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Sepsis caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) continues to cause mortality and morbidity in newborns, especially in developing countries. Bacterial sepsis in newborns varies nationally and even within countries. Developing countries have reported 34 deaths per 1000 live births compared to 5 in developed countries. This systemic review aimed to assess the prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women and the incidence of neonatal GBS sepsis in Saudi Arabia. A literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE Ovid, and Google Scholar was conducted. A total of 21 studies were found: 15 described maternal GBS colonization and 6 studies described neonatal GBS infections. The GBS colonization prevalence among pregnant women ranged from 2.1% to 32.8%. Inconsistencies in the reporting method for neonatal GBS infection rates were observed. Only two studies have the incidence of neonatal GBS as the primary outcome. No national multicenter studies exist on the GBS rates among neonates. Nationwide studies are warranted to assess the burden of GBS infections in neonates. These studies would guide appropriate GBS screening strategies during pregnancy for application in a national public health program.

Despite their remarkable biosynthetic potential, Bacillus subtilis have been widely overlooked. However, their capability to withstand harsh conditions (extreme temperature, Ultraviolet (UV) and γ-radiation, and dehydration) and the promiscuous metabolites they synthesize have created increased commercial interest in them as a therapeutic agent, a food preservative, and a plant-pathogen control agent. Nevertheless, the commercial-scale availability of these metabolites is constrained due to challenges in their accessibility via synthesis and low fermentation yields. In the context of this rising in interest, we comprehensively visualized the antimicrobial peptides produced by B. subtilis and highlighted their prospective applications in various industries. Moreover, we proposed and classified these metabolites produced by the B. subtilis group based on their biosynthetic pathways and chemical structures. The biosynthetic pathway, bioactivity, and chemical structure are discussed in detail for each class. We believe that this review will spark a renewed interest in the often disregarded B. subtilis and its remarkable biosynthetic capabilities.

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, posing a significant threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections. The accurate and timely detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is crucial for implementing appropriate treatment strategies and preventing the spread of resistant strains. This manuscript provides an overview of the current and emerging technologies used for the detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We discuss traditional culture-based methods, molecular techniques, and innovative approaches, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and potential future applications. By understanding the strengths and limitations of these technologies, researchers and healthcare professionals can make informed decisions in combating antibiotic resistance and improving patient outcomes.

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend seasonal influenza vaccination for all individuals aged 6 months and older. Despite high national immunization rates, the influenza vaccination coverage among Saudi children remains unclear. Parental knowledge and attitudes significantly impact children’s vaccination rates. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate parental knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination and identify barriers to vaccination uptake among children in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The population includes parents having children aged 6 months to 14 years. A cross-sectional survey utilizing a 33-item validated questionnaire was conducted to evaluate parental awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward the influenza vaccine. Inferential statistics were employed to evaluate demographic factors influencing parental knowledge and attitudes toward vaccination. Results: This study surveyed 407 parents from Al-Madinah, focusing on their awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccination. The sample was primarily Saudi (86.7%), with a mean age of 34 years. Most parents (95.6%) were aware of the vaccine, primarily through media and campaigns. Despite this, only 44.5% had vaccinated themselves or their children, citing perceptions of influenza as mild, vaccine ineffectiveness, and availability issues as primary reasons for non-vaccination. Knowledge about influenza varied, with most parents aware of its contagiousness (64.4%) and symptoms, but misconceptions persisted, such as believing the vaccine could cause the flu. Parental attitudes towards vaccination were mostly positive, with high trust in health information sources and a mean attitude score of 22.48 out of 35. Positive attitudes were correlated with better knowledge and more frequent infection control practices. Age, education, and medical profession status significantly influenced knowledge, while vaccine attitudes were most favorable among those vaccinated (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Most parents in Al-Madinah recognize the importance of vaccination; however, misconceptions about vaccine safety, perceived low need, and barriers such as vaccine availability persist. Sociodemographic factors, including education, income, and profession, are linked to better knowledge and more positive attitudes toward vaccination.

Objectives Our objective was to develop and validate a virtual patient (VP) learning module to educate pediatric residents about antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) principles. A VP module on complicated pneumonia was developed by experts in AMS and pediatric infectious diseases using the online platform DecisionSim ™ . Decision points were based on AMS principles (diagnosis, antimicrobial selection, dosing, de-escalation, route, duration). Pediatric residents in all training levels at a tertiary pediatric hospital were recruited to test the VP module. Knowledge was assessed via a multiple choice questionnaire. Mean knowledge scores were compared before, after, and 4 months after completing the module using Generalized Linear Mixed Repeated Measures (RM) Analysis. Resident satisfaction was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Results Seven of 24 pediatric residents (Years 1–4) completed the VP module and pre- and post-module questionnaires. Mean knowledge scores before, immediately after and 4 months after the module were 58.2%, 66.6%, and 71.6%, respectively. The change in knowledge across time was significant (p < 0.001). Residents were satisfied with the module as an AMS learning strategy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc all around the world. The causative agent of COVID-19 is the novel form of the coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV-2, which results in immune system disruption, increased inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). T cells have been important components of the immune system, which decide the fate of the COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have reported an important subset of T cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs), which possess immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory properties and play a crucial role in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 patients have considerably fewer Tregs than the general population. Such a decrement may have an impact on COVID-19 patients in a number of ways, including diminishing the effect of inflammatory inhibition, creating an inequality in the Treg/Th17 percentage, and raising the chance of respiratory failure. Having fewer Tregs may enhance the likelihood of long COVID development in addition to contributing to the disease’s poor prognosis. Additionally, tissue-resident Tregs provide tissue repair in addition to immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory activities, which may aid in the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The severity of the illness is also linked to abnormalities in the Tregs’ phenotype, such as reduced expression of FoxP3 and other immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-beta. Hence, in this review, we summarize the immunosuppressive mechanisms and their possible roles in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, the perturbations in Tregs have been associated with disease severity. The roles of Tregs are also explained in the long COVID. This review also discusses the potential therapeutic roles of Tregs in the management of patients with COVID-19.

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a novel syndrome associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with varying clinical features. This study aimed to analyze the expression profiles of cytokines in blood, report the important clinical characteristics, and correlate these with the short- and mid-term outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on hospitalized children with MIS-C from March 2021 to May 2022. Phenotypes were classified into two groups (A,B) according to the severity of the disease and the need for invasive respiratory support. Clinical features, laboratory parameters, and outcomes were reported. Results: We identified 60 children with MIS-C (mean age of 7.4 ± 3.8 years) compared to 30 age- and sex-matched controls with simple COVID-19. The clinical manifestations of MIS-C patients were fever (100%), respiratory (83.3%), GIT (80%), and conjunctivitis (80%). Twenty-seven MIS-C children (45%) required PICU admission due to shock and needed mechanical ventilation. Anemia, lymphopenia, and elevated levels of inflammatory and tissue injury markers were observed in the MIS-C groups (mainly B). High cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-α, GM-CSF, and HMGB1) were observed acutely in the MIS-C children, and a persistent elevation of some cytokines were reported at midterm follow-up, especially in Group B. Conclusion: Robust inflammatory response to COVID-19 disease with elevated IL-1β, IL-6, and GM-CSF levels might explain the severity and outcome of the clinical syndrome.

AimsGroup B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most frequent bacterial pathogens causing invasive infections in neonates. It can be transmitted from colonised mother to neonates around delivery. Screening strategies for GBS during pregnancy include either universal culture-based or risk-based screening. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and current practices of pregnant women towards GBS screening in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Madinah Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, from May to July 2018. Participants were recruited from postnatal wards. Participants were interviewed using a previously published validated survey that was divided into the following domains: demographic data, knowledge, experience and attitude towards different GBS screening strategies.ResultsA total of 377 out of 450 women (response rate 83.7%) were enrolled. The results showed that the overall mean knowledge score of the pregnant women towards GBS screening was 59.8%. Majority of the women (66.8%) were not aware of the GBS bacterium, while 86.5% of them had never been informed of GBS risk assessment during their pregnancies. The mean knowledge score among women who were aware of GBS (62.8%) was significantly higher than that among women who were not (58.4%) (p=0.015). However, majority of the pregnant women (61.8%) showed preference for universal culture-based GBS screening strategy over risk-based strategy.ConclusionThe study results have concluded that the level of awareness and knowledge about GBS among pregnant women were relatively poor; however, majority of the pregnant women prefer universal culture-based screening.

Background ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is composed of ten Southeast Asian countries bound by socio-cultural ties that promote regional peace and stability. South Asia, located in the southern subregion of Asia, includes nine countries sharing similarities in geographical and ethno-cultural factors. Chikungunya is one of the most significant problems in Southeast and South Asian countries. Much of the current chikungunya epidemic in Southeast Asia is caused by the emergence of a virus strain that originated in Africa and spread to Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, in South Asia, three confirmed lineages are in circulation. Given the positive correlation between research activity and the improvement of the clinical framework of biomedical research, this article aimed to examine the growth of chikungunya virus-related research in ASEAN and South Asian countries. Methods The Scopus database was used for this bibliometric analysis. The retrieved publications were subjected to a number of analyses, including those for the most prolific countries, journals, authors, institutions, and articles. Co-occurrence mapping of terms and keywords was used to determine the current state, emerging topics, and future prospects of chikungunya virus-related research. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer were used to analyze the data and visualize the collaboration network mapping. Results The Scopus search engine identified 1280 chikungunya-related documents published by ASEAN and South Asian countries between 1967 and 2022. According to our findings, India was the most productive country in South Asia, and Thailand was the most productive country in Southeast Asia. In the early stages of the study, researchers investigated the vectors and outbreaks of the chikungunya virus. In recent years, the development of antivirus agents has emerged as a prominent topic. Conclusions Our study is the first to present the growth of chikungunya virus-related research in ASEAN and South Asian countries from 1967 to 2022. In this study, the evaluation of the comprehensive profile of research on chikungunya can serve as a guide for future studies. In addition, a bibliometric analysis may serve as a resource for healthcare policymakers.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted public health, with emerging evidence suggesting substantial effects on maternal and neonatal health. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the prevalence and risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Methods We conducted a literature search in Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science up to April 20, without language or date restrictions. Observational studies reporting on the prevalence or risk of RDS among newborns from mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Quality assessment was performed using the JBI tool. Statistical analysis was performed by using R software version 4.3. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of RDS among newborns born to COVID-19-infected mothers was 11.5% (95% CI: 7.4–17.3%), with significant heterogeneity (I² = 93%). Newborns from infected mothers had a significantly higher risk of developing RDS, with a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 2.69 (95% CI: 1.77 to 4.17). Conclusion Newborns born to mothers with COVID-19 have a substantially increased risk of developing RDS. These findings emphasize the need for vigilant monitoring and appropriate management of pregnant women with COVID-19 to mitigate adverse neonatal outcomes.