-5% of all cases with less reported symptoms and better prognosis compared to adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of pediatric COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia in addition to identifying risk factors associated with disease severity. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional retrospective study that included confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among pediatric patients (< 14 years) from the time of initial identification in March 2020 to the end of July 2020 in 6 centers across the country. Patients were classified based on clinical severity. Study outcomes included time to recovery, need for invasive ventilation, and mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore factors associated with increased disease severity. RESULTS: The study enrolled 567 children with (51.5%) were males, and (44.6%) aged from 6 to 14 years old. Asymptomatic patients accounted for 38.98% of the cases: while 319 patients (56%) had mild disease, and 27 patients (4.76%) had moderate-to-severe disease. Only 10 patients (1.76%) required Pediatric Intensive Care Unit admission. The calculated case-fatality was 0.7%. After performing multivariate regression analysis, chronic lung conditions [adjusted OR = 12.73, 95% CI (2.05-79.12)] and decreased red blood cells (RBCs) count [adjusted OR = 2.43, 95% CI (1.09-5.41] were found to be significant predictors for moderate-to-severe disease (p = 0.006 and 0.030, respectively). CONCLUSION: Most COVID-19 cases in the current study had a benign course of illness and carried an excellent prognosis. Children with chronic lung conditions or low RBCs count are at higher risk to develop moderate-to-severe COVID-19 disease.

Epidemiology of pediatric sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit of king Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric sepsis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to identify the incidence of sepsis and septic shock among patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia.  Patients' demographics and risk factors associated with sepsis-related mortality were also investigated. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the PICU of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah (KAMC-J). KAMC-J is a tertiary care hospital in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 2389 patients admitted to the PICU of KAMC-J between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017 were screened and evaluated for sepsis using The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). RESULTS: Of the 2389 total admissions to the PICU, 113 patients (4.9%) met the definition of Sepsis-3; 50.4% of the 113 patients met the definition of septic shock. Most patients (66.3%) were less than 6 years old, and 52.2% were male. Eight-five patients (75.2%) had underlying comorbidities. The respiratory system was the most common primary site of infection (57.5%). Bacterial and viral infections were the most common infectious etiology with reported rates of 29.2 and 21.2%, respectively. The median duration of PICU stay was 8 days and the 28-day PICU mortality rate was 23.9%. A Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) Score greater than four and a pre-existing percutaneous central venous catheter were associated with a significant increase in mortality, with adjusted odds ratios of 3.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.30-9.93) and 9.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.28-67.29), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of sepsis in our institution is comparable to that reported internationally; however, the mortality rate is higher than that of developed countries. Nationwide studies identifying sepsis epidemiology are needed to improve the outcome of pediatric sepsis. Following international guidelines for central-line insertion and maintenance is of paramount importance.

A clinical approach to non-neutropenic fever in children with cancer.

BACKGROUND: There are a limited number of studies that address non-neutropenic fever episodes in children with cancer, and no standard approach exists. METHOD: We opt to retrospectively analyze the efficacy of the current clinical approach for management of non-neutropenic fever episodes and the associated risk factors among children with cancer at the Princess Noorah Oncology Center from May 2016 through December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 480 non-neutropenic fever episodes were identified in 131 children, of which 62 episodes were triaged as high-risk non-neutropenic fever and 418 as low-risk non-neutropenic fever. Of those 480 non-neutropenic fever, 361 episodes (75.2%) were associated with the presence of central venous catheters. The overall failure rate of ceftriaxone mono-therapy was observed in 75.6% (11.7% in high-risk non-neutropenic fever with a mean C-reactive protein level of 21.1 (±23.2) mmol/L and 63.9% in low-risk non-neutropenic fever with a mean C-reactive protein level of 17.6 (±53.9) mmol/L). The overall bacteremia rate was 14.4%. The type of organisms isolated was mainly high-risk organisms in 59 non-neutropenic fever episodes (85.5%), OR 1.78 (95% CI: 0.45-7.04) p = 0.41. Of note, all bacteremia were associated with the presence of central venous catheter (100%). Of all the examined risk factors of outpatient treatment failure in low-risk non-neutropenic fever, only prolonged fever of more than three days were significantly associated with bacteremia OR 8.107 [95% CI: 1.744-37.691], p = 0.008. Noteworthy is that almost 43% of non-neutropenic fever episodes were associated with respiratory symptoms. This study provides a baseline for future prospective research assessing the pattern of non-neutropenic fever by focusing on associated risk factors.

The Effect of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia on the Time-to-Extubation in Adult and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) ranks as a prominent hospital-acquired infection. VAP has been shown to have a detrimental impact on patients and healthcare facilities, leading to extended hospital stays, increased demands on medical resources, and higher financial expenses. This study aims to assess the influence of VAP on time-to-extubation and length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours in pediatric and adult intensive care units (ICU). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adult and pediatric ICU patients admitted to King Abdul-Aziz Medical City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from June 2016 to May 2020. The study encompassed ICU patients who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. Time-to-extubation and LOS were measured in days and compared between those who developed VAP and those who did not. A Kaplan-Meier curve was employed to estimate and compare both groups' survival functions (time-to-event). RESULTS: The study involved 367 subjects, with 226 adults and 141 pediatric patients. Among the 367 mechanically ventilated patients, 33 (8.99%) developed VAP during their ICU stay, with 9 of them being children. VAP patients experienced a significantly longer time to extubation than non-VAP patients (13.5 vs. six days, p<0.0001). Likewise, ICU stays for VAP patients were significantly longer than those for non-VAP patients (19.5 vs. 13 days, p<0.002). However, the mortality rate at 28 days from intubation did not exhibit significant differences between the VAP and non-VAP groups (36.36% vs. 27.54%, p=0.283). CONCLUSION: This study underscores that VAP patients face a substantial delay in time-to-extubation and an increased length of ICU stay compared to non-VAP patients. Such findings substantially impact the cost of hospital care and the risk of exposure to other infection-related complications while under mechanical ventilation. Enhanced preventive measures are warranted to reduce the occurrence and consequences of VAP.

The Efficacy of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in Infants Born to HBsAg-Positive Mothers: A Single Center Experience in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives. Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with the hepatitis B vaccine (HBVac) in combination with HBV immunoglobulins (HBIG) significantly minimizes the odds of vertical transmission of HBV to newborn infants. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the compliance and efficacy of PEP in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. Methods. Infants were tested with HBV serological markers at 7 months of age to assess their PEP protection rate. Results. Out of 13,125 mothers who delivered in KAMC, 105 (0.8%) mothers were found to have HBsAg positive, with a prevalence of 8 per 1000 live births. All infants (n = 100) completed their PEP as per protocol before discharge from the hospital (2 days after delivery). Among infants (n = 59; 56.2%) who were tested at 7 months of age, all (100%) were found to be negative for HBV. Conclusion. PEP achieved 100% efficacy among infants who complied with the study protocol at 7 months of follow-up. The prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women was 8 per 1000 live births.

Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) as a predictor of intensive care unit admission in cancer patient on chemotherapy with positive blood culture: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although the usefulness of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in predicting clinical deterioration or the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission has been evaluated in several studies, only few reports have considered the immune status of the patient. Patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer are at risk of sepsis. This study aimed to assess the validity of MEWS in predicting clinical deterioration, ICU admission, and mortality among immunocompromised cancer patients on chemotherapy (CPOC). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Subjects aged>14 years with positive blood cultures, who were hospitalized between June 2016 and June 2017, were included. MEWS was calculated at different time intervals: before, after, and at the time (0-time) of positive blood culture. RESULTS: Overall, 192 patients were enrolled, including 89 CPOC and 103 immunocompetent individuals (controls). ICU admission rate was significantly lower in the CPOC group than in the control group (21 % vs. 50 %, P < .001). Positive MEWS rate (score ≥4) at 0-time was lower in the CPOC group, but the difference was not significant (39.7 % vs. 60.3 %, P = .129). In the CPOC group, positive MEWS rate (score ≥4) had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 52.6 %, 70 %, 32.3 %, and 84 %, respectively, which was comparable to that observed in the control group. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic curve in the CPOC group showed that MEWS calculated 12-36 h before positive blood culture was a significant predictor of ICU admission. The optimal threshold of MEWS with the best sensitivity and specificity was ≥ 3 for the CPOC group and ≥ 4 for the control group to predict ICU admission. MEWS was a generally poor predictor of mortality. CONCLUSION: MEWS ≥ 3 calculated 12-36 h before positive blood culture is the best predictor of ICU admission for CPOC.

The Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in a Tertiary Care Center.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy and to identify risk factors for latent TB reactivation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients were surveyed for TB risk factors, their records were reviewed for previous TB infection or disease, and blood samples were collected for interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were included. One hundred and twenty-five were females (62%). Median age was 52 years, and mean age was significantly higher in positive IGRA patients compared to negative IGRA (57.32 vs. 47.27; p = 0.009). Twenty-five patients (12.3%) had evidence of TB infection, 16 (68%) among them had a latent TB infection, while the rest received treatment for an active TB disease. The rate of active disease among cancer patients was 8 (3.9%). Additionally, 92% (23) of those with positive IGRA had solid cancers (p = 0.007), and all active TB cases occurred in this group of solid cancers. CONCLUSION: TB prevalence was higher in chemotherapy patients compared to the general Saudi population. Patients with solid tumors and older age had a greater risk of developing the infection, signifying the importance of preventing TB and malignancy coexistence by initiating screening policies in cancer patients.

The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a tertiary-care center: Comparison between pre- and post-VAP prevention bundle.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial infection that develops 48h after the initiation of mechanical ventilatory support. Current evidence-based guidelines demonstrate that VAP prevention is feasible through the implementation of certain VAP prevention bundle of interventions simultaneously. We aimed in this study to investigate the effect of VAP prevention pre- and post- implementation. METHODS: This is a single-center, cohort study that took place at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from January 2015 to March 2018 and assessed the rate of VAP before and after implementation of the bundle. RESULTS: The study included 141 children, 95 were included from the pre-bundle group and 36 from the bundle group. VAP developed in 35% of the pre-bundle group compared to 31% of the bundle group (p=0.651) with incidence rates equaled to 18 and 12 per 1000 ventilator days, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study found that VAP bundle did not significantly reduce VAP rate in the PICU. Further large prospective multi-center studies with longer intervention duration are indicated to investigate the benefits of using VAP prevention bundle.

Cytomegalovirus viremia among pediatric oncology non-stem cell transplant patients with prolonged fever neutropenia.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a rare cause of prolonged febrile neutropenia (PFN) among pediatric oncology patients, especially in non-stem cell transplant setting (Non-SCTS). Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines stated briefly that neutropenia is not considered as an indication of CMV re-activation, and thus preventive strategies are not needed; however, multiple studies pressed on the need to treat CMV viremia among patients with PFN even when there is no evidence of end-organ involvement. Therefore, this study aimed to prospectively investigate the significance of CMV as a cause of PFN among pediatric oncology patients in a Non-SCTS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study that was done at Princess Norah Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. CMV viral load was monitored weekly once the subject was identified as a case of PFN until resolution. Subjects and treating physicians were blinded to CMV viral load results. RESULTS: The data of 27 PFN episodes (48% males) were analyzed. The incidence of CMV viremia was reported as 29.6%. Both CMV positive and negative episodes of PFN had similar rate of spontaneous resolution (p=0.669), with overall mortality as 105 and 125 per 1000 PFN episodes, respectively. No subject received anti-CMV in the positive CMV group; however, one subject did in the negative group for reasons other than CMV infection. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CMV was not a significant cause of PFN in Non-SCTS. CMV also had no significant role in terms of survival and severity of the PFN episode.