An analysis of the intention of female pharmacy students to work in community pharmacy settings in Saudi Arabia using the theory of planned behavior

Objective

This study aimed to determine the intention of female Saudi pharmacy students to work in community pharmacies and the factors associated with this intention.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2022 and June 2022 and included female students from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia. The survey was created based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. It included items that measure student intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding working in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. The study also included items that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, pharmacy program degrees, training, and job preferences of students.

Results

A total of 407 participants completed the survey. The average age was 21.8 (±1.6) years, and most participants were Saudi nationals (97.79 %). The intention of participants to work in community pharmacies after graduation was low (mean = 3.2 ± 1.8; range: 1-7). Slightly positive attitudes toward working in a community pharmacy after graduation were revealed as participants showed an overall attitude mean of 4.5 ± 1.6 (range: 1-7). Furthermore, the participants perceived a low social pressure toward working in a community pharmacy after graduation (mean of 3.3 ± 1.9; range: 1-7). The intention of female pharmacy students to work in community pharmacies was significantly predicted by attitudes (p-value < 0.0001), perceived behavioral control (p-value = 0.0017), nationality (p-value = 0.0151), residence in the Saudi Arabian region (p-value = 0.0013), monthly income (p-value = 0.0231), pharmacy degree program (p-value = 0.0035), training received in community pharmacies (p-value = 0.0145), had a relative working in a community pharmacy (p-value = 0.0257), and preference to work in community pharmacies after graduation (p-value = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Female pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia had a low intention to work in community pharmacies, a positive attitude toward working in community pharmacies, and perceived no social pressure to work in them. A positive attitude and behavioral perception of control toward working in community pharmacies were demonstrated among pharmacy students who study at a university outside Riyadh, undertaking a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, have a monthly income higher than 5000 Saudi riyals (USD 1,333.3), previously received training in community pharmacies, having a relative working in a community pharmacy, prefer to work in community pharmacies after graduation.

The Clinical Efficacy of Adding Ceftazidime/Avibactam to Standard Therapy in Treating Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumonia with blaOXA-48-like Genes

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is FDA-approved for managing infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacilli, particularly infections via carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales pathogens. The clinical data are still limited, particularly those in Saudi Arabia. The present study is a retrospective cohort study that was carried out at the Armed Forces Hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia to compare the clinical and microbiological outcomes for CAZ-AVI-treated patients as monotherapy and as an add-on to standard therapy for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (CRKP) OXA-48 infections to those treated with standard drugs. The study included CRKP OXA-48-like infected patients who were administered antibiotics for more than seven days from 1 August 2018 to May 2023. Patients' baseline characteristics and demography were extracted from the clinical records, and their clinical/microbiology efficiencies were assessed as per the corresponding definitions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the potential independent variable for CAZ-AVI efficiency. A total of 114 patient files were included for the evaluation. Among these patients, 64 used CAZ-AVI combined with standard therapy and were included in the intervention group, and 50 of them used standard therapy and were included in the comparative group. Following analysis, CAZ-AVI's clinical success was 42.2% (p = 0.028), while the intervention versus comparative groups showed decreased 30-day all-cause mortality (50.0% versus 70.0%; p = 0.036) and infection recurrence (7.8% versus 24.0%; p = 0.019), as well as substantially increased rates of microbial eradication (68.8% versus 42.0%; p = 0.007). CAZ-AVI add-on therapy rather than monotherapy showed statistically significant favored clinical and microbial outcomes over the standard therapy. Furthermore, sex (female %), ICU admission, and fever were negatively associated with patients' 30-day all-cause mortality, serving as independent negative factors. Only fever, CRP bio levels, inotropes, and ICU admissions were significant predictors influencing the CAZ-AVI's clinical efficiency. The duration of CAZ-AVI therapy positively influenced CAZ-AVI's microbial eradication, while both WBC counts and fever experiences were negative predictors. This study shows the effective usage of CAZ-AVI against CRKP OXA-48-like infections. The influencing independent variables depicted here should recommend that clinicians individualize the CAZ-AVI dose based on co-existing risk factors to achieve optimal survival and efficacy. Prospective multicenter and randomized control studies are recommended, with individualized CAZ-AVI precision administration implemented based on patients' characteristics.

The influence of telemedicine in primary healthcare on diabetes mellitus control and treatment adherence in Riyadh region

Several studies have found that telemedicine has the potential to enhance the outcomes of patients with diabetes. This study aimed to determine the impact of telemedicine on the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional study among T2DM patients in selected primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 1, 2023, to August 20, 2023. We looked at how telemedicine affected HbA1c control, adherence, the number of diabetic complications, and polypharmacy using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. Among the 583 patients, 140 (24.05 %) received care via telemedicine, while 442 (75.95 %) received in-person care. Patients who utilized telemedicine had significantly better glycemic control than those who received in-person care only (AOR = 5.123, 95 % CI = 3.107-8.447). Telemedicine also showed positive effects on treatment adherence (AOR = 2.552, 95 % CI = 1.6284-4.2414). Telemedicine can effectively reduce diabetic complications (AOR = 0.277, 95 % CI = 0.134-0.571). Regarding polypharmacy, patients with telemedicine use were less likely to report polypharmacy (AOR = 0.559, 95 % CI = 0.361-0.866). Telemedicine is considered one of the factors that improve HbA1c management and might increase therapeutic adherence and reduce diabetic complications and polypharmacy.

Antibiotics for preventing infection at the surgical site: Single dose vs. multiple doses

Background

Surgical site infections are common and expensive infections that can cause fatalities or poor patient outcomes. To prevent these infections, antibiotic prophylaxis is used. However, excessive antibiotic use is related to higher costs and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives

The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of a single dosage versus several doses of antibiotics in preventing the development of surgical site infections.

Methods

PubMed was used to find clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of a single dosage versus several doses of antibiotics in avoiding the development of surgical site infections. The study included trials that were published between 1984 and 2022. Seventy-four clinical trials were included in the analysis. Odds ratios were used to compare groups with 95% confidence intervals. The data were displayed using OR to generate a forest plot. Review Manager (RevMan version 5.4) was used to do the meta-analysis.

Results

Regarding clean operations, there were 389 surgical site infections out of 5,634 patients in a single dose group (6.90%) and 349 surgical site infections out of 5,621 patients in multiple doses group (6.21%) (OR = 1.11, lower CI = 0.95, upper CI = 1.30). Regarding clean-contaminated operations, there were 137 surgical site infections out of 2,715 patients in a single dose group (5.05%) and 137 surgical site infections out of 2,355 patients in multiple doses group (5.82%) (OR = 0.87, lower CI = 0.68, upper CI = 1.11). Regarding contaminated operations, there were 302 surgical site infections out of 3,262 patients in a single dose group (9.26%) and 276 surgical site infections out of 3,212 patients in multiple doses group (8.59%) (OR = 1.11, lower CI = 0.84, upper CI = 1.47). In general, there were 828 surgical site infections out of 11,611 patients in a single dose group (7.13%) and 762 surgical site infections out of 11,188 patients in multiple doses group (6.81%) (OR = 1.05, lower CI = 0.93, upper CI = 1.20). The difference between groups was not significant.

Conclusion

The present study showed that using a single-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis was equally effective as using multiple doses of antibiotics in decreasing surgical site infections.

Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy among community pharmacists

Telepharmacy is a practical part of telemedicine that refers to providing pharmaceutical services within the scope of the pharmacist's obligations while maintaining a temporal and spatial distance between patients, users of health services, and healthcare professionals. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2022 to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and readiness for telepharmacy. The survey was filled out by 404 respondents. The majority of respondents were male (59.90%) and the age of more than half of them was between 30 and 39 years old (54.46%). Most participants worked in urban areas (83.66%), and 42.57% had less than five years of experience in a pharmacy. Most participants agreed that telepharmacy is available in Saudi Arabia (82.67%). Approximately 70% of pharmacists felt that telepharmacy promotes patient medication adherence, and 77.72% agreed that telepharmacy increases patient access to pharmaceuticals in rural areas. More than 72% of pharmacists said they would work on telepharmacy initiatives in rural areas for free, and 74.26% said they would work outside of usual working hours if necessary. In the future, this research could aid in adopting full-fledged telepharmacy pharmaceutical care services in Saudi Arabia. It could also help academic initiatives by allowing telepharmacy practice models to be included as a topic course in the curriculum to prepare future pharmacists to deliver telepharmacy services.

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Readiness of Telepharmacy among Hospital Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

Telepharmacy is a technology-based service that provides promoted services such as counseling, medication administration and compounding, drug therapy monitoring, and prescription review. It is unclear whether hospital pharmacists possess the necessary knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to practice telepharmacy. The current study sought to investigate Saudi Arabian hospital pharmacists' understanding, attitudes, and level of preparedness for telepharmacy services. A total of 411 pharmacists responded to the survey. Only 43.33% of the respondents agreed that telepharmacy is available in Saudi Arabia and 36.67% of the respondents agreed that patients in rural areas can have more medication access and information via telepharmacy. Only 29.33% of pharmacists agreed that telepharmacy improves patient medication adherence, and about 34.00% of the pharmacists agreed that telepharmacy saves patients money and time by eliminating the need for them to travel to healthcare facilities. This research found that hospital pharmacists were unsure of their level of knowledge, their attitude toward telepharmacy, and their willingness to incorporate it into their future pharmacy practices. To ensure that tomorrow's pharmacists have the skills they need to provide telepharmacy services, telepharmacy practice models must be incorporated into the educational programs that prepare them.

Types, Trends, and Patterns of the Reported Antimicrobial Errors to the Eastern Region’s Medical Centers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Medication errors (MEs) are a huge burden on any healthcare system and have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The medical literature reported heavily on MEs but lacked focus on analyzing high-risk medications such as antimicrobials.

Research design and methods

This was a retrospective analysis of the MEs database reported by the eastern region's medical centers in Saudi Arabia from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. We used descriptive analysis to identify most common antimicrobials with errors, the stage of antimicrobial errors, type of the errors, contributing factors to the errors, and categories of errors based on the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC-MERP) classification of errors.

Results

A total of 1422 (22.1%) antimicrobial errors were identified out of 6412 MEs. Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (18%) was the most common antimicrobial reported in the database. Most errors occurred in the prescribing phase (87.6%) and included mainly incorrect doses (32.1%) and duplicate therapy (20.5%). In addition, most errors were identified as category B (72.5%). Finally, inexperienced personnel (57.9%) was the most cited contributing factor.

Conclusion

This study revealed that antimicrobial errors occur primarily during prescription and that policy gaps and inexperienced staff were contributory factors. To improve, the focus should shift to physician education, clear dosing guidelines, efficient workload management, and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs to promote appropriate antimicrobial use.

Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials Comparing Cefazolin to Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxone, and Cefamandole for Surgical Site Infection Prevention

Surgical site infections are among the most prevalent and costly healthcare-associated infections, resulting in poor patient outcomes and even death. Cefazolin is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that is widely used for surgical prophylaxis in a variety of surgical disciplines. Although previous studies showed that cefazolin is effective in preventing surgical site infections, other agents, such as cefuroxime and ceftriaxone, were used excessively for surgical patients. The present analysis included only clinical trials comparing the efficacy of cefazolin to cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, and cefamandole in lowering SSIs using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Review Manager software (RevMan version 5.4) was used to conduct the meta-analyses. A total of 12,446 patients were included in the study. Among these patients, 6327 patients received cefazolin and 6119 patients received cefamandole, cefuroxime, or ceftriaxone. Our analysis showed that cefazolin is as effective as cefuroxime, cefamandole, and ceftriaxone in preventing surgical site infections. Hence, our findings have provided evidence for the use of cefazolin before surgeries because of its efficacy, as previous studies showed that it is inexpensive and safer than other agents.

Pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum as a complication of foreign body inhalation in 3 pediatric patients: A case series

INTRODUCTION

Foreign body inhalation (FBI) is a serious and common emergency in children. Such children present in the emergency room (ER) with cough, shortness of breath, choking, or wheezing but rarely present with pneumomediastinum.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Three children aged 2 to 5 years (2 girls and 1 boy) were seen in our ER complaining of FBI. Emergency bronchoscopy removal of the inhaled foreign body was performed; however, all 3 patients developed pneumomediastinum.

DIAGNOSIS

A foreign body inhalation complicated by Pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax.

INTERVENTION AND OUTCOMES

All the patients underwent emergency bronchoscopy and foreign body removal. After the ER intervention, 2 children were placed in the pediatric intensive care unit, and the pneumomediastinum resolved without intervention. The third patient required an operation for chest tube placement, which was then observed in the pediatric intensive care unit, and had several chest radiography follow-ups. After 5 days, the patient exhibited clinical improvement, and the chest tube was removed.

CONCLUSION

In this case series, we present 3 cases of children aged 2 to 5 years seen in our ER with a history of different types of organic FBI complicated by pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax. Pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax is a rare complication of FBI in pediatric patients. However, such complications require multidisciplinary collaboration for early diagnosis and intervention.

Drug-induced weight gain in the last 10 years: a descriptive study

Medication-induced weight gain can be frustrating to patients and health care providers. Drug-induced weight gain is a profound side effect of numerous commonly used medications. The present study aimed to investigate FAERS reports about drug-induced weight gain in the last ten years. Using the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) between 2012 and 2021, a retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted to analyze the major reported Adverse Events about weight gain. During the last ten years, 137370 reports were submitted to FAERS about drug-induced weight gain. The most common drugs that are reported by the patients and that are associated with weight gain were risperidone (11.55%), adalimumab (3.94%), pregabalin (3.86%), aripiprazole (3.1%), etanercept (2.72%), and prednisone (2.70%). In conclusion, the present study showed that drug-induced weight gain is a common side effect of several medications frequently used to treat chronic diseases. Healthcare providers should educate their patients about the medicines that may cause weight gain.

Households' Direct Economic Burden Associated with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Saudi Arabia

Households' economic burden associated with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a deterrent to healthcare access, adversely impacting patients' health. Therefore, we investigated the extent of out-of-pocket (OOP) spending among individuals diagnosed with chronic NCDs among household members in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among households in Riyadh Province from the beginning of January 2021 to the end of June 2021. The respondents were asked to record OOP spending throughout the past three months in their health. A generalized linear regression model was used to determine the effects of several factors on the level of OOP spending. A total of 39.6% of the households studied had at least one member with a chronic NCD. Diabetes patients spent an average of SAR 932 (USD 248), hypertension patients SAR 606 (USD 162), and hypothyroid patients SAR 402 (USD 107). It was shown that households with older and more educated members had greater OOP spending. Households with an employed head of household, more family members, higher SES status, health insurance coverage, and urban residency had significantly higher OOP expenditure. The burden of OOP spending for chronic NCD households remains high, with some disparities. The research offers important information for decision making to lower OOP cost among NCD households.

Epimedin A ameliorates DNFB-induced allergic contact dermatitis in mice: Role of NF-κB/NLRP3-driven pyroptosis, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and inflammation modulation

AIMS

The present study aimed to investigate the potential of epimedin A to ameliorate DNFB-induced allergic contact dermatitis (CD) and reveal its potential underlying mechanisms of action, emphasizing its role in modulating NF-κB/NLRP3, Nrf2/HO-1 pathways, and inflammation.

MAIN METHODS

Seven-week-old BALB/c mice received epimedin A orally for 11 days at doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day, starting from the seventh day of DNFB-inducing CD.

KEY FINDINGS

Epimedin A dose-dependently ameliorated DNFB-induced CD, as revealed by the repression of the mice's scratching behavior, dermatitis score, ear thickness and weight, and ear tissue's histopathological changes, and area percent of collagen fibers induced by DNFB. These potentials were due to the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway suppression and the Nrf2 pathway enhancement, as demonstrated by the reduction of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and 8 mRNA expression, and NF-κBp65, IL-1β, MDA levels, and NF-κBp65 binding activity, along with the enhancement of the Nrf2, HO-1, IκB-α, GSH levels, SOD activity, and Nrf2 binding activity. Besides, it suppressed ear tissues' NLRP3 and caspase-8 induced pyroptosis by suppressing the ear tissues' caspase-1, 8, GSDMD upregulation, and LDH activity. Additionally, it repressed the local inflammatory reaction of ear tissue, as evidenced by the reduction of the elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, Il-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), the serum level of t-IgE, DNFB s-IgE, s-IgE/t-IgE ratio, and the abrogation of the ear tissues histopathological changes.

SIGNIFICANCE

Epimedin A is a novel, hopeful, natural therapeutic agent for CD by modulating NF-κB/NLRP3, Nrf2 pathways, and inflammation.

Comparison of the post-marketing safety profile between influenza and COVID-19 vaccines: An analysis of the vaccine adverse event reporting system

The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic can be partially managed by vaccines; however, the public must be informed about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to avoid hesitancy. Therefore, it is important to know the safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccine by comparison to that of a well-known vaccine, such as the influenza vaccine. Hence, this retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate and compare the number of adverse effects (AEs) reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, identify the most common AEs of each vaccine, and compare the frequency and outcomes of using COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the U.S. population. Surveillance reports from 1st December 2020 to 8th October 2021 of both vaccines were retrieved from the U.S. VAERS. A total of 544,025 and 15,871 reports of post-COVID-19 and - influenza vaccine AEs were reported to the VAERS, respectively. Females reported > 58% and nearly 70% of influenza - and COVID-19 vaccine-associated AEs, respectively. The estimated incidence rates of AEs associated with COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the U.S. were 1.36 and 0.12 per 1,000 persons, respectively. The incidence of AEs was higher among COVID-19 vaccine recipients than that among influenza vaccine recipients. COVID-19 vaccine recipients have a two-fold higher risk of mortality and life-threatening events than influenza vaccine recipients. However, most of the reported AEs were similar between the two vaccines in terms of symptoms.

Guaifenesin Use in a Government Hospital in Al-Kharj

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the pattern of using guaifenesin in a government hospital in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that was conducted in a government hospital in Al-Kharj. Prescription data was collected from outpatient electronic records. Results: During the study period, 519 patients received guaifenesin syrup from the outpatient pharmacy of the government hospital. Most of the patients who used guaifenesin syrup were males (66.09%) and more than half of them were in the age group between 20-39 years old (55.10%). All of the prescriptions were written by residents (100%) and most of guaifenesin prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (96.15%). Conclusion: The present study showed that guaifenesin was frequently used in Al-kharj. Additional studies are needed to describe the frequency and pattern of using guaifenesin in different settings and also to describe the pattern of using other cough/cold medications.

Metoclopramide Prescribing Pattern in Al-Kharj

Aim: The present study aimed to describe metoclopramide prescribing pattern in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that was conducted to know the prescribing pattern of metoclopramide in a public hospital in Alkharj. The data were collected from the electronic prescriptions in the hospital in the first half of 2018. Results: The outpatient pharmacy dispensed metoclopramide to 160 patients during the first half of 2018. More than half of the patients were female patients (51.25%). The age of 36.25% of the patients was between 29 and 29 years old and the age of 25.00% of them was between 30 and 39 years old. Most of the prescriptions were prescribed for 3 days (68.13%) followed by 5   days (20.00%). Emergency department prescribed about 96.25% of the metoclopramide prescriptions. Conclusion: The present study showed that metoclopramide was used commonly in Al-kharj. Further studies are needed to describe the frequency and pattern of using metoclopramide and also to describe the pattern of using other antiemetic medications in different settings.

A decade of experience in prescribing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin: A retrospective analysis of medication queries in a Saudi drug and poison information center

Purpose: To analyze drug information queries related to treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ), and azithromycin submitted to a local drug and poison information center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study explored HCQ-, CQ-, and azithromycin-related inquiries submitted to the Drug and Poison Information Center at the Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These inquiries were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative analysis included the frequency of each request per year, the profession of the requesters, and the source material classification. A thematic analysis was also performed to categorize requests from healthcare professionals. Results: The Drug and Poison Information Center received 10,685 usable inquiries between 2005 and 2018. There were 160 CQ-, HCQ-, and azithromycin-related queries. Most requests were made by pharmacists (61.25 %). The main sources used to answer the queries were tertiary (92.31 %) and primary (7.69 %) sources. In the dataset, three major topics were identified: administration and dosing, safety, and pregnancy and lactation, each associated with a query subset. Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of continued education on antimicrobial agents in general, and HCQ, CQ, and azithromycin in particular. The three items have been identified as focus areas that policymakers can us to ensure the quality of future medication prescriptions.

The Pattern of using Oral Rehydration Salts in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the pattern of using oral rehydration salts in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This retrospective study was carried out at outpatient department in Al-kharj. The study included all of the patients who received oral rehydration salts in the outpatient pharmacy between January and July 2018. Results: From January/2018 to June/2018, 416 patients received oral rehydration salts (oral rehydration solution) from the outpatient pharmacy of the hospital. More than half of the patients who received oral rehydration salt were males (59.62%). Most of the patients were less than 10 years old (71.15%). Most of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (99.28%) and most of the physicians who prescribed oral rehydration salts were residents (99.28%). Conclusion: The present study showed that oral rehydration salts were commonly used in Al-kharj. Further studies are needed to explore the frequency of using oral rehydration salts in different settings.

Dextromethorphan Use in the Outpatient Department

Aim: The present study was conducted to describe the use of dextromethorphan in the outpatient department.  Methodology: This is a retrospective study that involves evaluating electronic prescriptions for dextromethorphan among outpatients in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: During the study period, 348 patients received dextromethorphan. Most of them were females and the age of more than half of them was between 20 and 39 years. Most of the patients used dextromethorphan for 5 days (63.51%) and about 30% of patients used it for 7 days. Most of the prescriptions were written by emergency department (93.97%). Conclusion: The present study showed that dextromethorphan was commonly prescribed in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Furthermore, more studies are needed to explore the appropriateness of its use.

Topical Hydrocortisone Use in the Outpatient Department

Aim: This study aimed to describe the use of topical hydrocortisone in the outpatient department in Alkharj. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that included reviewing the electronic prescriptions of topical hydrocortisone among outpatients in Alkharj. The inclusion criteria included all of the outpatient prescriptions that contained topical hydrocortisone in the study period. Results: During the study period between January 2018 to June 2018, 196 patients received topical hydrocortisone. More than 52% of the patients were males and the age of 31.63% of them was less than 10 years. Most of the patients received topical hydrocortisone as a cream (87.76%). Most of the prescriptions that contained topical hydrocortisone were written by residents (98.98%) and most of the prescriptions that contained topical hydrocortisone were written by emergency department (70.41%). Conclusion: The present study showed that topical hydrocortisone was prescribed commonly in the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of topical hydrocortisone prescribing in other settings and to explore the frequency of using other topical medications in different settings.

The Use of Simethicone in a Public Healthcare Organization in Riyadh Region

Aim: Simethicone is anti-flatulence medicine that is used to relieves abdominal pain due to excessive gas in the digestive tract. The present study aimed to describe the use of simethicone in a public healthcare organization in Riyadh Region. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes reviewing the outpatient electronic prescriptions of simethicone in a public healthcare organization in Riyadh Region. Results: During the study period, 113 patients received simethicone. More than 56 % of them were females and the age of 22.12% of them was between 50 and 59 years. More than 26% of the patients received simethicone for 1 week and 23.90% of them received simethicone for 1 month. Most of the prescriptions were written by residents (90.27%) and more than 57% of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department. Conclusion: The present study showed that simethicone was prescribed frequently in a public healthcare organization in Riyadh Region.  More studies are needed to explore the frequency of use and the appropriateness of prescribing simethicone and other anti-flatulence medicines.

The Outpatient Prescribing Pattern of Sevelamer in Al Seih

Aim: The present study aimed to explore the outpatient prescribing pattern of sevelamer in Al Seih. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that included reviewing the electronic prescriptions that contained sevelamer among outpatients in the city of Al Saih. Results: During 2017 and 2018, 47 patients received sevelamer from the outpatient pharmacy in a public hospital in Alkharj. More than 23 % of the prescriptions were prescribed in January and about 21.28% of the prescriptions were prescribed in May. All of the prescriptions that contained sevelamer were prescribed for the duration of 1 month (100.00%), all of the sevelamer prescriptions were written by residents (100.00%) and all of the prescriptions were prescribed by nephrology department (100.00%). More than half of the patients who received sevelamer were females (60.00%). The age of about 90% of the patients who received sevelamer was more than 39 years. Conclusion: The present study showed that the prescribing of sevelamer was uncommon in Al Seih. Further studies are required to investigate the pattern and the frequency of sevelamer in the outpatients setting and in other settings.

Domperidone Prescribing in the Outpatient Setting in Al-Kharj

Aim: This study aimed to describe domperidone prescribing in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes reviewing the electronic prescriptions of domperidone among outpatients in a governmental hospital in Alkharj. Results: During the study period between January 2018 to June 2018, 173 patients received domperidone. More than 54% of the patients were males and the age of most of them was less than 20 years (61.85%). More than 27% of the patients used domperidone for 3 days and 23.12% of them used it for 7 days. Most of the prescriptions where written by residents (97.11%) and most of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (89.02%). Conclusion: The present study showed that domperidone was prescribed commonly in the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of its prescribing in other settings and to explore the appropriateness of its use in different settings.

The Prescribing of MEBO Ointment in a Public Hospital in Alkharj

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the prescribing of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) in Alkharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes reviewing the electronic prescriptions that included MEBO among the patients who received medications from the outpatient department in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: More than 61% of the patients who received MEBO ointment were female patients and about 61.98% of them received MEBO ointment for 1 week. Most of the prescribers were residents (76.86%). More than 46% of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department, about 24% were prescribed by plastic surgery department. Conclusion: The use of MEBO ointment in the outpatient setting in Alkharj was uncommon. Further studies are needed to explore the pattern of using burn treating ointments such as MEBO ointment in the outpatient setting and in other settings.

Frequency of Dydrogesterone Use in the Gynecological Outpatient Clinics

Aim: This study aimed to describe the use of dydrogesterone in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes reviewing the electronic prescriptions of dydrogesterone among outpatients in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: During the study period between January 2018 to June 2018, 48 patients received dydrogesterone. The age of 41.67% of the patients was between 20 and 29 years. Most of dydrogesterone prescriptions were written by residents (89.58%) and more than 60% of dydrogesterone prescriptions were written by emergency department (60.42%). Conclusion: The present study showed that the prescribing of dydrogesterone was uncommon in the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of its prescribing in other settings and to explore the prescribing of other medications that are used for gynecological conditions.

The Outpatient Use of Ascorbic Acid in a Public Healthcare Organization in Riyadh Region

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the outpatient use of ascorbic acid in a public healthcare organization in Riyadh Region. Methodology: This is a retrospective study included reviewing the outpatient electronic prescriptions that contained ascorbic acid in a public healthcare organization in Riyadh Region. Results: More than 51% of the patients who received ascorbic acid in the hospital during 2018 were females and the age of 57.14 % of them was less than 30 years. Most of the prescriptions were regular prescriptions (88.57%) and only 5.71% of the prescriptions were urgent prescriptions. More than 42% of the patients received ascorbic acid for 1 week and 37.14% of them received it for 1 month. Most of the prescriptions were prescribed by residents (85.71%) and most of these prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (80.00%). Conclusion: The prescribing of ascorbic acid was uncommon in the public hospital. More studies are needed to know the frequency and the pattern of using ascorbic acid in the public hospital and in other healthcare organizations in Riyadh Region.

The Outpatient Prescribing Pattern of Topical Lidocaine in Al Seih

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of topical lidocaine in the outpatient setting in Al Seih. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes reviewing the electronic prescriptions that contained topical lidocaine among outpatients in a public hospital in Al Seih. Results: More than 52% of the patients who received topical lidocaine were males and the age of 36.84% of them was between 30 and 39 years.  Most of the patients who received topical lidocaine for 7 days (64.47%). Topical lidocaine prescriptions were written mainly by residents (96.05%). More than 55% of the topical lidocaine prescriptions were prescribed by the emergency department and 38.16% of the prescriptions were prescribed by general surgery department. Conclusion: The present study showed that the prescribing of topical lidocaine was uncommon in Al Seih. Further studies are required to investigate the pattern and the frequency of topical lidocaine and other topical anesthetics in the outpatients setting and in other settings.

Mebeverine Prescribing in the Outpatient Setting in Riyadh Region

Aim: The present study aimed to explore mebeverine prescribing in the outpatient setting in Riyadh Region. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that included reviewing the outpatient prescriptions of mebeverine in a governmental hospital in Riyadh Region. The study excluded the prescriptions that were prescribed by other settings and the outpatient prescriptions that didn’t contain an mebeverine. Results: During the study period between January 2018 to June 2018, mebeverine was prescribed to 113 patients. most of them were females (62.83%). The age of 29.20% of the patients was between 50 and 59 years. Most of the prescriptions that contained mebeverine were written by residents (86.73%) and most of the prescriptions that contained mebeverine were prescribed by internal medicine (34.51%), gastroenterology (23.89%), and emergency (21.24%) departments. Conclusion: The present study showed that mebeverine was prescribed commonly in the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of prescribing mebeverine and the frequency of prescribing other antispasmodic medications in different settings.

The Prescribing of Calamine Lotion in Alkharj

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of calamine lotion in a public hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This retrospective study included the electronic prescriptions of outpatients in a public hospital in Al-kharj and aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of calamine lotion. The collected data included the personal data of the patients, the number of calamine lotion prescriptions in different months, the duration of calamine lotion, the level of prescribers, and the prescribing’ departments. Results: Most of the patients who used calamine lotion were male patients (62.12%) and most of them were less than 10 years old (72.73%). Most of the patients used calamine for 7 days (63.64%) and about15.15% of them used it for 5 days. All of the prescribers were residents (100.00%). Most of the calamine prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (98.48%). Conclusion: Calamine lotion prescribing was uncommon in the outpatient setting in Al-kharj. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of prescribing of calamine lotion in other setting, and to explore the frequency of prescribing other alternative agents.

The Frequency of Prescribing Nicotine and Varenicline in a Public Hospital

Aim: This study was conducted to demonstrate the prescribing pattern of nicotine and varenicline in a public hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study includes evaluating outpatient prescribing of nicotine and varenicline from 1st of January 2018 to 30th of June 2018 in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: All of the nicotine patch prescriptions were written by internal medicine department and all of the prescriptions were prescribed by residents. The age of more than half of them was between 30 and 39 (53.33%). All of the varenicline tablet prescriptions were written by internal medicine department. The age of about 88.23% of the patients who received varenicline tablet was more than 29 years. Conclusion: Nicotine and varenicline prescribing was infrequent in Al-kharj. More awareness programs are needed for health care workers and for the public. Moreover, the physicians should assess if the treatment is needed or no according to the person condition.

The Outpatient Prescribing Pattern of Olopatadine in Al Saih

Aim: This study was conducted to demonstrate the prescribing pattern of olopatadine eye drops in Al Saih. Methodology: This is a retrospective study includes evaluating outpatient prescribing of olopatadine eye drops from 1st of January 2018 to 30th of June 2018 in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: More than half of the patients who used olopatadine eye drops were females (56.00%). The age of 28.00% of them was between 50 and 59 and the age of 26.67% of them was between 40 to 49 years. More than half of the patients received olopatadine eye drops for 1 month (54.67%). Most of the prescriptions were written by ophthalmology department (96.00%). Conclusion: Olopatadine eye drops prescribing was infrequent in Al Saih due to the availability of other alternatives. Further studies are needed to investigate the prescribing of olopatadine eye drops and its alternatives by the outpatient settings.

Budesonide Use in the Outpatient Department in a Public Hospital in Al-Kharj

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of budesonide nebulizer and budesonide nasal spray in a public hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted in a public hospital in Alkharj city. The outpatient prescriptions were reviewed to describe the use of budesonide in the period between 01-01- 2018 and 31-06-2018.  The study included budesonide forms that are delivered directly to the respiratory system, so budesonide nebulizer and budesonide nasal spray were included in the study and other dosage forms were excluded. Results: About 53.12% of the prescribed budesonide was in the form of nebulizer and 46.88% was in the form of nasal spray. Most of them were males (62.50%) and about 43.75% of them were less than 10 years. More than 53% of the prescriptions were written by residents and 40.62% were written by consultants. The most commonly prescribed department was pediatrics department (43.75%) followed by Ear-Nose-Throat (E.N.T) department (18.75%) and emergency (18.75%). Conclusion: The present study showed that the use of budesonide was uncommon in the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of prescribing other dosage forms of budesonide and to explore the frequency of prescribing other alternative agents.

The Outpatient Prescribing Pattern of Norethisterone in Al-Kharj

Aim: This study was conducted to demonstrate the prescribing pattern of norethisterone in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study includes evaluating outpatient prescribing of norethisterone from 1st of January 2018 to 30th of June 2018 in a public hospital in Alkharj. Results: The age of about 31.03% of the patients who used norethisterone was between 40 and 49 years, the age of 24.14% of them was between 30 and 39, and the age of 24.14% of them were between 20 and 29 years. About 31.03% of the patients used norethisterone for 3 weeks and 17.24% of them used norethisterone for 10 days. Most of the prescriptions that contained norethisterone were prescribed by obstetrics and gynecology department (68.97%). Conclusion: The prescribing of norethisterone was uncommon in the outpatient setting due to the availability of several alternative drugs. Further studies are needed to investigate the prescribing of norethisterone and its alternatives by the different settings.

The Outpatient Prescribing of Topical Betamethasone in Al-Kharj

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of topical betamethasone in the outpatient setting in Alkharj. Methodology: This retrospective study that included collecting data from the electronic prescriptions in a public hospital in Alkharj in 2018. Results: During the study period from Jan to Dec 2018 only 46 patients received topical betamethasone. Most of the patients were female (63.04%). About 71.74% of the prescribed betamethasone was in ointment form and 28.26% in lotion form. Most of the prescribers were residents (97.83%). Most of the prescriptions were written by dermatology department (58.70%). Conclusion: The use of topical betamethasone was uncommon and this could be due to the availability of other topical corticosteroids and other alternatives. It is important to increase the knowledge of health care workers and the patients regarding the use of topical corticosteroids.

Bromhexine Use in the Outpatient Department in a Public Hospital in Al-Kharj

Aim: This study was conducted to demonstrate the prescribing pattern of bromhexine in a public hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that included evaluating outpatient antibiotic prescriptions from 1st of January/2018 to 30th of June/2018 in a public hospital Al-kharj. The collected data were the personal data of the patients, the prescribing’ departments, the duration of bromhexine use, and the level of the prescribers. Results: Most of the patients were in the age group of 20-29 (32.35%) followed by 10-19 (20.59%). About 73.53% of the prescriptions were written by the emergency department, followed by the chest department (20.59%). All of the prescriptions were written by residents. Most of the patients used bromhexine for 5 days (76.47%) followed by 1 week (20.59%). Conclusion: The present study showed that bromhexine use in the outpatient setting was uncommon. More studies are needed to explore the frequency of prescribing other mucolytic agents.

Prevalence of Infections, the Rate of Bacterial Resistance and Antibiotics Use in Al-kharj: Narrative Review

Aim: The present review aimed to describe the rate of different infections, the rate of bacterial resistance and antibiotics use in Al-kharj. Methodology: This was a narrative review that included searching Web of science for the keywords “infections” or “bacterial resistance” or “antibiotics use” and “Al-kharj” from 1st of January 2015 to 14th of October 2021. Results: Searching Web of science for the keywords resulted in 29 papers that was conducted during the study period and investigate the rate of different infections, the rate of bacterial resistance or the use of antibiotics in Al-kharj. So, 29 articles were included in the present review. Conclusion: Most of the studies about infections included only some types of infections and most of the conducted studies about the use of antibiotics focused only on the outpatient setting. More studies are needed to explore the rate of other infections and to describe the prescribing of antibiotics in other hospital settings.

Health Care Professionals’ Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: The present study aimed to describe health care professionals’ quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic Saudi Arabia. Methodology: The cross-sectional study included a survey that was prepared using the world health organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL). To provide a good quality of care and to achieve patient satisfaction on the care received, it is important to know how satisfied health care personnel are with their quality of life and job because the personnel with a good quality of life offer better services than those with poor quality of life. Results: The present study showed that the quality of life of about two third of the health care providers was good. Nonetheless, about one third of them had a poor quality of life.  Conclusion: There is a need to implement long term programs aimed at improving the emotional well-being of health care specialists and improving their quality of life.

Public’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Hypertension

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the public’s knowledge and beliefs on hypertension and its treatment in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included a survey was used to collect demographic data of the respondents and the response to the main questions of the survey that were close-ended questions. Results: Most of the respondents agreed that aging (81.17), family history (74.06%), smoking (69.46%), eating fatty foods (80.33), and overweight (83.26%) are risk factors of developing hypertension. Additionally, more than 90% agreed that regular physical exercise reduces hypertension and 89.54% of them agreed that more salt consumption increases blood pressure.     Conclusion: The respondents had a good knowledge about hypertension and how to prevent it. But still more health education about hypertension prevention and blood pressure control was needed.

The Awareness and Attitudes of the Public toward Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is flourishing very fast and the usage of CAM in health care is quickly evolving. The behavior and attitude of the patients towards herbal medicines represents an important concern for policy makers and for regulators. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern of natural products use among the public and the Attitudes towards natural health products in Al-kharj Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study design. A questionnaire was prepared using Google drive tool and used to evaluate the pattern of natural products use among the public and the attitudes towards natural health products in Al-kharj governorate. The survey was filled by 442 participants. Results: Most respondents used a natural health product in the past (only 319 of 442 have been used natural product), the most used products were Vitamins/Minerals (85.57%). Additionally, about 50 % of the respondents agreed that the natural health products are safe because they are made from natural ingredients. The majority of the respondents reported that there isn't enough information on natural health product labels to help them understand the Products. The majority reported that the family and friends were recommended and provided them with the information regarding the use of the natural health product (71.78%). Conclusion: The present study showed that the use of herbal medicine is a common practice. The legislation is recommended to arrange the using of natural health products. The study results would surely require an active role for the Ministry of Health and Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to insure enough information regard the risks and benefits of NHPs.

The Outpatient Prescribing of Silver Sulfadiazine in Al-Kharj

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the outpatient prescription of silver sulfadiazine in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This study was conducted in a public hospital in Alkharj. The data were collected from the outpatient pharmacy in the hospital and includes outpatients who received silver sulfadiazine in 2018. Results: All of the silver sulfadiazine prescriptions were prescribed for 7 days. The prescriptions were made mainly by residents (96.67%). Most of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (90.00%). Conclusion: The use of silver sulfadiazine was uncommon in Alkharj possibly due to the use of effective natural medicines. Silver sulfadiazine could lead to several adverse effects so it is important to increase the awareness about the wise use of silver sulfadiazine and other topical antibiotics.

The Compliance of Healthcare Providers to Care Bundles in a Tertiary Hospital in Riyadh Region

This study aimed to describe the compliance rate of healthcare providers to care bundles in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh Region. The overall compliance rate of hand hygiene was low (less than 80%). The overall compliance rates of urinary catheter bundle, central line insertion bundle, and central line maintenance bundle were high (more than 95 %). The compliance rate to SSI bundle, ventilator bundle, safe injection practice, and using personal protective equipment was high. It is important to increase the compliance rate of the care bundles elements to 95 percent or greater, particularly the compliance to hand hygiene to improve patient care.

Baclofen Prescribing in the Outpatient Setting in Al-KhArj

Aim: This study aimed to know the prescribing pattern of baclofen in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted to know the prescribing pattern of baclofen in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj in 2018. The data were collected and analyzed using Excel and represented as frequencies and percentages. Results: From January to June 2018, about 30.43% of the prescriptions were prescribed by orthopedic department, 28.99% were prescribed by emergency department and about 78.26% of the prescriptions were prescribed by residents. More than 76% of the prescriptions were prescribed by residents in the second phase of the study between July/2018 to December/2018. Moreover, about 40.71% of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department and about 26.43% were prescribed by orthopedic department. Conclusion: Baclofen use is uncommon in our regionin contrast to the global increase in the use of baclofen. It is important to increase the awareness of health care providers about the appropriate use of baclofen and they should educate the patients about its correct use.

The Prescribing of Artificial Tears Eye Drops in the Outpatient Setting

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the prescribing of artificial tears eye drops in the outpatient setting in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that was conducted at the outpatient setting in a public hospital in Al-Kharj city. The study included reviewing the outpatient electronic prescriptions. Results: Most of the prescriptions that include artificial tears eye drops between January/2018 to June/2018 were prescribed by residents (88.06%) and about 86.57% of the prescriptions were prescribed by ophthalmology department. In the period between July/2018 to December/2018, About 94.12% of the prescribers who prescribed artificial tears eye drops were residents and about 84.56% of the prescriptions were prescribed by ophthalmology department. Conclusion: Artificial tears were prescribed frequently in the outpatient setting and could cause adverse events for some patients. So, it is also important to increase the awareness of healthcare providers and patients about the appropriate use of artificial tears.

Incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and the adherence to the HAIs' prevention strategies in a military hospital in Alkharj

Background

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are considered one of the most common adverse events in health care service provision. In order to prevent the occurrence of HAIs, it is important to implement several prevention strategies.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the incidence of healthcare-associated infections in a military hospital in Alkharj and the adherence to the HAIs' prevention strategies.

Methods

This study included exporting data for all infected cases confirmed by the infection disease specialists in 2019. The data were collected from the reports that were written by infection control unit and infectious disease department.

Results

The rate of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in 2019 was 0.43% of total patient admissions. The rate of central line associated bloodstream infections in 2019 was 1.15 per 1000 central line days. The rate of catheter associated urinary tract infections in 2019 was 1.00 per 1000 catheter days. The rate of ventilator associated pneumonia in 2019 was 2.11 per 1000 ventilator days and the rate of surgical site infections in 2019 was 0.41 %.

Conclusion

The rate of overall healthcare-associated infections (HAI) was low. The compliance rate of health care workers to preventive measures that control HAIs was generally high but there was a need for more awareness particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. So it is important to attend more awareness activities and workshops particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. Furthermore, infection control unit and infectious disease department in the hospital should support the robust HAI prevention programs.

Physicians' Opinions on the Required Information about Biosimilars and the Need for Biosimilars Related Education

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate physicians' opinions on the required information about biosimilars and the need for biosimilars related education. Methodology: The study included a survey that was prepared using a survey from a previous study and after face validation and content validation, it was prepared as an online form using the SurveyMonkey platform. Results: The majority of physicians stated that the most important information about biosimilars are studies that provide clinical immunogenicity data for the biosimilar and reference product (93.33%) in addition to studies that directly compare clinical efficacy and safety between reference products and biosimilars (88.89%). The majority of physicians stated that tracking safety events with biosimilars (94.45%) and access to information on studies comparing biosimilars with reference biologics (91.11%) are important issues related to biosimilars in professional environments. Conclusion: The present study highlights the needs of physicians for biosimilar education. More efforts are needed to increase the awareness regarding biosimilars by different formats in order to integrate biosimilars into clinical practice and to counsel patients about biosimilars.

Female Students Preferences for Different Pharmacy Departments in Research Project Course

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate female pharmacy students preferences for different pharmacy departments in research project course in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that included the response of the fifth year female students in the college of pharmacy in Al-Kharj in 2020. The students ranked the pharmacy departments according to their preferences. Female pharmacy students in Al-kharj were included. Female students in other colleges and male students were excluded from the study. Results: More than half of the respondents had a high grade of 4 or more out of 5 (53.85%). Most of the students (58.97%) choose a research project in clinical pharmacy department (51.28% select clinical pharmacy as a first choice and 7.69% as a second choice). Most of the students who selected clinical pharmacy department as a first choice had a high grade (80 % of the students had a grade of 3.5 or more out of 5). Conclusion: Most of the female students choose a research project in clinical pharmacy department this results is rational because generally a high percentage of pharmacy students plan to work in hospitals after graduation. So, research training is important for pharmacy students to improve their ability to solve drug therapy problems, counsel patients and communicate efficiently with health care professionals.

Antibiotics Using Pattern in Surgery Department of a Maternity and Children Hospital

Aim: This study aimed to identify antibiotics using pattern in surgery department of a maternity and children hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This is a retrospective review of the drugs that were prescribed in maternity and children hospital in Alkharj from January 2018 to August 2020. Results: The most prescribed antibiotics by emergency department for surgery patients were metronidazole (45.59%) and ceftriaxone (42.65%). Metronidazole IV was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic (38.73%) by inpatient department for surgery patients followed by ceftriaxone (38.73%). Vancomycin vial (43.75%) was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic by critical care unit for surgery patients. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic outpatient department and day case unit for surgery patients by was fusidic acid ointment (35.00%). Conclusion: The study showed that the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for surgery patients were metronidazole and ceftriaxone. Continuous monitoring for antibiotics prescribing is vital to increase the judicious use of these medications and more educational programs and awareness workshops for surgeons are needed.

Knowledge and Perception about Diabetes and its Risk Factors

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that increases the risks of developing other diseases in diabetic patients and can affect their quality of life. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine knowledge and perception of risk of diabetes mellitus among the public in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: The survey in the present cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the public knowledge and perception of risk of diabetes mellitus using a validated survey. The survey was converted to an online form using Google Forms. Results: About 79.69% of the respondents use one or more medication and 70.31% of them had at least one chronic disease. About 34.37 % of the respondents were overweight respondents or had obesity. About 93.75% of the respondents said that they know the main risk factors and the protective factors of diabetes. More than 90 % of them have a good knowledge about diabetes and about antidiabetic drugs but more than 54% of them said that they need additional information about diabetes and about antidiabetic medications. Conclusion: Our study suggests that more efforts should be made to increase the public knowledge about diabetes and an awareness program including lectures, workshops are essential to avoid getting diabetes among the public and to maintain good glycemic control among diabetic patients.

Trends in Resistance to Cefazolin in a Military Hospital in Alkharj

Aim: This study aimed to describe the trends in resistance to cefazolin in a military hospital in Alkharj. Methodology: This was a retrospective study that was conducted in Alkharj to describe the trends in resistance to cefazolin from 1st of January 2020 to 30th of June 2021. The results of bacterial cultures were collected from the microbiology laboratory in the hospital. Results: The susceptibility rate of gram negative bacteria to cefazolin in 2020 was more than 50% except Enterobacter cloacae (susceptibility rate=0) and that the resistance of Escherichia coli to cefazolin was increased from 36% in 2020 to 48% in 2021. The present study showed that cefazolin should not use to treat infections caused by Enterobacter cloacae because of the high resistance rate (100%). Conclusion: The present study showed that the bacterial resistance of several pathogens to cefazolin was high. It is important to monitor antimicrobial susceptibility continuously and to use antibiotics wisely to minimize emergence of drug resistant bacteria.