Studying Microbial Ecology of Diabetic Foot Infections: Significance of PCR Analysis for Prudent Antimicrobial Stewardship.

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the microbial ecology of diabetic foot infections (DFIs), using molecular-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to accurately identify the causative agents. One hundred DFI patients were recruited and classified using the Depth Extent Phase and Associated Etiology (DEPA) score according to their severity. Results revealed polymicrobial infections in 75% of cases, predominantly featuring (83%) and (63%).

Bactericidal effect of Iberin combined with photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm cultured on ex vivo wound model.

Wounds infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) biofilms are characterized by poor healing and by being long lasting. Pyocyanin and pyoverdine are exotoxins that contribute to P.

Investigating the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides on Pseudomonas aeruginosa metabolome, virulence factors and biofilm formation as potential quorum sensing inhibitors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) uses quorum sensing signaling (QS) molecules to control the expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation. In this study, the effects of the probiotic's (Lactobacillus plantarum (L.

Micafungin effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa metabolome, virulence and biofilm: potential quorum sensing inhibitor.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa places a heavy burden on the health care sectors urging the need to find alternative, non-antibiotic strategies. The interference with the P. aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) system represents a promising alternative strategy to attenuate the bacterial virulency and its ability to form biofilms.

Synchrotron-Radiation-Based Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy as a Tool for the Differentiation between Staphylococcal Small Colony Variants.

Small colony variants (SCVs) are clinically significant and linked to persistent infections. In this study, synchrotron-radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) is used to investigate the microspectroscopic differences between the SCVs of () and diabetic foot () in two main IR spectral regions: (3050-2800 cm), corresponding to the distribution of lipids, and (1855-1500 cm), corresponding to the distribution of protein amide I and amide II and carbonyl vibrations. SR-FTIR successfully discriminated between the two staphylococcal species and between the SCV and the non-SCV strains within the two IR spectral regions.

Ciprofloxacin-loaded dissolving polymeric microneedles as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of skin infections.

Microneedles have been widely studied for many topical and transdermal therapeutics due to their ability to painlessly puncture the skin, thereby bypassing the stratum corneum, the main skin barrier. In this study, ciprofloxacin (CIP) was loaded into dissolving polymeric microneedles prepared by a two-layer centrifugation method as a potential treatment of skin infections such as cellulitis. The polymers used were polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

Effect of Diluted Dakin's Solution Versus Standard Care on Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are the main cause of hospitalizations and amputations in diabetic patients. Failure of standard foot care is the most important cause of impaired DFU healing. Dakin's solution (DS) is a promising broad-spectrum bactericidal antiseptic for management of DFUs.

Knowledge, attitudes, ethical and social perspectives towards fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) among Jordanian healthcare providers.

Background: Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a treatment modality that involves the introduction of stool from a healthy pre-screened donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. It exerts its therapeutic effects by remodeling the gut microbiota and treating microbial dysbiosis-imbalance. FMT is not regulated in Jordan, and regulatory effort for FMT therapy in Jordan, an Islamic conservative country, might be faced with unique cultural, social, religious, and ethical challenges.

Coffee Bean Polyphenols Can Form Biocompatible Template-free Antioxidant Nanoparticles with Various Sizes and Distinct Colors.

Plant polyphenols have attracted attention in recent years due to their ability to undergo oxidative coupling reactions enabled by the presence of multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups, forming chemically versatile coatings and biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) for various applications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coffee bean aqueous extracts, which are known to be rich in polyphenols, could serve as a natural source of NP building blocks. Extracts were prepared by heating ground Arabica beans of varying roasting degrees in water with or without the addition of sodium metaperiodate or copper sulfate as an oxidizing agent, followed by filtration.

Fluconazole conjugated-gold nanorods as an antifungal nanomedicine with low cytotoxicity against human dermal fibroblasts.

Herein, a nanotechnology-based approach was adopted to develop a facile and effective nanoplatform for the treatment of superficial fungal infections. Gold nanorods (GNR) functionalized with thiolated poly ethylene glycol (PEG-SH) or thiolated PEGylated cholesterol (Chol-PEG-SH) moieties were conjugated with Fluconazole and loaded into poloxamer 407 hydrogel. The obtained nanocomplexes; PEG-Fluc-GNR and Chol-Fluc-GNR were characterized by optical spectroscopy, hydrodynamic size and effective surface charge.

Photothermal-Induced Antibacterial Activity of Gold Nanorods Loaded into Polymeric Hydrogel against Biofilm.

In this study, the photothermal-induced bactericidal activity of phospholipid-decorated gold nanorods (DSPE-AuNR) suspension against planktonic and biofilm cultures was investigated. We found that the treatment of planktonic culture of with DSPE-AuNR suspension (0.25-0.

Preferential Accumulation of Phospholipid-PEG and Cholesterol-PEG Decorated Gold Nanorods into Human Skin Layers and Their Photothermal-Based Antibacterial Activity.

Herein, a library of gold nanorods (GNR) decorated with polyethylene glycol-thiol (PEG-SH) containing different functionalities were synthesized and characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR). The colloidal stability of GNR when exposed to skin, and their preferential accumulation into excised human skin layers were investigated. Confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were utilized to track the penetration of GNR into different skin layers.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing E. coli in urinary tract infections: A two-center, cross-sectional study of prevalence, genotypes and risk factors in Amman, Jordan.

Background: To determine the prevalence, phenotypes, and genotypes of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) among patients with urinary tract infection along with identifying the associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Amman, Jordan between June and October, 2016.

Evaluation of paromomycin sulphate permeation using ex vivo human skin model.

Ex vivo evaluation of drug release and skin permeation from topical formulations of antileishmanial drug paromomycin sulphate was carried out using intact full thickness human skin. Potency-based microbiological assay was used for the analysis of paromomycin concentrations. A total percentage drug recovery of 86 ± 26% was obtained.

Nano-Photothermal ablation effect of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Functionalized Gold Nanorods on Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes.

The potential photothermal bactericidal activity of hydrophilic functionalized poly ethylene glycol (PEG)-gold nanorods (GNR) and hydrophobic functionalized polystyrene (PS)-GNR was evaluated towards strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) by measuring the percentage reduction of bacterial viable count upon GNR excitation with a near infra-red (NIR) laser beam.

Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence study of gold nanorods and skin elements distribution into excised human skin layers.

Understanding the distribution of nanoparticles in skin layers is fundamentally important and essential for developing nanoparticle-based dermal drug delivery systems. In the present study, we provide insights into the distribution of gold nanorods (GNRs) functionalized with hydrophobic or hydrophilic ligands in human skin layers using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results confirmed the important role that the surface chemistry of GNRs plays in their penetration into the skin; the GNRs coated with polyethylene glycol were distributed into the skin layers to a greater extent than the GNRs coated with hydrophobic polystyrene thiol.

Antibacterial activity of gold nanorods against and : misinterpretations and artifacts.

The antibacterial activity of gold nanorod (GNR) suspensions of different surface functionalities was investigated against standard strains of and , taking into consideration two commonly "overlooked" factors: the colloidal stability of GNR suspensions upon mixing with bacterial growth media and the possible contribution of "impurities/molecules" in GNR suspensions to the observed antibacterial activity. The results demonstrated that cationic polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH)-GNR were severely aggregated when exposed to bacterial growth media compared to other GNR suspensions. In addition, the free cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) present in GNR suspensions is most likely the origin of the observed antibacterial activity.

Preferential accumulation of gold nanorods into human skin hair follicles: Effect of nanoparticle surface chemistry.

Hypothesis: Gold nanoparticles (GNP) are considered an ideal model to help understanding the nano-skin interface. The surface functionality of gold nanorods (GNR) is expected to influence the uptake of nanoparticles into specific targets of skin such as hair follicles or dermis. Hence, it should be possible to modify the surface chemistry of GNP to achieve more targeted and safe skin therapy.

A prodrug approach to enhance azelaic acid percutaneous availability.

Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid compound used in treatment of acne vulgaris. However, high concentration (ca 20%) is needed to guarantee the drug availability in the skin. The latter increases the incidence of side effects such as local irritation.

Colloidal stability of gold nanorod solution upon exposure to excised human skin: Effect of surface chemistry and protein adsorption.

In this study, we evaluated the colloidal stability of gold nanorods (with positive, negative and neutral surface charge) in solution upon contact with excised human skin. UV-vis absorption, plasmon peak broadening index (PPBI%) and transmission electron microscope analysis were used to follow nanoparticles aggregation in solution. Our results show that positively charged gold nanorods aggregate extensively upon exposure to excised human skin compared to negatively and neutrally charged gold nanorods.

Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation of some Hesperidin Metal Complexes.

The ability of hesperidin (HP) to form complexes with five metals; cobalt, nickel, zinc, calcium and magnesium was investigated. The complexation was studied using U.V spectroscopic titration, in methanol as well as aqueous buffer solutions (physiological conditions).

Major biologic characteristics of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from hospital environmental and patients' respiratory tract sources.

Background: This prospective study investigated major biologic characteristics of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from hospital environment and respiratory tract samples of patients admitted to adult intensive care units (ICUs) at the Jordan University Hospital.

Methods: A baumannii isolates from both sources were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and for presence of specific metallo-β-lactamase genes (VIM-2, IMP-1) and OXA-type β-lactamase genes (OXA-type) using polymerase chain reaction and biofilm formation and surviving under various temperatures and pH conditions.

Results: The majority of A baumannii isolates from environmental and patients sources was multidrug resistant (MDR), except for colistin and tigecycline.

Glyceryl monooleate-based otic delivery system of ofloxacin: release profile and bactericidal activity.

This study investigated the preparation and characterization of glyceryl monooleate- (GMO) based drug delivery system containing ofloxacin for the treatment of otitis externa. Acetate buffer (pH 4.5) containing dissolved ofloxacin was added to molten GMO as an aqueous phase, this resulted in the formation of a cubic and a reverse hexagonal phases.

Synthesis, Antibacterial Evaluation and QSAR of α-Substituted-N₄-Acetamides of Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin.

Twenty six α-substituted N₄-acetamide derivatives of ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) and norfloxacin (NOR) were synthesized and assayed for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The derivatives were primarily more active against Gram-positive bacteria. The CIPRO derivatives, CD-7 (Ar = 3-chlorophenyl), CD-9 (Ar = 2-pyrimidyl) and CD-10 (α-phenyl, Ar = 2-pyrimidyl), exhibited lower MIC values, 0.