Aisha Alghamdi

Clinical features of culture-proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ObjectiveThis retrospective chart review describes the epidemiology and clinical features of 40 patients with culture-proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsPatients with positive M. pneumoniae cultures from respiratory specimens from January 1997 through December 1998 were identified through the Microbiology records. Charts of patients were reviewed.Results40 patients were identified, 33 (82.5%) of whom required admission. Most infections (92.5%) were community-acquired. The infection affected all age groups but was most common in infants (32.5%) and pre-school children (22.5%). It occurred year-round but was most common in the fall (35%) and spring (30%). More than three-quarters of patients (77.5%) had comorbidities. Twenty-four isolates (60%) were associated with pneumonia, 14 (35%) with upper respiratory tract infections, and 2 (5%) with bronchiolitis. Cough (82.5%), fever (75%), and malaise (58.8%) were the most common symptoms, and crepitations (60%), and wheezes (40%) were the most common signs. Most patients with pneumonia had crepitations (79.2%) but only 25% had bronchial breathing. Immunocompromised patients were more likely than non-immunocompromised patients to present with pneumonia (8/9 versus 16/31, P = 0.05). Of the 24 patients with pneumonia, 14 (58.3%) had uneventful recovery, 4 (16.7%) recovered following some complications, 3 (12.5%) died because of M pneumoniae infection, and 3 (12.5%) died due to underlying comorbidities. The 3 patients who died of M pneumoniae pneumonia had other comorbidities.Conclusionour results were similar to published data except for the finding that infections were more common in infants and preschool children and that the mortality rate of pneumonia in patients with comorbidities was high.

Pattern of colorectal cancer at two hospitals in the western region of Saudi Arabia

PATIENTS AND METHODS Data of all patients with CRC treated at two hospitals in the Western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), between 1993 and 2002, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Out of the 121 patients evaluated, ten were excluded because of incomplete data. Out of 111 patients, 59 (53.2%) were males, with a male to female ratio of 1.13: 1 and 49 (44.1 %) were Saudis. Thirty-three patients (29.7%) were 40 years or less and 78 (70.3%) were more than 40 years. Colon cancer was found in 69 patients (62.2%) and rectal cancer in 42 (37.8%). Stages at presentation were; stage 0 (2.7%), stage I (11.7%), stage II (23.4%), stage III (20.7%), stage IV (22.5%) and the staging was unknown in 18.9% of the patients. The most common tumor grade was moderately differentiated (38.7%), followed by poorly differentiated (20.7%) and well differentiated 19.8% of the patients. Forty-four patients (39.6%) were alive at the time of data collection, 43 (38.7%) expired and 24 (21.6%) were lost to follow up. Correlation between age groups revealed that young patients had more advanced stage and poorly differentiated tumors than > 40 years old (p= 0.005 and 0.024 respectively). CONCLUSION Compared to data from Western countries, colorectal cancer in this population is more common in younger patients. It presents more commonly in a more advanced stage and poorly differentiated type than in older patients.

The Co-Morbidities and Mortality Rate among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients at the Western Region of Saudi Arabia A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study@@@نسبة الوفيات في مرضى التهاب المفاصل الرثاوي (الروماتويد)

To evaluate the mortality rate in a well defined hospital; based patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis over a three year period and to investigate the causes of death with their associated risk factors. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted for rheumatoid arthritis patients over a three year period (2006-2008) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah at the western region of Saudi Arabia. The causes of death and the associated co-morbidities were registered and compared statistically in relation to the mortality rate. Patients who fulfilled the criteria of the study were included (n = 116). The mortality rate was 16%. The most important causes of death and contributing factors were cardiovascular system diseases and infections (58%), followed by respiratory system diseases (47%) and renal impairment (32%). The most common co- morbidities were diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity (p < 0.001, 0.01, 0.03). This study gives important information of the variables associated with the mortality in rheumatoid arthritis and the associated factors which may accelerate the occurrence of an earlier death.