Main Controls on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Paleozoic in Central Saudi Arabia

Sandi Arabia is renown for its rich oil and gas Mesozoic. However, the discovery of Paleozoic fields in resources with the bulk of the reserves reservo/red in the the late 1980s has encouraged further exploration in the Paleozoic. This paper reviews the salient features of the Paleozoic petroleum geology in central Saudi Arabia and discusses the main factors controlling hydrocarbon accumulation in the Paleozoic. The Lower Silurian Qusaiba hot shale is the principal source rock for the hydrocarbons discovered in the Ordovician to Permian reservoirs. Of them, the Permo- Carboniferous Unayzah and Upper Ordovician Sarah Formations have the best exploration potential. The key factors controlling hydrocarbon accumulation in the Unayzah Formation are migration pathways and reservoir petrophysics. The key factors controlling hydrocarbon accumulation in the Sarah Formation are reservoir petrophysics and the development of structural traps.

A Quasi Experiment to Implement Multimodal Strategy to Improve Hand Hygiene Behavior in a Healthcare Facility in Central Saudi Arabia

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) remains suboptimal despite standard multimodal promotion, and evidence for the effectiveness of novel interventions is urgently needed. Aim: Improve HCWs’ HH compliance toward minimizing healthcare associated infection (HCAI) risk in Wadi Al Dawasir Hospital (WDH), central Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methodology: A quasi experimental approach was adopted to achieve study aim. The HCWs’ behavior of HH during the duration between 2015 and 2016 was evaluated before and after a HH educational plan based on the World Health Organization (WHO) “Multimodal HH Improvement Strategy” (MMHHIS). The HCWs’ compliance in response to HH indications represented by the WHO’s “My 5-Moments for HH” and the type of HH action taken, whether hand washing (HW) or hand-rubbing (HR) were analyzed. Results: The number of opportunities observed of HH performance accounted 230 in 2015 (pre-education), and 237 in 2016 (post-education). The HCWs’ HH compliance rate in the pre-education phase did not vary by the 5-moment indications [χ2(df 4) = 0.01, p = 0.98]. Conversely, the compliance rate after HH education was higher than non-compliance across all 5-moment indication opportunities (ranged between 57.0% up to 88.9%) [χ2(df 1) = 18.25, p rd and 4th 5-moment indications (“after body fluid exposure” and “after patient contact,” respectively) were met with a significant HH improvement [χ2(df 1) = 8.98, p = 0.003;and χ2(df 1) = 16.3, p −4.38, p = 0.001). Only physicians and nurses showed a significant “within-profession” improvement in HH compliance after education, compared to that before education (Z = −3.51, p = 0.001, Z = −2.48, p = 0.013, respectively). Conclusions: Applying a HH education plan based on standardized multimodal HH strategy proved effective in improving the HH compliance of the hospital’s staff. An ongoing observation policy within a HH-resourceful environment assures a sustainable and sound HCWs’ HH behavior.

Hydrogeology of Wadi Qudaid Area, Northeast Jeddah, West Central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

The study area is a part of the Arabian Shield rocks of west central part of Saudi Arabia (150 km to the northeast of Jeddah). Geologically, the study area comprises five main geologic units i.e. 1) Layered basic volcanics and related volcaniclastics which are composed mainly from intercalated basalts and andesites and the related volcaniclastic derivatives, 2) Acidic volcanics and related volcaniclastics which are composed from layered and laminated dark and light acidic to intermediate igneous rocks, quartz and chert and marbles, 3) The Tertiary sedimentary succession which of volcaniclastic red beds and the intercalated clays;5) Tertiary volcanics of Harrart, and 4) The Quaternary wadi fill deposits which are composed from friable pebble supported conglomerates, sandstones and clays. Hydrogeologically, the groundwater aquifer of Wadi Qudaid is present mainly in two main horizons i.e. i) unconfined shallow aquifer (13 - 37 m) within the well porous and permeable conglomerates of the Quaternary Wadi deposits, ii) The deep confined aquifer of the bedded tuffaceous sandstones and mudstone of the Tertiary sedimentary succession of Ash Shumaysi Formation. The water samples are analyzed for major elements i.e. Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, SO4, HCO3 and the results show the normal content of these elements. The study related the addition and depletion of many elements during the running trip of the groundwater from the northeast (recharge area) to the southwest (downstream) area.

Central Nervous System Tuberculosis: Clinical Characteristics and Outcome. A Saudi Tertiary Care Centre Experience

Background: Tuberculosis is an endemic problem that is of important public health concern in Saudi Arabia. Available recent prevalence of tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary) was estimated to be 13.7 per 100,000 people living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all Central Nervous System tuberculosis patients (CNS-TB) treated at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1996 and 2010. CNS-TB was defined as follows: patients who had symptoms and signs of CNS-TB with radiographic, microbiologic, or histopathologic evidence of tuberculous infection and/or those with highly probable diagnosis, supported by radiographic typical features, not confirmed microbiologically but who responded to anti-TB therapy. Results: Eighty two patients (46 males) met our definition with the mean age of 50 years. Only 11 patients (13.4%) reported previous TB infection. The most common presenting symptoms were: headache (51%), fever (50%), weakness (43%), confusion (29%) and seizures (28%). The most common signs found by clinical examination were: weakness (45%) followed by sensory impairment. Positive CSF acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture confirmed the diagnosis in 20 out of 49 tested patients (about 41%). Brain CT scan was done in 74 patients and meningeal enhancement was identified in only 6 patients (8%) but ring enhancing lesions were found in 19 patients (26%). In MRI meningeal enhancement was founded in 26 patients (37%) and ring enhanced lesions in 36 patients (51%). After receiving treatment, 45 patients (55%) had complete or good recovery and 23 patients (28%) had partial recovery. However, 15% (12 patients) had poor or no improvement. 2 patients (2%) lost their follow up. Conclusion: CNS-TB continues to be a major health issue especially in endemic areas such as Saudi Arabia. The diverse clinical presentations, lack of high yield, practical and reliable diagnosis methods and inconsistent management plans require further research and harder work in order to meet the current challenges and reach a unified case definition and evidence based management guidelines that would be a very practical step.