Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen which is undoubtedly known for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in hospital-acquired infections. A. baumannii causes life-threatening infections, including; ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), meningitis, bacteremia, and wound and urinary tract infections (UTI). In 2017, the World Health Organization listed A. baumannii as a priority-1 pathogen. The prevalence of A. baumannii infections and outbreaks emphasizes the direct need for the use of effective therapeutic agents for treating such infections. Available antimicrobials, such as; carbapenems, tigecycline, and colistins have insufficient effectiveness due to the appearance of multidrug-resistant strains, accentuating the need for alternative and novel therapeutic remedies. To understand and overcome this menace, the knowledge of recent discoveries on the virulence factors of A. baumannii is needed. Herein, we summarized the role of various virulence factors, including; outer membrane proteins, efflux pumps, biofilm, penicillin-binding proteins, and siderophores/iron acquisition systems. We reviewed the recent scientific literature on different A. baumannii virulence factors and the effective antimicrobial agents for the treatment and management of bacterial infections.

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), allergic rhinitis (AR), and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are prevalent and burdensome inflammatory disorders. Probiotics may modulate immune responses via gut–respiratory axis signaling, but their clinical efficacy across these conditions remains uncertain and highly heterogeneous. Methods: We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating oral or topical probiotics for URTIs, AR, or CRS (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science; inception to July 2025). Disease severity category (acute, subacute, chronic), episode incidence, and duration of illness were extracted alongside symptom scores. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, and certainty of evidence was graded using the GRADE framework. Results: Thirty-two RCTs were included. In URTIs, certain strains [e.g., Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DR7, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG] reduced symptom duration and antibiotic use; however, the pooled incidence reduction was non-significant (RD = −0.07; 95% CI: −0.23 to 0.09; p = 0.38), with very high heterogeneity (I² = 93.12%), limiting interpretability. In AR, probiotics reduced TNSS and improved quality of life (SMDs −0.72 to −2.30) in individual trials supported by immune marker changes [e.g., increased IL-10, decreased IgE]. In CRS, only two small trials—differing in delivery route (topical vs. oral), CRS phenotype, and publication era (2009 and 2017)—with conflicting effect directions were identified; formal meta-analysis was not performed given insufficient and methodologically heterogeneous data, and CRS findings are reported descriptively only. GRADE certainty ranged from very low (URTI incidence) to low (AR symptoms, URTI illness burden). Conclusions: Probiotic effects appear strain- and condition-specific. URTI pooled incidence data are unreliable due to extreme heterogeneity; individual strains show consistent benefits on illness burden and AR symptoms/quality of life. Evidence for CRS is insufficient for meta-analytic conclusions; findings are reported descriptively pending adequately powered dedicated trials. Strain-targeted RCTs with standardized outcomes, formal GRADE appraisal, and adequate power are needed before clinical recommendations can be made.

Background/Objectives: Lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, body weight) play a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. This study assessed awareness, beliefs, and self-reported practices related to diet and physical activity for CRC prevention among adults living in Saudi Arabia, and examined demographic correlates. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 544 adults (≥18 years). Measures included sociodemographics, self-reported height/weight (BMI), dietary and lifestyle practices, and beliefs about the role of a healthy diet and physical activity in cancer prevention. Associations were assessed using χ² tests with effect size (Cramér’s V) and crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI); p-values < 0.001 are reported as <0.001. Results: Most participants reported consuming <3 daily servings of fruit (80.1%) and vegetables (69.9%). Overall, 41.9% of participants reported that their current fruit/vegetable intake did not meet minimum recommendations for cancer prevention, and 36.8% reported the same for physical activity. Overall, 80.1% believed that a healthy diet can help prevent cancer, and 79.4% believed that regular physical activity can help prevent cancer. Compared with females, males had higher odds of endorsing diet (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.16–2.98) and physical activity (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.24–3.17) as cancer-preventive. Participants with a monthly income of ≥5000 SAR had higher odds of endorsing diet (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.75–4.19) and physical activity (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10–2.55) compared with those earning < 5000 SAR. Conclusions: Despite high belief in the preventive role of diet and physical activity, many participants reported suboptimal fruit/vegetable intake and insufficient activity. While these cross-sectional findings preclude causal inference, they suggest that health-promotion efforts may benefit from prioritizing lower-income groups and women, with an emphasis on practical approaches to meeting CRC-prevention lifestyle recommendations.