Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent form of urinary tract diseases affecting individuals of all ages and genders. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), UTIs are a significant burden on the healthcare system, comprising 10% of all infections and ranking as the second leading cause of emergency department admissions. Despite this, limited research has been conducted in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Jazan Province, located in the southwestern region. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study encompassed individuals with positive urine cultures who sought care at a tertiary hospital in Jazan between January 2022 and March 2023. A standardized data collection form was utilized to retrieve relevant information from microbiology lab test results and patients’ electronic medical records. Variables such as sex, urine sample collection date, bacterial isolates, antibiotic sensitivity, and resistance were collected using the data collection form. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: A total of 1082 urinary bacterial samples were isolated and identified. Females accounted for more bacterial infections (62.66%) than males (37.34%). Gram-negative bacteria represented 94% of all isolated strains. The most prevalent pathogens associated with UTIs were Escherichia coli (47.97%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (24.58%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.55%). Antimicrobial resistance patterns indicated the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) (30.13%), carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacter (CRE) (1.94%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (0.74%), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) (0.18%). UTI incidence demonstrated a higher prevalence in September (13%) compared to other months in 2022. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the predominant Gram-negative multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), accounting for 34.42%, 13.95%, and 1.63% of the population. Conclusions: The prevalence of UTIs caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes is notable in Jazan. Consistent with findings from other regions, Escherichia coli remains the most common causative pathogen of UTIs, displaying a seasonal pattern that warrants attention. Approximately 35% of reported cases involve MDRO, with ESBLs accounting for 30%. These results should raise concerns among healthcare officials, highlighting the necessity for further investigations into factors contributing to the circulation of MDRO in Jazan.

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease whose burden extends beyond the skin. Community-based data from Saudi Arabia are scarce, as most local studies recruit from dermatology clinics and miss people who never reach specialist care. This study examined its frequency in a multi-regional sample of adults in Saudi Arabia, described its clinical profile, identified factors associated with it, and examined its association with quality of life. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study recruited 1619 adults residing in Saudi Arabia by online convenience sampling, using a self-administered online questionnaire covering sociodemographic and health characteristics, psoriasis status and clinical features, lifestyle factors, and the Arabic WHOQOL-BREF. Groups were compared using the chi-square, Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney U tests. Multivariable logistic regression, with Firth-penalized and parsimonious sensitivity models, examined factors associated with psoriasis, and five linear models were fitted for the overall quality of life facet and each domain. Results: Psoriasis was reported by 3.3% of participants (95% CI 2.5 to 4.3), and by 2.7% (95% CI 2.0 to 3.6) when restricted to physician-diagnosed cases. Onset occurred before age 35 in 84.6% of cases, psychological stress was the commonest trigger (69.2%), and herbal remedies had been used more often (34.6%) than oral systemic agents (25.0%), phototherapy (15.4%) or biologics (7.7%). Current smoking was associated with higher odds of reporting psoriasis (aOR 4.23, 95% CI 1.97 to 9.08, p < 0.001) and male sex with lower odds (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.90), and this was consistent across sensitivity models; middle income and university education were also associated with higher odds, although these may reflect differences in who receives a diagnosis rather than differences in risk. Psoriasis was independently associated with a lower overall quality of life and general health score (β = −6.73, 95% CI −12.75 to −0.71, p = 0.028); all four domain coefficients were negative but non-significant. Conclusions: Psoriasis was reported by roughly one in thirty participants and was associated with poorer self-rated quality of life. Smoking was the most consistent modifiable correlate, and treatment patterns suggest reliance on remedies outside established care.

Background: Skin-lightening products (SLPs) are widely used across the Arab world, driven by deep-rooted sociocultural ideals of beauty, yet knowledge-practice gaps and associated health risks remain insufficiently studied in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 residents of Jazan aged ≥18 years using a validated Arabic-language online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of SLP use was 43.6% (95% CI: 38.8-48.4%), and triple mixture use was reported by 17.1% of participants. Female sex was the strongest independent predictor of SLP use (OR = 3.336; 95% CI: 1.917–5.805; p < 0.001), with 62.0% of females versus 24.6% of males reporting use. The most common indication was treating spots or pigmentation (80.9%). About 64.0% did not know about health risks of high potency ingredients, and only 11.9% felt that there were satisfactory levels of community health education. Other significant factors were personal interest in skin lightening (OR = 2.634), awareness of health risks (OR = 2.114), and belief that fair skin offers better social and marital opportunities (OR = 1.863). Conclusion: The widespread use of skin lightening practices in Jazan is rooted in high levels of knowledge gaps and attitudinal and gender issues, and there is an urgent need to raise awareness, enforce regulations, and provide culturally appropriate health education.

Background/Objectives: Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are a cornerstone of dermatological treatment for inflammatory skin conditions; however, irrational fear of their use known as corticophobia undermines adherence and worsens clinical outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence of TCS-related concern and phobic behaviors among the general population in Saudi Arabia and identified factors associated with TCS-related concern and phobic attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2025 using an online self-administered questionnaire distributed via social media platforms among a non-probability convenience sample across multiple geographic zones of Saudi Arabia. A total of 481 participants were enrolled. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and clinical characteristics. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to examine differences in proportions between categorical variables and TCS concern, while independent-samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA compared mean phobia scores across subgroups. Results: Of 481 participants, 254 (52.8%, 95% CI 48.3–57.2) expressed concern about TCS use. The predominant reason for refusing prescribed TCS was fear of side effects (93.5%). Phobic behaviors included fear of long-term use (54.2%) and fear of application to sensitive skin areas (63.0%). On the Likert phobia-scale item, 237 (49.8%) totally agreed they would use TCS if prescribed; a separate dichotomous behavioral-intention item, administered only to non-current users (n = 308), showed that 201 (65.3%) would accept TCS if prescribed and 107 (34.7%) would refuse. Concern was significantly more prevalent among females (58.1%, BH-adj p = 0.005), married participants (61.7%, BH-adj p = 0.010), and those refusing prescribed TCS (77.6%, BH-adj p < 0.001). Mean phobia scores (theoretical range 7–28) were significantly higher among females (20.43 ± 4.06 vs. males 18.84 ± 4.68, p < 0.001), participants with Diploma-level education (21.64 ± 3.12, p < 0.001 across education strata), widowed/divorced individuals (21.82 ± 3.57, p = 0.008), and residents of the Southern (20.47 ± 3.99) and Northern (21.40 ± 3.34) regions (p = 0.002 across regions). Conclusions: TCS-related concern was expressed by over half the participants in this social media-recruited sample, posing a substantial barrier to effective dermatological care. Side-effect concern was the most frequently reported reason for refusing prescribed TCS. In adjusted analyses, female sex was the most consistent independent correlate of TCS-related concern and higher phobia score; married status was independently associated with greater concern. These associations should be replicated in probability-based samples before subgroup-targeted interventions are designed. Conclusions: TCS-related concern was prevalent (52.8%) among adults in Saudi Arabia and represented a substantial barrier to dermatological care. Female sex and married status were independently associated with greater concern. Clinicians should proactively address TCS misconceptions during dermatological consultations to improve treatment adherence.