Epidemiology of H1N1 (2009) Influenza among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia: A 6-Month Surveillance Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1004-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan H. Balkhy ◽  
Aiman El-Saed ◽  
Mahmoud Sallah
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Surveillance Study ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Medical City ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Second Wave

Background.Certain emerging infections, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza, represent a great risk to healthcare workers (HCWs). There are few data about the epidemiology of H1N1 influenza among HCWs.Methods.We conducted a prospective surveillance study for all HCWs at King Abdulaziz Medical City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) who were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from June 1 through November 30, 2009.Results.During 6 months of surveillance, 526 HCWs were confirmed positive for H1N1 influenza. The distribution of these cases showed 2 clear outbreaks: an initial outbreak (peak at early August) and a shorter second wave (peak at end of October). Among all PCR-confirmed cases, the attack rate was significantly higher in clinical HCWs than in nonclinical HCWs (6.0% vs 4.3%; P < .001 ) and in HCWs in emergency departments than in HCWs in other hospital locations (17.4% vs 5.0%, P < .001). The percentage of HCWs who received regular influenza vaccination was greater for clinical HCWs than for nonclinical HCWs (46.2% vs 24.6%; P < .001). The majority of HCWs with confirmed H1N1 influenza were young (mean age ± standard deviation, 34.5 ± 9.5 years), not Saudi (58.4%), female (55.1%), and nurses (36.1%). Approximately 4% of women who were less than 50 years old were pregnant. Reported exposures included contact with a case (41.0%), contact with a sick household member (23.8%), and recent travel history (13.3%). Respiratory symptoms (98.0%), including cough (90.1%), were the most frequently reported symptoms, followed by muscle aches (66.2%), fever (62.5%), headache (57.9%), diarrhea (16.5%), and vomiting (9.8%). None of these HCWs died, and all recovered fully without hospital admission.Conclusions.The results confirm the vulnerability of HCWs, whether clinical or nonclinical, to emerging H1N1 influenza.

Compliance with Postexposure Screening and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan H. Balkhy ◽  
Thaddeus L. Miller ◽  
Saira Ali ◽  
Jennifer B. Nuzzo ◽  
Karine Kentenyants ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Respiratory Therapists ◽  
Occupationally Exposed ◽  
Medical City ◽  
Latent Tb Infection ◽  
Clinical Records

Background.Controlling tuberculosis (TB) infection among occupationally exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) may be challenging.Methods.We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of HCWs who were exposed to patients diagnosed with infectious TB at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2008 and 2010. The collected data included baseline tuberculin skin test (TST) status, potential predictors of TST positivity, postexposure diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI), and postexposure compliance with LTBI therapy.Results.Thirteen patients were diagnosed with infectious pulmonary TB during the study period. A total of 298 HCWs met our definition for exposure. Exposed HCWs tended to be female (62.9%), non-Saudi (83.9%), nurses (68.6%), or respiratory therapists (24.0%) working in critical care locations (72.8%). Baseline (preemployment) TST documentation existed for 41.3% (123/298). Among those with documented baseline TSTs, 51.2% (63/123) were positive, representing 21.1% (63/298) of all HCWs. Only 48.9% (115/235) of exposed HCWs who had negative or unknown preexposure TST status had their TST tested after exposure. Approximately 46.1% (53/115) of them were diagnosed with postexposure LTBI, and 92.5% (49/53) of them were prescribed LTBI therapy. Among those, 93.9% (46/49) started LTBI therapy; however, 82.6% (38/46) failed to complete the recommended course.Conclusions.We found low rates of baseline TST documentation and postexposure screening among exposed HCWs. Compliance with initiating postexposure isoniazid prophylaxis among HCWs was fair, but only a small fraction of those who started prophylaxis completed the recommended course of therapy. These findings suggest substantial opportunities to implement administrative measures to enhance LTBI management among HCWs.

scholarly journals BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS’ MOBILE PHONES IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN SAUDI ARABIA.

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1179-1183
Author(s):  
Fares. Almeshal. ◽  
◽  
Feras. Asiri. ◽  
Anas. Alyamani. ◽  
Mohammed. Altuwaijri. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

Impact of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic on Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Center in New York City

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Bhadelia ◽  
Rajiv Sonti ◽  
Jennifer Wright McCarthy ◽  
Jaclyn Vorenkamp ◽  
Haomiao Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
Second Wave

Background and Objective.Assessing the impact of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) on healthcare workers (HCWs) is important for pandemic planning.Methods.We retrospectively analyzed employee health records of HCWs at a tertiary care center in New York City with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and confirmed influenza from March 31, 2009, to February 28, 2010. We evaluated HCWs' clinical presentations during the first and second wave of the pandemic, staff absenteeism, exposures among HCWs, and association between high-risk occupational exposures to respiratory secretions and infection.Results.During the pandemic, 40% (141/352) of HCWs with ILI tested positive for influenza, representing a 1% attack rate among our 13,066 employees. HCWs with influenza were more likely to have fever, cough, and tachycardia. When compared with the second wave, cases in the first wave were sicker and at higher risk of exposure to patients' respiratory secretions (P = .049). HCWs with ILI- with and without confirmed influenza-missed on average 4.7 and 2.7 work days, respectively (P = .001). Among HCWs asked about working while ill, 65% (153/235) reported they did so (mean, 2 days).Conclusions.HCWs in the first wave had more severe ILI than those in the second wave and were more likely to be exposed to patients' respiratory secretions. HCWs with ILI often worked while ill. Timely strategies to educate and support HCWs were critical to managing this population during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Experience with ceftazidime–avibactam treatment in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Algwizani ◽  
Mohammad Alzunitan ◽  
Ahmad Alharbi ◽  
Abdulrahman Alsaedy ◽  
Sameera Aljohani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

Indications of blood transfusion following total knee replacement at a tertiary care center in central Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
AliA Alhandi ◽  
AbdullahA Alturki ◽  
ReemaS Algufaili ◽  
MajedN Alnefaie ◽  
ShadenA Almojel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Total Knee Replacement ◽  
Knee Replacement ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Total Knee
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