Background. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a frequent cause of serious health problems with high morbidity and mortality. The risk of S. aureus infections is increased with the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This study aims to determine the nasal carriage rate of both S. aureus and MRSA among schoolchildren in Sana’a city. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2018 to May 2020. Five hundred and thirty-six students were enrolled. Their age ranged from 5 to 19 years with the mean age and standard deviation equal to 13.3 ± 3.5 years. Nasal swabs were collected from each student for culturing and methicillin susceptibility testing. Results. Students with positive culture were 271 (51%) males and 265 (49%) females. S. aureus was isolated from 129 (24%) students whereas the overall prevalence of MRSA was 8 (1.5%). S. aureus was significantly recovered from students at the age group of 10–14 years (χ2 = 7.02; p = 0.03 ), females than males (OR = 1.96; χ2 = 10.75; p = 0.001 ), and students who were admitted into hospitals (OR = 1.6; χ2 = 4.89; p = 0.03 ). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between MRSA carriage and students’ age (χ2 = 2.3; p = 0.32 ), gender (OR = 1.02; χ2 = 0.001; p = 0.63 ), and hospital admission (OR = 1.4; χ2 = 0.25; p = 0.62 ). Conclusions. The prevalence of MRSA is low among schoolchildren in Sana’a city. Age, gender, and previous hospital admission were statistically associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus but not MRSA nasal carriage.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a frequent cause of serious health problems with high morbidity and mortality. The risk of S. aureus infections is increased with the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The aim of this study is to determine the nasal carriage rate of both S. aureus and MRSA among schoolchildren in Sana’a city.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2018 to May 2020. Five hundred and eighty eight students were enrolled. Nasal swabs were collected from each student for culturing and methicillin susceptibility testing. Results: Out 588 nasal swab, 536 yielded bacterial growth. Students with positive culture were 271(51%) males and 265(49%) females. Their age ranged from 5 to 19 years old with mean age and standard deviation equaled to 13.3±3.5 years. S. aureus was isolated from 129 (24%) students whereas the overall prevalence of MRSA was 8(1.5%). S. aureus was significantly recovered from students at age group 10-14 years (χ2 = 7.02, p = 0.03), females than males (OR= 1.96, χ2 = 10.75, p = 0.001), and students who were admitted into hospitals (OR= 1.6, χ2 = 4.89, p = 0.03). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between MRSA carriage and students’ age (χ2 = 2.3, p = 0.32), gender (OR= 1.02, χ2 = 0.001, p = 0.63), and hospital admission (OR= 1.4, χ2 = 0.25, p = 0.62). Conclusions: The prevalence of MRSA is low among schoolchildren in Sana’a city. Age, gender and previous hospital admission were statistically associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus but not MRSA nasal carriage.

Background and objectives: Brucellosis continues a most important health problem in numerous parts of the world and in the Middle East regions is a significant origin of acute febrile illness. This study was conducted to determine Brucella antibodies among patients with PUO, the association of brucellosis with demographic characteristics, identify clinical symptoms and risk factors for Brucella infection among PUO cases. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional research study was conducted in two health institutions; Al-Jumhouri Hospital and Al-Thawra Hospital, between January 2021 to January 2022. The required data were gathered from each patient by using pre-defined standardized questionnaire.  Five mL of sterile whole blood was collected from each patient and then tested for Brucella antibodies using a standard tubular agglutination test. The data were then analyzed using the statistical software Epi Info version 6. Results: Among the 241 PUO patients, females were 72.2% and males 27.8%. The mean ± SD for total age was 28.8±15.8 years. The rate of Brucella antibody among patients with PUO was 29%, females 78.6% higher than males by 21.4%. Clinical characteristics of PUO patients were persistent fever (36.9%), intermittent fever (63.1%), sweating (63.5%), shivering (61.4%), joint pain (78.4%), muscle pain (78.4%), back pain (74.7) back head pain (66.4%), headache (60.4%), weight loss (52.9%), body weakness (89.2%), loss of appetite (50.6%), and nausea (46.1%).  The risk factors for brucellosis among the PUO patients was handling of animals during parturition (69.2%, OR=7, p<0.0001). Conclusion:  These findings revealed a high prevalence of human brucellosis among PUO patients in Sana'a city and will becoming a serious problem that threats the health care system in Yemen. So, awareness programs should be provided to doctors, population about Brucella infection and its risk factors.                          Peer Review History: Received: 4 January 2022; Revised: 16 February; Accepted: 10 March, Available online: 15 March 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Princess Nourah bint abdulrahman university, Riyadh, amalbgadley@pnu.edu.sa UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Dr. Wadhah Hassan Ali Edrees, Hajja University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com Similar Articles: PATTERNS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AMONG MAJOR BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES IN TWO TERTIARY’S HOSPITALS, IN SANA'A, YEMEN