The rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens has intensified the need for eco-friendly antimicrobial alternatives. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using extract of Fumaria indica , an ethnomedicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds. The successful synthesis of FI@AgNPs was confirmed by a color change and a characteristic UV–Vis absorption peak at 409 nm. XRD analysis revealed a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure with an average crystallite size of 22.09 nm, while SEM and EDX confirmed spherical morphology and high silver content. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited good antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with maximum inhibition observed against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Sensitivity was shown by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the Gram-positive strain getting as low as 20 µg/mL. Significant antifungal activity was also noted against Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus . Furthermore, FI@AgNPs demonstrated enhanced antioxidant potential in both DPPH and FRAP assays, exceeding the activity of the crude extract. These findings suggest that FI@AgNPs possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, making them promising candidates for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This study reinforces the value of plant-based nanotechnology in developing effective alternatives to conventional therapeutics.

Purpose: Parasitic infections are a primary cause of illness worldwide and a public health problem. This study highlighted the prevalence of intestinal parasitic (IP) infections and their updated epidemiologic status from 2019 to 2023 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from 2019 to 2023 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. The laboratory results, socio-demographic information, and the year of data collection were collected from the hospital’s parasitology laboratory. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Committee of Bioethics (NCBE) - King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, with an approval number of 258-22. Results: During the study period, 7673 stool samples were requested for intestinal parasite examination. The prevalence of IP infection from 2019 to 2023 was 212/7673, with a percentage of 2.8%. Infected patients had a mean (SD) age of 37.68 (17.27) years. Most infected patients were females (61%) and from Saudi Arabia (37.1%). Most stool samples were brown (79.1%), and about half were soft (51.7%). 2019 had the highest number of infected cases (28.3%), while the number of cases decreased in 2023 (8.8%), the lowest during five years. The most predominant parasite among study subjects was Blastocystis hominis (48.11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of IP infection is lower than in previous comparable surveys. Maintaining personal hygiene, conducting epidemiological surveillance, and enhancing environmental sanitation can prevent and control infections.

Background: Fungal infections, especially those caused have emerged as a significant medical concern over the past three decades, particularly among immunocompromised patients. However, recent studies have highlighted the increasing prevalence of fungal infections resembling yeast other than Candida, such as trichosporonosis, especially among immunosuppressed individuals worldwide. Trichosporon has been identified as a significant contributor to superficial and invasive infections. Invasive trichosporonosis, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients, poses a significant threat with high mortality rates. Purpose: The current study aimed to explore the clinical epidemiology of Trichosporon spp at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study aimed to assess the clinical epidemiology of Trichosporon spp. infections in microbiology cultures obtained from KAUH in Saudi Arabia. The study analyzed data from patients over a five-year period, focusing on demographic, clinical, and microbiological characteristics. Results: This study encompassed 21 participants, categorized into four distinct age groups. Moreover, this study indicated T. asahii as the predominant species isolated, accounting for 90.5% of infections, followed by T. mucoides (9.5%). ICU hospitalization, diabetes mellitus, taking immunosuppressive drugs, and antifungal drugs, and the use of invasive medical equipment were identified as prominent risk factors for trichosporonosis. Urinary tract infections were the most common clinical presentation, particularly among male and elderly patients. Mortality rates were high, especially among older individuals. Conclusion: This study contributes valuable epidemiological insights into trichosporonosis, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and preventive strategies in healthcare settings. Further research is warranted to optimize treatment approaches and infection control measures, ultimately reducing the burden of Trichosporon infections on patient outcomes.

Introduction: Candida is the primary cause of invasive fungal disease, candidiasis, especially in developed nations. The increasing resistance observed in multiple antibiotics, coupled with the prolonged process of creating new antibiotics from the ground up, emphasizes the urgent requirement for innovative methods and new compounds to combat Candida infections. Employing a treatment strategy that combines antibiotics can improve efficacy, broaden the spectrum of targeted fungal, and reduce the chances of resistance emergence. This approach shows potential in tackling the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance. The objective of this research is to explore the potential synergistic effects of combining 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol and thymoquinone against a variety of Candida isolates. This investigation aims to offer an understanding of the collective antimicrobial action of these compounds. Methods: Broth microdilution was utilized to assess the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol and thymoquinone for 22 clinical Candida isolates. Following this, a checkerboard assay was employed to analyze the interaction between 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol and thymoquinone, with a specific focus on the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI). Results: The MICs of thymoquinone and 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol were determined for 22 clinical Candida strains, with thymoquinone exhibiting MICs ranging from 64 to 8 μg/mL, and 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol displaying MICs varying from 64 to 8 μg/mL. Notably, the combination of 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol and thymoquinone resulted in a synergistic effect, leading to a significant reduction in MICs, with reductions of up to 64-fold with FICI below 0.5 against tested strains. Conclusion: The prospect of using 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol in combination with thymoquinone as an effective solution against Candida looks encouraging. Nevertheless, to validate its practical applicability, additional comprehensive testing and experiments are imperative.

Background: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are part of the human microbiota but pose significant risks in clinical settings due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a growing concern, linked to high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Aim: This study is the first comprehensive investigation of VRE prevalence and associated risk factors at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from 2015 to 2022. Methods: Clinical samples were collected, and VRE isolates were identified using VRE Card GeneXpert, BioFire PCR, and the VITEK 2 system. Descriptive statistical analysis with Stata version 17 summarized patient characteristics, including demographics, comorbidities, hospital exposure, and laboratory findings. Categorical variables were reported as frequencies/percentages, while continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD or median [IQR]. Results: Among 254 adult patients with VRE infections, the median age was 61 years. The most common comorbidities were diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. VRE infections peaked in 2021, with urine cultures being the most frequent source. Most patients had prior antibiotic exposure, particularly to vancomycin and carbapenems. Enterococcus faecium was the predominant species, with the VanA phenotype being most common. Alarmingly, 61.8% of VRE-infected patients died during the study period. Conclusion: These findings underscore the critical need for enhanced infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship to combat VRE and improve patient outcomes.

Most surveillance studies in Saudi Arabia have been single-centered or did not use the gold standard broth microdilution (BMD) antimicrobial susceptibility test. This is the first study from Saudi Arabia to evaluate the resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii by using BMD on a national level. Between November 2022 and April 2023, isolates from several infection sites were collected from seven hospitals in seven regions of Saudi Arabia. On testing days, BMD was done following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute standards. Antibiotic susceptibility percentages and MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ were calculated. One hundred A. baumannii isolates were included. The highest susceptibility was to tigecycline (39%) and aminoglycosides (22–25%). The MIC₉₀ of all antibiotics were higher than the resistance breakpoint. All isolates (100%) were multidrug-resistant, of which 52% were classified as extensive-drug-resistant, and 42% were identified as pandrug-resistant. The isolates collected from the ear, peritoneal fluid, and the cerebrospinal fluid were all XDR, while 2/3 of the urine isolates (10/15; 66.7%), more than 1/2 of the skin/soft tissue and respiratory isolates (9/16; 56.3% and 22/43; 51.7%, respectively), and 3/8 (37.5%) of the blood isolates met this definition. Conversely, PDR isolates made up 5/8 of blood isolates (62.5%), 8/15 of body fluid isolates (57.14%), and 19/43 (44.2%) of respiratory isolates. A. baumannii showed a surprisingly high resistance to multiple commonly used antibiotics. Infection control policies and antimicrobial stewardship should be implemented by hospitals throughout the country to improve treatment, track resistance trends with local antibiograms, and prevent the development of resistant strains.