Samar Yahya Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The fourth annual Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Update Conference ended in Jeddah on Wednesday with a series of recommendations to prevent diseases and improve general healthcare. The three-day conference, which was held under the support of Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, hosted speakers from different specialties concerned with contagious diseases. Workshops and sessions discussed the conditions of common diseases in the Kingdom, in addition to the latest ways to combating them worldwide and discussing the complications caused as a result of excessive use of antibiotics. The conference, held by the Saudi Society for Infectious Diseases, is an annual event and major hub that hosts specialists in the field of infectious diseases and microbiology from all over the Kingdom. The conference also hosted speakers from different regions in the Kingdom, including Jazan, Abha, Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah, Tabuk, Jeddah and Makkah, where they exchanged experiences and discussed peculiar cases and ways of treatment. The conference dealt with the definition of infectious diseases such as dengue, tuberculosis, AIDS, and others. It also focused on AIDS and methods of treating the disease. The conference highlighted the rights of AIDS patients and how the community should deal with this disease. Another focus was on increasing awareness of the disease and methods of treatment. Other topics in the conference included how to deal with new respiratory viruses, reduce the spread of infection in hospitals and the latest in scientific research in this area. The conference hosted more than 15 workshops on training doctors on the correct use of antibiotics and how to control the spread of infections in hospitals. Recommendations also focused on limiting the spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics by emphasizing the importance of getting antibiotics only by prescription and the real need for the community to cooperate with the Ministry of Health to reduce the spread of dengue fever by instantly reporting any stagnant water spots. Another expected recommendation is that the media play their role in positive awareness and educate the community. Dr. Nezar Bahabry, consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, said: “The conference hosts specialists and consultants from diverse areas in the Kingdom who will also discuss contagious diseases in their regions. “This is really helpful in facilitating the exchange of experiences and if the same disease recurred, physicians will have experience in dealing with it.”
