Pyoderma among Hajj Pilgrims in Makkah.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Hajj pilgrims face potential health risks, including bacterial skin infections.
• Increasing antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive bacteria is a growing global concern.
• Understanding the microbiological profile of pyodermas is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the microbiological profile of bacterial skin infections among Hajj pilgrims.
• To assess the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated pathogens.
• To inform treatment guidelines for pyodermas in this population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective clinical and bacteriological study was conducted on 80 pyoderma patients.
• Patients attended the dermatology clinic at King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, during two Hajj seasons (2000-2001).
• Cultures were analyzed to identify causative organisms and their antibiotic resistance patterns.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen in both primary (65.6%) and secondary (44.7%) pyodermas.
• High resistance rates were observed for Staphylococcus aureus against penicillin (80.85%) and tetracycline (10.6%).
• Oxacillin and cephalothin exhibited low resistance rates (2.1%) against Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusions:

• Pyoderma is a significant health issue for Hajj pilgrims.
• Penicillin and tetracycline are largely ineffective against Staphylococcus aureus skin infections.
• Oxacillin is recommended as a first-line treatment for Staphylococcus aureus-related pyodermas in Hajj pilgrims.