Phytofabrication, characterization of silver nanoparticles using Hippophae rhamnoides berries extract and their biological activities.

Introduction: Fabrication of plant-based metal nanoparticles has yielded promising results, establishing this approach as viable, sustainable, and non-toxic in the biomedical sector for targeted drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, biosensing, cancer therapy, and antimicrobial treatments. Methods: The present work demonstrates the suitability of Hippophae rhamnoides berries for the instant green synthesis of silver nanoparticles to check their antioxidant, lipid peroxidation, and antimicrobial potential. The preliminary characterization of Hippophae rhamnoides-mediated AgNPs was validated by monitoring the color shift in the solution from pale yellow to reddish brown, which was further confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy and the plasmon peaks were observed at 450 nm. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to evaluate the surface topography and structure of AgNPs. Herein, the antioxidant potential of synthesized AgNPs was investigated using DPPH free radical assay and the antimicrobial efficacy of similar was checked against E. coli and S. aureus by following MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (Minimum bactericidal concentration) assay. Along with the inhibitory percentage of lipid peroxidation was analysed by following TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive species) assay. Results & discussion: The results revealed that the AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average size distribution within the range of 23.5-28 nm and a crystalline structure. Negative zeta potential (-19.7 mV) revealed the physical stability of synthesized AgNPs as the repulsive force to prevent immediate aggregation. The bioactive functional moieties involved in reducing bulk AgNO3 into AgNPs were further validated by FTIR. TBARS was adapted to test lipid peroxidation, and Hippophae rhamnoides-mediated AgNPs showed a 79% inhibition in lipid peroxidation compared to Hippophae rhamnoides berries extract as 65%. Furthermore, the antibacterial tests showed 37 ± 0.01 mm and 35 ± 0.0132 mm, zones of inhibition against E. coli MTCC 1698 and S. aureus MTCC 3160 with MIC and MBC values of 1 mg/mL, respectively.

Evaluation of the Most Visible Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines Among the Residents of Makkah, Saudi Arabia: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This research evaluated the most visible symptoms associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines among residents in Makkah of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among a representative sample of residents receiving COVID-19 vaccination at King Abdullah Medical City, Al Ukayshiyyah, and Umm Al-Qura University vaccination centers. A total of 805 participants selected by a census sampling method were included. Data regarding characteristics, medical history, and post-vaccination symptoms were obtained with an interview-based questionnaire. Results: The participants' mean age was 25.20 ± 15.5 years. Of them, 61.7% and 38.3% received one and two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. 2.2% have an allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. 25.3% were infected with COVID-19, 23% were infected before the first dose, and only 1.6% were infected after the first dose. Significant statistical associations were found between males and females in smoking status, age, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, and types of COVID-19 vaccines (P-value < 0.05). After adjustment for confounding variables, male participants had lower odds of having swelling, redness, or pain at the injection site, muscle or joint pain, headache, dizziness, and nausea compared to female participants [OR = 0.596, 95% CI = (0.388-0.916)], [OR = 0.272, 95% CI = (0.149-0.495)], [OR = 0.529, 95% CI = (0.338-0.828)], [OR = 0.263, 95% CI = (0.125-0.554)], and [OR = 0.145, 95% CI = (0.31-0.679), P < 0.05 for all], respectively. Conclusion: The female participants may have a higher risk of post-COVID-19 vaccination symptoms than males among Makkah residents of Saudi Arabia.

Isolation and Detection of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens in Postoperative Wound Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs), especially when caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, are a major healthcare concern worldwide. For optimal treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance, it is important for clinicians to be aware of local drug-resistant bacterial pathogens that cause SSIs. Objective: To determine the frequency patterns of drug-resistant bacterial strains causing SSIs at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and included wound swab samples from all cases of SSI between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2021. The swabs were processed for the identification of bacterial strains and their resistance pattern to antibiotics according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: A total of 5409 wound swabs were analyzed, of which 3604 samples (66.6%) were from male. Most samples were from the Department of Surgery (43.3%). A total of 14 bacterial strains were isolated, of which 9 were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). In terms of MDR in 2021, the highest rate of carbapenem-resistance was in A. baumannii (97%). MDR was as follows: A. baumannii, 97%; K. pneumoniae, 81%; E. coli, 71%; MRSA, 60%; P. aeruginosa, 33%; VRE, 22%; and VRSA, 2%. Conclusion: This study showed that in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the rates of MDR bacteria are high, with the majority being Gram-negative.

Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An 11-Year Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common causative pathogen in healthcare settings and displays increasing levels of resistance to common antimicrobial drugs. Its capacity to resist has been reported in multiple locations across the world. This study evaluates current levels of antibiotic resistance and seeks to understand antibiotic resistance patterns in the context of the clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Methods: All clinical isolates were cultured at 37 °C for 24 h in different media: blood sheep agar, McConkey agar, and cystine-lactose-electrolyte-deficient agar (CLED), bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined using the Vitek-2 (bioMérieux) automated system. Results: In total, there were 61,029 patient specimens, of which 5534 were identified as non-duplicated P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, most being from males aged over 60 years. The research findings revealed that the maximum antibiotic resistance associated with P. aeruginosa isolates was found in colistin (97%), which was followed by piperacillin/tazobactam (75.8%). The maximum resistance rates in P. aeruginosa isolates were found in relation to cefepime (42.7%,) which was followed by ciprofloxacin (34.3%). Conclusion: The antibiotic resistance rate during the first six years of the research period was notably higher than in the last years, due to the application of infection control protocols and strict policies to control antibiotic prescriptions in all Saudi hospitals.