Browsing by Author "Assiri, Abdullah M."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Clinical features and outcome of human Mpox (Monkeypox) in Saudi Arabia: An observational study of travel-related cases
    (Elsevier, 2023) Assiri, Abdullah M.; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Jokhdar, Hani A.; Algwizani, Abdullah R.; Albarraq, Ahmed M.; Alanazi, Khalid H.; Alamri, Ahlam H.; Almohammadi, Emad L.; Abuhasan, Musallam Y.; Alserehi, Haleema A.; Rebh, Fatimah Z.; Alrossais, Amirah; Alawad, Eman; AlBahrani, Salma; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: The 2022 Monkeypox virus (Mpox) outbreak had involved multiple countries around the globe. Here, we report clinical features and outcome of human Mpox of the first cases in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We obtained records of confirmed Mpox cases in Saudi Arabia from the public electronic health information system, Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) and the healthcare providers completed a de-identified structured clinical data collection form. Results: The reported seven cases were travel-related and all were males between 24 and 41 years of age (mean age + SD) was 30.14 (+ 6.69) years. Of the cases, three (43 %) had heterosexual contact and the others had other intimate encounters while traveling abroad. They presented with skin lesions (100 %), fever (86 %), and lymphadenopathy (71 %). The illness was mild to moderate, did not require antiviral medications, and lasted 7-15 days. The mean duration of skin rash (+ SD) was 10 (+ 2.68) days. Routine laboratory tests (CBC, BUN, serum electrolytes, and liver enzymes) were within normal limits, and initial screening for HIV was negative. Expanded contact tracing did not reveal secondary cases of Mpox in the community or the healthcare setting. Conclusion: The current study showed heterosexual transmission of Mpox and the clinical course was mild and non-complicated. Therefore, clinicians and public health professionals should consider Mpox among individuals presenting with skin rash especially in the context of the investigation of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A combined model for COVID-19 pandemic control: The application of Haddon's matrix and community risk reduction tools combined
    (Elsevier, 2022) Khan, Anas; Almuzaini, Yasir; Aburas, Alhanouf; Alharbi, Naif Khalaf; Alghnam, Suliman; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Alahmari, Ahmed; Alsofayan, Yousef Mohammad; Alamri, Fahad; Garout, Mohammed A.; Assiri, Abdullah M.; Jokhdar, Hani A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: To mitigate morbidity, mortality, and impacts of COVID-19 on health, it was essential to implement a comprehensive framework for COVID-19 control and prevention. A well-recognized tool from the field of injury prevention known as the Haddon matrix was utilized. The matrix states that any accident is affected by the host, agent, and environment. Another well-recognized tool used by the national fire protection association known as the Community risk reduction tool (CRR). The (CRR) tool utilizes the Five E's of Community Risk Reduction. Aim of the study: To describe the risk factors that increase the susceptibility and the severity of COVID-19 infection based on the Haddon matrix and the proposed prevention strategies by the CRR tool by using the combined model. Methodology: We reviewed the literature to assess known factors contributing to COVID-19 susceptibility, infection, and severity of infection. We then used the Haddon matrix to structure, separating human factors from technical and environmental details and timing. We then used the community risk reduction (CRR) model to set all responses and control measures for each element obtained from the Haddon matrix tool. Subsequently, we incorporated both tools to develop the combined model. Conclusion: we proposed and implemented a combined model that utilizes the CRR model as the systematic strategy for the more theoretical framework of Haddon's matrix. Combining both models was practical and helpful in planning the preparedness and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia that can be generalized to national and international levels.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcome of mpox: A study of 381 cases in Saudi Arabia
    (Elsevier, 2024-03-21) Assiri, Abdullah M.; Alserehi, Haleema; Abuhasan, Musallam Yunus; Khalil, Einas Adul Aziz; Al-Thunayan, Mohammed Hussain; Alshehri, Mohammed Saaban; Alrossais, Amirah Abdulmohsen; Abudahish, Abdulrahman Saeed; Alsahafi, Abdullah Jaber; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Objectives: There are limited data on the clinical and epidemiological aspects of mpox in Saudi Arabia. This study investigates the characteristics of Mpox cases from May to September 2023. Methods: A total of 381 cases of Mpox were included in this study, diagnosed based on a combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory testing. Results: The majority of mpox cases were males (91.1%), with a mean age of (±SD) of 32.4 (±8.3) years; 356 (93.4%) did not report travel, 277 (72.7%) denied engaging in extra-marital sex, and 379 (99.5%) were not linked to secondary cases. Fever was reported in 371 (97.4%), whereas headache was present in 314 (82.4%). Cough (1.3%) and conjunctivitis (0.5%) were rare. The most commonly affected areas in terms of lesions were the palms and soles (297 cases, 78%), followed by the genitals (206 cases, 54%), face (198 cases, 52%), and mouth (160 cases, 42%). Of the 1325 identified contacts, 1134 (85.5%) were hospital contacts, and 191 (14.5%) were community contacts, and 393 (29.6%) were high-risk contact. Of the high-risk contacts, 284 (72.3%) accepted post-exposure vaccination. The genotyped samples were all subclade IIb (formerly the West Africa clade). Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into mpox characteristics in Saudi Arabia. The genome of monkeypox virus belonged to subclade IIb of the West Africa clade. Further analysis of the global tree sublineage is needed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Outcomes of single dose COVID-19 vaccines: Eight month follow-up of a large cohort in Saudi Arabia
    (Elsevier, 2022) Alharbi, Naif Khalaf; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Alghnam, Suliman; Alwehaibe, Amal; Alasmari, Abrar; Alsagaby, Suliman A.; Alsubaie, Faisal; Alshomrani, Majid; Farahat, Fayssal M.; Bosaeed, Mohammad; Alharbi, Ahmad; Aldibasi, Omar; Assiri, Abdullah M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Two vaccines for COVID-19 have been approved and administered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); Pfizer-BioNtech BNT162b2 and AstraZeneca-Oxford AZD1222 vaccines. The purpose of this study was to describe the real-world data on the outcome of single dose of these COVID-19 vaccines in a large cohort in KSA and to analyse demographics and co-morbidities as risk factors for infection post one-dose vaccination. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 18,543 subjects received one dose of either of the vaccines at a vaccination centre in KSA, and were followed up for three to eight months. Data were collected from three sources; clinical data from medical records, adverse events (AEs) from a self-reporting system, and COVID-19 infection data from the national databases. The study was conducted during the pandemic restrictions on travel, mobility, and social interactions. Results: The median age of participants was 33 years with an average body mass index of 27.3. The majority were males (60.1%). Results showed that 92.17% of the subjects had no COVID-19 infection post-vaccination as infection post-vaccination was documented for 1452 (7.83%). Diabetes mellitus 03), organ transplantation (p = 0.02), and obesity (p < 0.01) were associated with infection post-vaccination. Unlike vaccine type, being Saudi, male, or obese was associated with the occurrence breakthrough infections more than other parameters. AEs included injection site pain, fatigue, fever, myalgia, headache and was reported by 5.8% of the subjects. Conclusion: Single dose COVID-19 vaccines showed a protection rate of 92.17% up to eight months follow-up in this cohort. This rate in AZD1222 was higher than what have been previously reported in effectiveness studies and clinical trials. Obese, male, and Saudi were at higher risk of contracting the infection post-vaccination, Saudi and male might have more social interaction with the public when mobility and social interactions were limited during the pandemic. Side effects and AEs were within what has been reported in clinical trials.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The human monkeypox in Saudi Arabia and global tourism
    (Elsevier, 2022-09-17) Alshahrani, Najim Z.; Assiri, Abdullah M.; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Rodriguez-Morales, Alfonso J.; Sah, Ranjit; Medicine, School of Medicine
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Viral aetiology of severe acute respiratory illness among patients admitted during the 2022 peri-Hajj period
    (Elsevier, 2023-05-21) Assiri, Abdullah M.; Alsuraihi, Haleemah; Alshahrani, Amal Mohammad Mubark; Alzaid, Saleh Zaid; Albarraq, Ahmed Mohammed; Asiri, Sari; Algwizani, Abdullah Rshoud; Alotaibi, Adel; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) among pilgrims continues to be an important healthcare issue. The aim of this study was to describe the viral aetiology of patients admitted to hospitals in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah during the 2022 peri-Hajj period. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to hospitals with SARI. Patients were tested with multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the most common viral aetiologies. Results: In total, 179 cases of SARI were identified during the study period. Of these, 101 (56.4%) were males, 78 (43.6%) were females, and 78 (43.6%) were Saudi. The mean age was 58.60 years (standard deviation 20.5) years. The most common age group was ≥65 years (n=68, 36%), followed by 55-59 years (n=37, 19%). The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (n=67, 36%), hypertension (n=65, 35%) and chronic lung disease (n=34, 18%). Eighty-five (47.5%) patients tested negative and 94 (42.5%) tested positive for various viral aetiologies. The most frequently detected viruses were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) (n=28, 15%) and influenza (n=22, 12%); of the influenza cases, 16 were influenza A (6 (43%) were H3N2), and six were influenza B. The only case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was in a citizen, and none of the visitors or residents had MERS-CoV. Of the total cases, 27 (14%) died during the follow-up period. In a binary regression analysis, only age was associated with mortality (P=0.002). Conclusion: The most commonly detected viruses among patients admitted to hospital with SARI were SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. It is important to continue surveillance of admitted and non-admitted patients in different Hajj periods to identify any shift in the aetiologic agents.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Viral shedding and antibody response in 37 patients with MERS-coronavirus infection
    (Oxford, 2016-11) Corman, Victor M.; Albarrak, Ali M.; Omrani, Ali Senosi; Albarrak, Mohammed M.; Farah, Mohamed Elamin; Almasri, Malak; Muth, Doreen; Sieberg, Andrea; Meyer, Benjamin; Assiri, Abdullah M.; Binger, Tabea; Steinhagen, Katja; Lattwein, Erik; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar; Müller, Marcel A.; Drosten, Christian; Memish, Ziad A.; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    Background. The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus causes isolated cases and outbreaks of severe respiratory disease. Essential features of the natural history of disease are poorly understood. Methods. We studied 37 adult patients infected with MERS coronavirus for viral load in the lower and upper respiratory tracts (LRT and URT, respectively), blood, stool, and urine. Antibodies and serum neutralizing activities were determined over the course of disease. Results. One hundred ninety-nine LRT samples collected during the 3 weeks following diagnosis yielded virus RNA in 93% of tests. Average (maximum) viral loads were 5 × 106 (6 × 1010) copies/mL. Viral loads (positive detection frequencies) in 84 URT samples were 1.9 × 104 copies/mL (47.6%). Thirty-three percent of all 108 serum samples tested yielded viral RNA. Only 14.6% of stool and 2.4% of urine samples yielded viral RNA. All seroconversions occurred during the first 2 weeks after diagnosis, which corresponds to the second and third week after symptom onset. Immunoglobulin M detection provided no advantage in sensitivity over immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection. All surviving patients, but only slightly more than half of all fatal cases, produced IgG and neutralizing antibodies. The levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies were weakly and inversely correlated with LRT viral loads. Presence of antibodies did not lead to the elimination of virus from LRT. Conclusions. The timing and intensity of respiratory viral shedding in patients with MERS closely matches that of those with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Blood viral RNA does not seem to be infectious. Extrapulmonary loci of virus replication seem possible. Neutralizing antibodies do not suffice to clear the infection.