Rosmarinus officinalis and Zataria multiflora extracts enhanced antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The study investigates the antibacterial potential of hydroalcoholic extracts from Rosmarinus officinalis and Zataria multiflora, combined with ciprofloxacin, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Initial screening showed promising results, leading to further exploration of the synergistic effect of the extracts and ciprofloxacin. The combination of the two extracts had an additive effect, while the combination of each extract with ciprofloxacin resulted in partial synergism. The most significant synergistic effect was observed against MRSA 9, with a 3200-fold reduction in the MIC value of ciprofloxacin. The similar inhibitory concentration of the extracts for all MRSA strains suggests these non-antibiotic agents have a broad spectrum of activity against MRSA. This offers a promising avenue for developing new therapeutic approaches to tackle drug-resistant bacterial infections. The results highlight the potential of combining R. officinalis and Z. multiflora extracts with ciprofloxacin to enhance antibacterial efficacy against MRSA strains.

A novel interpretable machine learning and metaheuristic-based protocol to predict and optimize ciprofloxacin antibiotic adsorption with nano-adsorbent.

The existence of antibiotics in water sources poses substantial hazards to both the environment and public health. To effectively monitor and combat this problem, accurate predictive models are essential. This research focused on employing machine learning (ML) techniques to construct some models for analyzing the adsorption capacity of ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic from contaminated water. The robustness of ten machine learning algorithms was evaluated using performance metrics such as the Coefficient of determination (R2), Mean Square Error (MSE), Median Absolute Error (MedAE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Correlation coefficient (R), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The hyperparameters of the ML models were fine-tuned using the Bayesian optimization algorithm. The optimized models were comprehensively evaluated using feature importance analysis to quantify the relative significance of operational variables accurately. After a thorough assessment and comparison of various machine learning models, it was evident that the HistGradientBoosting (HGB) model outperformed others in terms of CIP adsorption performance. This was supported by their low MAE value of 0.1865 and high R2 value of 0.9999. The modeling projected the highest antibiotic adsorption (99.28%) under optimized conditions, including 10 mg/L of CIP, 357 mg/L of CuWO4@TiO2 adsorbent, a contact time of 60 min at room temperature, and near neutral pH (7.5). The combination of advanced ML algorithms and nano adsorbents has great potential for addressing the problem of antibiotic pollution in water sources.

SERS activity of silver nanoparticles and silver-modified 2D graphitic carbon nitride towards ciprofloxacin drug.

Herein, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver-loaded graphitic carbon nitride (Ag@g-C3N4) nanocomposites have been synthesized and used as an effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for the detection of low concentrations (10-14 M) of ciprofloxacin (CIP), a commonly bioactive medication used to treat bacterial illnesses. A combined approach of vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) has been developed to understand the possible modes of analyte (CIP) and SERS substrate (AgNPs and Ag@g-C3N4) interactions. Furthermore, it has been noticed that the behavior of drug molecules in terms of SERS response and energetics of interaction changed significantly when interacted with the noble metal AgNPs decorated onto the g-C3N4 framework in comparison to only AgNPs as substrate. The most prominent interaction scenario between AgNPs and CIP is likely to be through the -NH moiety of drug molecule with an interaction energy of -306 kcal/mol. Whereas, the CIP molecules adsorbed onto Ag@g-C3N4 nanocomposite were more flexible with interaction energy of -107 kcal/mol, suggesting a greater association of analyte with the skeletal modes of substrate leading to Raman enhancements in the low wavenumber region i.e. below 600 cm-1. Hence, the Ag@g-C3N4 nanocomposite-based SERS substrates investigated served two distinct spectral ranges, making them complementary of each other in terms of SERS detection of CIP. The characteristics of the computed frontier molecular orbitals indicated a pronounced amount of charge transfer between the drug and the substrate, highlighting the significance of the chemical mechanism of the overall process. These results represent a successful approach to have an extended spectral range that covers lower wavenumber shifts by applying simple and meaningful modifications to the normally utilized noble metal-based nanoparticles, which can lead to more effective and reliable detection of bioactive drugs.

Preliminary human health risk assessment of antibiotic exposures in human waste handling occupations.

Exposure to biosolids in human waste handling occupations is associated with a risk for illness due to microbial infections. Although several years of exposure to biosolids might be hypothesized to be a prophylaxis against infection, the risks associated with infections from antibiotic-resistant organisms can also be a potential concern. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a screening level risk assessment by deriving occupational exposure limits (OELs) characterizing the risks of adverse health effects among workers in human waste handling occupations with a focus on exposure to two pharmaceuticals commonly found in biosolids: ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ). Epidemiological and exposure studies of workers exposed to biosolids were identified through searches of major scientific databases. Screening OELs (sOELs) for these antibiotics were derived using a standardized methodology. The airborne concentrations of CIP and AZ antibiotics were determined using an exposure factors approach. The health-based exposure limits (i.e., sOELs) and the acceptable daily exposure (ADE) values for both of these antibiotics were derived as 80 µg/m3 and 12 µg/kg-day, respectively. An exposure factor approach suggested that inhalation route exposures to CIP and AZ are well below the sOELs and ADE daily doses, and likely too low to cause direct adverse health effects through antibiotic inhalation. A critical review of epidemiological studies on different occupations handling biosolids showed that the workers in industries with potential biosolids exposure have experienced an increased incidence of microbial-exposure-related illness. The health effects seen in the workers have been attributed to bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections. To the extent that bacteria are the pathogen of concern, it is not clear whether these bacteria are resistant to antibiotics commonly found in biosolids. It is also unclear whether the presence of antibiotics or antibiotic-resistant bacteria increases the susceptibility of these workers. Additional studies will provide more definitive estimates of inhalation and dermal exposures to CIP and AZ and could verify the exposure estimates in this study based on the literature and common exposure factors.

Sono-Triggered Biomimetically Nanoantibiotics Mediate Precise Sequential Therapy of MRSA-Induced Lung Infection.

Bacterial-induced lower respiratory tract infections are a growing global health concern, exacerbated by the inefficacy of conventional antibiotics and delivery methods to effectively target the lower respiratory tract, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. To address this challenge, this work engineers PBP2a antibody-presenting membrane nanovesicles (AMVs) specifically designed to target the penicillin-binding protein variant on the surface of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Concurrently, this work develops pure ciprofloxacin nanoparticles (NanoCip) that, for the first time, exhibits exceptional self-generated sonodynamic properties, attributed to hydrogen-bond-driven self-assembly, while maintaining their inherent pharmacological efficacy. These NanoCip particles are integrated with AMVs to create a novel biomimetic nanomedicine, AMV@NanoCip. This formulation demonstrated remarkable MRSA-targeting affinity in both in vitro and in vivo models, significantly enhancing antibacterial activity. Upon ultrasound stimulation, AMV@NanoCip achieves over 99.99% sterilization of MRSA in vitro, with a reduction exceeding 5.14 Log CFU. Prokaryotic transcriptomic analysis further elucidates the synergistic mechanisms by which AMV@NanoCip, coupled with ultrasound, disrupts the MRSA exoskeleton. In a MRSA-induced pneumonia animal model, AMV@NanoCip+US results in a substantial bacterial load reduction in the lungs (99.99%, 4.02 Log CFU). This sequential treatment strategy (adhesion-membrane disruption-synergistic therapy) offers significant promise as an innovative therapeutic approach for combating bacterial infections.

Murepavadin Enhances the Killing Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Inhibiting Drug Efflux.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen and one of the leading causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia and infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Murepavadin is a peptidomimetic that specifically targets outer-membrane lipopolysaccharide transport protein LptD of P. aeruginosa. In this study, we find that murepavadin enhances the bactericidal efficacy of ciprofloxacin. We further demonstrate that murepavadin increases intracellular accumulation of ciprofloxacin by suppressing drug efflux. In addition, the murepavadin-ciprofloxacin combination exhibits a synergistic bactericidal effect in an acute murine pneumonia model. In conclusion, our results identify an effective drug combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.

Assessing the Influence of Urine pH on the Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Fosfomycin in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Murine Models of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in the Lower Urinary Tract.

In vitro studies have suggested that acidic pH may reduce and increase the efficacy of ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin, respectively, when used to treat Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. We assessed the effects of acidic, neutral, and alkaline urine pH on the efficacy of optimized ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin dosages in UTI murine model of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice with adjusted urine pH were inoculated with E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains, and the efficacy was assessed based on the bacterial concentrations in tissues and fluids at 72 h, with respect to untreated controls. At acidic urine pH, both antimicrobials were effective, achieving similar reductions in E. coli concentrations in the kidneys in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice and in K. pneumoniae in immunocompetent mice. At a neutral urine pH, both therapies reduced the presence of E. coli in the kidneys of immunocompetent mice. However, in immunocompromised mice, antimicrobials were ineffective at treating E. coli infection in the kidneys at a neutral urine pH and showed reduced efficacy against K. pneumoniae at both acidic and neutral urine pH. The results showed no correlation between urine pH and antimicrobial efficacy, suggesting that the reduced effectiveness is associated with the animals' immunocompetence status.

Antibiotics pollutants in agricultural soil: Kinetic, sorption, and thermodynamic of ciprofloxacin.

The entry of antibiotics, as pollutants, into the environment has created great concerns. Environmental dynamics of antibiotics based on soil chemical properties need to be a better understanding of their chemical behavior. This research is focused on studying the adsorption behavior and kinetic mechanisms of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in an agricultural soil. For this purpose, a batch experiment was conducted at different times (5 min-24 h), and using initial concentrations of CIP (0-1 mmol L-1) in the soil. The adsorption processes as affected by pH and ionic strength were assessed based on the modeling with response surface methodology (RSM). According to the results, the sorption equilibrium was found within 240 min, and the pseudo second-order model was the best for describing the data. Increasing the initial CIP concentration increased CIP adsorption, but increases in ionic strength and pH had an inverse effect. Based on RSM modeling, the CIP adsorption was 7.31 and 7.03 (mg g-1) in the presence of NaCl and CaCl2 electrolytes, respectively, in the optimized conditions (pH 6.5 and ionic strength 0.01 mol L-1). The spontaneous nature of CIP adsorption was determined based on thermodynamic calculations (ΔG° = -10.8 to -12.4 kJ mol-1). The interaction of pH and ionic strength was described with the quadratic model. The obtained results contribute to understanding the CIP fate in the soil environment and facilitate decisions regarding entry and controlling soil contamination due to this antibiotic.

Virulence Factors and Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin, Vancomycin, Triclosan, and Chlorhexidine among Enterococci from Clinical Specimens, Food, and Wastewater.

Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium are opportunistic pathogens commonly found in the microbiota of humans and other animals as well as in the environment. This article presents the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing using phenotypic methods (broth microdilution and standardized disk diffusion) on selected clinical, food, and wastewater isolates of E. faecalis and E. faecium. The isolates were divided into subgroups based on their sensitivity to the following antibiotics: vancomycin (VAN) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), and biocides triclosan (TCL) and chlorhexidine (CHX). The study also investigated in vitro virulence factors, including biofilm formation ability, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and ß-hemolysis, to explore aspects of pathogenesis. In our study, regardless of the isolation source, VAN-resistant (VAN-R) and CIP-resistant (CIP-R) E. faecalis and E. faecium were detected. The highest proportion of CIP-R strains was found among clinical isolates of E. faecalis and E. faecium, with clinical E. faecium also showing the highest proportion of VAN-R strains. But the highest proportion of VAN-R E. faecalis strains was found in wastewater samples. The highest TCL MIC90 values for E. faecalis were found in wastewater isolates, while for E. faecium, the highest TCL MIC90 values were observed in food isolates. The highest CHX MIC90 values for both E. faecalis and E. faecium were identified in clinical specimens. The results obtained for E. faecalis did not indicate differences in TCL MIC and CHX MIC values with respect to sensitivity to VAN and CIP. Higher CHX MIC50 and CHX MIC90 values were obtained for CIP-R and VAN-R E. faecium. Among the tested isolates, 97.75% of the E. faecalis isolates produced biofilm, while 72.22% of the E. faecium isolates did so as well. In biofilm-forming strength categories III and IV, statistically significantly higher proportions of CIP-susceptible (CIP-S) and VAN-susceptible (VAN-S) E. faecalis were determined. In category III, there is no statistically significant difference in E. faecium CIP sensitivity. In category IV, we had a significantly higher proportion of CIP-R strains. On the other hand, the association between the moderate or strong category of biofilm formation and E. faecium VAN susceptibility was not significant. E. faecalis isolated from wastewater had a CSH index (HI) ≥ 50%, categorizing them as "moderate", while all the other strains were categorized as "low" based on the CSH index. Among the E. faecalis isolates, cell surface hydrophobicity indices differed significantly across isolation sources. In contrast, E. faecium isolates showed similar hydrophobicity indices across isolation sources, with no significant difference found. Moreover, no correlation was found between the enterococcal cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation in vitro. After anaerobic incubation, ß-hemolytic activity was confirmed in 19.10% of the E. faecalis and 3.33% of the E. faecium strains.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 99mTc(CO)3 Complexes with Ciprofloxacin Dithiocarbamate for Infection Imaging.

Background: The accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections remains a critical challenge in clinical practice. Traditional imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often fail to distinguish bacterial infections from sterile inflammation. Nuclear medicine, such as technetium-99m (99mTc) radiopharmaceuticals, offers a promising alternative due to its ideal characteristics. Methods: This study explores the development of [2 + 1] mixed-ligand 99mTc-labeled ciprofloxacin dithiocarbamate (Cip-DTC) complexes combined with various phosphine ligands, including triphenylphosphine (PPh3), tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMPP), methyl(diphenyl)phosphine (MePPh2), dimethylphenylphosphine (DMPP), and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (ADAP). The characterization of 99mTc-complexes was conducted using rhenium analogs as structural models to ensure similar coordination. Results: Stability studies demonstrated the high integrity (97-98%) of the complexes under various conditions, including cysteine and histidine challenges. Lipophilicity studies indicated that complexes with higher logD7.4 values (1.6-2.7) exhibited enhanced tissue penetration and prolonged circulation. Biodistribution studies in Swiss Albino mice with induced infections and aseptic inflammation revealed distinct patterns. Specifically, the complex fac-[99mTc(CO)3(Cip-DTC)(PPh3)] (2') showed high infected/normal muscle ratios (4.62 at 120 min), while the complex fac-[99mTc(CO)3(Cip-DTC)(TMPP)] (3') demonstrated delayed but effective targeting (infected/normal muscle ratio of 3.32 at 120 min). Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of 99mTc-labeled complexes as effective radiopharmaceuticals for the differential diagnosis of bacterial infections, advancing nuclear medicine diagnostics. Future studies will focus on optimizing molecular weight, lipophilicity, and stability to further enhance the diagnostic specificity and clinical utility of these radiopharmaceuticals.

Effect of Mentha longifolia essential oil on oqxA efflux pump gene expression and biofilm formation in ciprofloxacin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.

Background and Objectives: Today, medicinal plants and their derivatives are considered to reduce the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Mentha longifolia essential oil on oqxA efflux pump gene expression and biofilm formation in ciprofloxacin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 clinical strains of K. pneumoniae resistant to ciprofloxacin were studied. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. longifolia essential oil and its synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin were determined using the microbroth dilution method and the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) method. Minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) of M. longifolia essential oil was detected. The effect of essential oils on the expression level of the oqxA gene was detected by Real-time PCR. Results: M. longifolia essential oil showed inhibitory activity against ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of K. pneumoniae. When M. longifolia essential oil was combined with ciprofloxacin, the MIC was reduced 2-4 times. In 28% of the strains, M. longifolia with ciprofloxacin showed a synergistic effect. M. longifolia essential oil reduces the strength of biofilm formation and alters the biofilm phenotype. A significant decrease in oqxA gene expression was observed in all isolates after treatment with M. longifolia essential oil. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it was observed that supplementing M. longifolia essential oil can help reduce ciprofloxacin resistance and inhibit biofilm formation in fluoroquinolone-resistant K. pneumoniae strains.

Does coenzyme Q10 supplementation protect spermatogenesis in ciprofloxacin-induced rat testes?

Objective: Ciprofloxacin (CPFX) is frequently prescribed by fertility specialists and urologists to manage infections in male reproductive organs. However, it is toxic to the testicles and can lead to infertility. Dietary antioxidants are known to protect the testis from damage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the adverse side effects of CPFX using stereological methods. Methods: Sixty rats were divided into six groups: control (distilled water), CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day), and low-dose (103 mg/kg/day) and high-dose (206 mg/kg/day) of CPFX (LD-CPFX, HD-CPFX) with or without CoQ10 consumption. The treatments lasted for 45 days. Sperm count, serum testosterone levels, and testicular parameters were evaluated. Results: Significant decreases in sperm count, motility, normal morphology, viability, and testosterone levels were observed in the LD-CPFX (p<0.003) and HD-CPFX- treated rats (p=0.0001) compared to the control groups. A 10% to 36% reduction in the volume of seminiferous tubules, tubular epithelium, and tubule length was noted in LD-CPFX (p<0.01) and HD-CPFX-treated rats (p<0.006), while the volume of the interstitium increased by 25% to 28% in LD-CPFX (p=0.03) and HD-CPFX (p=0.008) groups. The number of cells, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, decreased by 36% to 75% in the testes exposed to LD-CPFX (p<0.04) and HD-CPFX (p<0.01), compared to the control groups. However, these changes normalized in rats that received CoQ10. Conclusion: CPFX exposure for 45 days, regardless of the dose, has detrimental effects on testicular parameters. CoQ10 can prevent CPFX-induced testicular structural impairments.

Exploring the efficiency of nitrogenated carbon quantum dots/TiO2 S-scheme heterojunction in the photodegredation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous environments.

In this study, we developed a heterojunction photocatalyst, namely nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots/titanium dioxide (N-CQDs/TiO2), for the effective and sustainable treatment of ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic in aqueous solution. First, N-CQDs were prepared from a chitosan biopolymer with a green, facile, and effective hydrothermal carbonization technique and then anchored on the TiO2 surface via a hydrothermal process. The morphological, structural, and optical properties of the as-prepared materials were characterized by using advanced analytical techniques. The impacts of the mass percentage of N-CQDs, catalyst and CIP concentration, and pH on photocatalytic CIP degradation were investigated in depth. Comparative analyses were performed to evaluate different processes including adsorption, photolysis, and photocatalysis for the removal of CIP with TiO2 and N-CQDs/TiO2. The results revealed that N-CQDs/TiO2 exhibited the highest CIP removal efficiency of up to 83.91% within 120 min using UVA irradiation under optimized conditions (10 mg/L CIP, 0.4 g/L catalyst, and pH 5). Moreover, the carbon source used in the fabrication of N-CQDs was also considered, and lower removal efficiency was obtained when glucose was used as a carbon source instead of chitosan. This excellent improvement in CIP degradation was attributed to the ideal separation and migration of photogenerated carriers, strong redox capability, and high generation of reactive oxygen species provided by the successful construction of the N-CQDs/TiO2 S-scheme heterojunction. Scavenger experiments indicated that h+ and •OH reactive oxygen species were the predominant factors for CIP elimination in water. Overall, this study presents a green synthesis approach for N-CQDs/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts using natural materials, demonstrating potential as a cost-effective and efficient method for pharmaceutical degradation in water treatment applications.

Target attainment of beta-lactam antibiotics and ciprofloxacin in critically ill patients and its association with 28-day mortality.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess pharmacodynamic target attainment in critically ill patients and identify factors influencing target attainment and mortality outcomes. METHODS: We analysed data from the DOLPHIN trial. Beta-lactam and ciprofloxacin peak and trough concentration were measured within the first 36 h (T1) after initiation of treatment. The study outcome included the rate of pharmacodynamic target attainment of 100 % ƒT>1xEpidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) for beta-lactams, and of fAUC0-24h/ECOFF>125 for ciprofloxacin at T1. RESULTS: The target attainment rates were 78.1 % (n = 228/292) for beta-lactams, and 41.5 % (n = 39/94) for ciprofloxacin, respectively. Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher SOFA score were associated with target attainment. In patients receiving beta-lactams, 28-day mortality was significantly higher in patients who attained 100 % ƒT>1xECOFF (28.9 % vs. 12.5 %; p = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, attainment of 100 % ƒT>4xECOFF, but not 100 % ƒT>1xECOFF, was associated with a higher 28-day mortality (OR 2.70, 95 % CI 1.36-5.48 vs. OR 1.28, 95 % CI 0.53-3.34). CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of target attainment (100 % ƒT>1xECOFF) for beta-lactams and a lower rate for ciprofloxacin was observed. Achieving exposures of 100 % ƒT>4xECOFF was associated with 28-day mortality. The impact of antibiotic target attainment on clinical outcome needs to be a focus of future research.

Comparative study of synergistic antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin-capped gold nanoparticles under different ultrasound frequency.

Sonodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (SACT), as a novel anti-infective program, has received tremendous attention due to its good tissue penetration depth and low invasion. Ultrasound (US) frequency was one of the important parameters for SACT. To investigate the influence of different US frequencies on sonodynamic antimicrobial activity of ciprofloxacin-capped gold nanoparticles (CIP:GNPs). C. albicans and E. coli were chosen as the action objects. The bacterial survival rate was used in the assessment index and measured by plate colony-counting methods. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced under US irradiation were detected by ROS fluorescence probe and used to analyze the sonodynamic antibacterial mechanism of CIP:GNPs following different US frequencies. High-frequency US combined with CIP:GNPs had a good synergistic antimicrobial impact on C. albicans, while medium-frequency US showed a strong effect on E. coli. Moreover, the mechanism research experiment proved that intracellular ROS levels were closely related to changes in US frequency, and significantly affected the synergistic activity of CIP:GNPs. The injury of E. coli appearance showed more sensitivity to the change of US frequency than that of C. albicans, but its action laws were relatively complicated and needed to be further studied.

Antibacterial Electrospun Membrane with Hierarchical Bead-on-String Structured Fibres for Wound Infections.

Chronic wounds often result in multiple infections with various kinds of bacteria and uncontrolled wound exudate, resulting in several healthcare issues. Advanced medicated nanofibres prepared by electrospinning have gained much attention for their topical application on infected chronic wounds. The objective of this work is to enhance the critical variables of ciprofloxacin-loaded polycaprolactone-silk sericin (PCL/SS-PVA-CIP) nanofibre production via the process of electrospinning. To examine the antibacterial effectiveness of PCL/SS-PVA-CIP nanocomposites, the material was tested against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The combination of PCL/SS-PVA-CIP exhibited potent inhibitory properties, with the most effective concentrations of ciprofloxacin (CIP) being 3 µg/g and 7.0 µg/g for each bacterium, respectively. The biocompatibility was evaluated by conducting cell reduction and proliferation studies using the human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in vitro cell lines. The PCL/SS-PVA-CIP showed good cell compatibility with HaCaT and HGF cells, with effective proliferation even at antibiotic doses of up to 7.0 µg/g. The drug release effectiveness of the nanocomposites was assessed at various concentrations of CIP, resulting in a maximum cumulative release of 76.5% and 74.4% after 72 h for CIP concentrations of 3 µg/g and 7 µg/g, respectively. In summary, our study emphasizes the possibility of combining silk sericin (SS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) loading with CIP nanocomposite for wound management.

Two cases of Francisella tularensis subspecies holartica prosthetic valve endocarditis, and review of the literature.

Francisella tularensis endocarditis is rare and difficult to diagnose, and only a few cases have been described. We report two new cases of endocarditis due to F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, with a favorable evolution after appropriate antibiotic therapy and valve replacement surgery, and review the 5 other cases reported in the literature. This rare infection may be suspected based on the local epidemiology and the patient's exposure factors. A regimen of ciprofloxacin and gentamicin, combined with surgical valve replacement if necessary, appears to be effective in treating F. tularensis endocarditis.

Synthesis of algal-bacterial sludge activated carbon/Fe3O4 nanocomposite and its potential in antibiotic ciprofloxacin removal by simultaneous adsorption and heterogeneous Fenton catalytic degradation.

The extensive use of pharmaceuticals has increased their presence in the environment, posing significant ecological and public health concerns. The current study reports the magnetic nanocomposite (M-ABAC) synthesis using the algal-bacterial sludge as the precursor for activated carbon and evaluates its potential in fluoroquinolone antibiotics removal. The activated carbon from algal-bacterial sludge was composited with Fe3O4 nanoparticles using the co-precipitation method. The M-ABAC was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). M-ABAC was employed for antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal by combined adsorption and heterogenous Fenton degradation. The adsorption studies reveal that the Langmuir isotherm best fits the experimental data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 81.6 mg/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model well describes adsorption kinetics. Fenton catalytic degradation was performed using H2O2 as the activating agent. The optimal H2O2 dosage was observed to be 10 mM. A CIP adsorptive removal efficiency of 75% was observed at 2 g/L dosage of M-ABAC in a 200 ppm CIP solution. Simultaneous adsorption and Fenton catalytic degradation further enhanced the removal efficiency to 92%. Radical scavengers experiment revealed that the hydroxyl radical (•OH) was the dominant reactive oxidation species. The degradation products of the CIP were identified using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (LC-QTOF-MS). The possible CIP degradation mechanisms include decarboxylation, piperazine moiety degradation, defluorination, and hydroxylation.

Differential effects of polystyrene microplastics on the adsorption of cadmium and ciprofloxacin by tea leaf litter-derived magnetic biochar: Influencing factors and mechanisms.

Water pollution involves the coexistence of microplastics (MPs) and traditional pollutants, and how can MPs influence the adsorption of other pollutants by biochar during the treatment process remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) on the adsorption of cadmium (Cd) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) by magnetic biochar (MTBC) in the single and binary systems. MTBC was prepared using tea leaf litter; the effects of time, pH, and salt ions on the adsorption behaviors were investigated; and X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS) and density flooding theory analysis were conducted to elucidate the influence mechanisms. Results indicated that PS MPs reduced the pollutants adsorption by MTBC due to the heterogeneous aggregation between PS MPs and MTBC and the surface charge change of MTBC induced by PS MPs. The effects of PS MPs on heavy metals and antibiotics adsorption were distinctly different. PS MPs reduced Cd adsorption on MTBC, which were significantly influenced by the solution pH and salt ions contents, suggesting the participation of electrostatic interaction and ion exchange in the adsorption, whereas the effects of PS MPs on CIP adsorption were inconspicuous. In the hybrid system, PS MPs reduced pollutants adsorption by MTBC with 66.3% decrease for Cd and 12.8% decrease for CIP, and the more remarkable reduction for Cd was due to the predominated physical adsorption, and CIP adsorption was mainly a stable chemisorption. The influence of PS MPs could be resulted from the interaction between PS MPs and MTBC with changing the functional groups and electrostatic potential of MTBC. This study demonstrated that when using biochar to decontaminate wastewater, it is imperative to consider the antagonistic action of MPs, especially for heavy metal removal. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Magnetic biochar (MTBC) was prepared successfully using tea leaf litter. MTBC could be used for cadmium (Cd) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal. Polystyrene microplastics (Ps MPs) reduced Cd/CIP adsorption by MTBC. Ps MPs effects on Cd adsorption were more obvious than that of CIP. Ps MPs changed the functional groups and electrostatic potential of MTBC, thus influencing MTBC adsorption.

Ciprofloxacin's Structure Causing Fluoride-Related Toxicity: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic widely used in clinical practice with a fluorine atom in its chemical structure. Like other antibiotics, it can induce several adverse effects, such as tendinopathy, musculoskeletal toxicity, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiotoxicity, thereby causing relevant and irreversible health injuries. Ciprofloxacin fluoride's adverse toxicological effect associated with a urinary fluoride concentration above the reference value has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: This case report aimed to provide evidence of ciprofloxacin treatment intoxication, an antibiotic containing a fluorine atom in its chemical structure, associated with a fluoride urine concentration above the reference value. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old man developed tendinopathy and peripheral neuropathy on the third day's night after initiating the ciprofloxacin doses, exhibiting symptoms comparable to a low-power electrical discharge and very intense motor agitation. After following habitual laboratory exams, a urinary fluoride measurement was performed by an ion-selective electrode. The urinary fluoride concentration was above the reference values in mg/g of creatinine. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that has described an association among ciprofloxacinfluoride, tendinopathies, and peripheral neuropathy. The patient's symptomatology has suggested a toxic effect related to fluoride. We consider the documented finding of a fluorine atom at the ciprofloxacin structure and its toxic potential neuropathies and tendinopathies as an issue of alert.