Efficient magnetic adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastic from aqueous solutions by eco-friendly FeO nanoparticles: Removal, kinetic and isotherm modeling studies.

Unlabelled: Today, nanoplastics (NPs) are a growing environmental concern due to their persistence and widespread distribution, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Their ability to transport pollutants makes them particularly dangerous, underscoring the urgent need for effective removal methods. Herein, we report the synthesis of an environmentally friendly material that enables the magnetic removal of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) from aqueous solutions by green chemistry approach.

From forgotten cure to modern medicine: The resurgence of bacteriophage therapy.

Objectives: The unregulated use of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This study explores bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment, highlighting its history, significance, and advancements in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review on bacteriophage therapy was conducted, focusing on its development, clinical trials, and patient treatment applications.

Investigating an outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a tertiary healthcare centre in lebanon using next-generation sequencing.

The frequent occurrence of Acinetobacter baumannii in hospital settings and the elevated rate of antimicrobial resistance in this pathogen represent a serious clinical and public health threat worldwide, and particularly in Lebanon where outbreak surveillance and control are still insufficient. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is a fast and reliable tool to study outbreaks at the molecular level and obtain actionable knowledge, leading to better control measures. A total of 59 A.

An unusual two-strain cholera outbreak in Lebanon, 2022-2023: a genomic epidemiology study.

Cholera is a life-threatening gastrointestinal infection caused by a toxigenic bacterium, Vibrio cholerae. After a lull of almost 30 years, a first case of cholera was detected in Lebanon in October 2022. The outbreak lasted three months, with 8007 suspected cases (671 laboratory-confirmed) and 23 deaths.

Highly efficient degradation of basic dyes using gold-coated nature-based supermagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as eco-friendly nanocatalysts.

Nowadays, organic dyes are prevalent components in wastewater discharges due to their extensive use in various industries, posing a significant threat to public health across different organisms. As a result, wastewater treatment has become an indispensable requirement. In this study, we synthesized supermagnetic iron oxide (FeO NPs) and gold-iron oxide bimetallic nanoparticles (Au@FeO BNPs) using an eco-friendly method that involved natural compounds extracted from brown Egyptian propolis.

Molecular Characteristics of Colistin Resistance in and the Activity of Antimicrobial Combination Therapy in a Tertiary Care Medical Center in Lebanon.

(1) Background: Infections with pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria, such as , are becoming increasingly common, especially in healthcare facilities. In this study, we selected 15 colistin-resistant clinical isolates from a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, to test combination therapies and determine their sequence types (STs) and the mechanism of colistin resistance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). (2) Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing via broth microdilution against 12 antimicrobials from different classes and growth rate assays were performed.

Antimicrobial effects of chlorine dioxide in a hospital setting.

Chlorine dioxide is a powerful disinfectant with strong antibacterial properties. We conducted a study at different sites of the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital to determine the efficacy of the ECOM air mask in decreasing the particle load. Air cultures were obtained from three different locations, namely the patients' elevator, visitors' elevator and mobile clinic and the number of colonies grown on each type of agar was determined.

Molecular characterization and differential effects of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin on the potential for developing quinolone resistance among clinical isolates.

Background: Fluoroquinolones are some of the most used antimicrobial agents for the treatment of . This study aimed at exploring the differential activity of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin on the selection of resistance among isolates at our medical center.

Methods: 233 clinical isolates were included in this study.

The interplay between Epstein-Barr virus DNA and gut microbiota in the development of arthritis in a mouse model.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA may influence the development of autoimmune diseases by increasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Such cytokines have been associated with inducing the dysbiosis of colonic microbiota, which, in turn, is a risk factor for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, we investigated the role that EBV DNA may play in modulating the intestinal microbiota and consequent exacerbation of arthritis in a mouse model.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 in Different Dental Infections in the Lebanese Population.

Background: Dental infections, which are the main cause of tooth loss, are known to be caused by bacteria. However, recent research suggests that other organisms, such as viruses, may also play a role. In this study, we aim to detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 and assess its prevalence in tissues infected with various dental infections, including aggressive and chronic periodontitis, pericoronitis, and periapical infection, as well as healthy gingival tissues, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid, for comparison.

Clinical predictors of mortality in patients with pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Background: Infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are difficult to treat with a significant cost and burden. In Lebanon, P. aeruginosa is one of the most common organisms in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Remdesivir-Associated Acute Liver Failure in a COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

There is a broad classification of the causes of acute liver failure (ALF) that include drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In this report, we aim to discuss the association between remdesivir, a novel therapeutic drug for hypoxic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, and DILI with subsequent ALF in a patient who was recently treated with the drug in question. Remdesivir, which is a direct-acting nucleoside RNA polymerase inhibitor, is one of the only FDA-approved drugs on the market for COVID-19 pneumonia associated with hypoxia.

The under investigated facet of the COVID-19 pandemic: Molecular analysis of secondary bacterial infections at a COVID dedicated intensive care unit within a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. Secondary bacterial infections are associated with unfavorable outcomes in respiratory viral infections. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of secondary bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients admitted at a tertiary medical center in Lebanon.

An evaluation of an array of viruses and fungi in adult Lebanese patients presenting with various dental infections: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, pericoronitis, and periapical infections has been well-established. However, the variation in the severity and prognosis of these lesions could suggest a potential role of other microorganisms, such as viruses and fungi. This study aims to evaluate the presence of adenovirus, human papillomavirus-16, Epstein-Barr virus, Candida, and non-Candida fungi in these infections.

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 vaccinated healthcare workers in Lebanon.

Background: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Delta and Omicron along with waning of vaccine-induced immunity over time contributed to increased rates of breakthrough infection specifically among healthcare workers (HCWs). SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance is an important tool for timely detection and characterization of circulating variants as well as monitoring the emergence of new strains. Our study is the first national SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance among HCWs in Lebanon.

Typhoid Fever in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review, 1990-2021.

The occurrence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of typhoid fever in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are poorly characterized. Robust surveillance data are needed to inform strategies for typhoid control and prevention in the region. We conducted a systematic review of typhoid fever occurrence, complications, and AMR patterns in EMR countries.

The impact of vaccination on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease from a nationwide surveillance program in Lebanon: an unexpected increase in mortality driven by non-vaccine serotypes.

Background: The impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and serotype distribution was examined across age groups from data collected by the Lebanese Inter-Hospital Pneumococcal Surveillance Program.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2020, 593 invasive isolates were collected from 79 hospitals throughout Lebanon. Serotypes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles were identified, and trends compared over 3 eras: PCV7, post-PCV7/ pre-PCV13, and PCV13 eras.

Facial microbial flora in bearded versus nonbearded men in the operating room setting: A single-center cross-sectional STROBE-compliant observational study.

Beards are controversial in the operating room setting because of the possible retention and shedding of pathogens. Surgical site infection poses a significant burden on healthcare systems. All male healthcare workers who entered the operating room were approached to participate in the study.

Culturomics, a potential approach paving the way toward bacteriotherapy.

The human microbiota has been extensively studied over the past decade to describe its role in health and diseases. Numerous studies showed the presence of bacterial imbalance in a variety of human health conditions, suggesting great potential for the development of bacteriotherapies. Identifying mechanisms involving the human microbiota has been very challenging due to the complex data generated by molecular approaches and the limited number of organisms isolated by culture and described.

Modelling the benefits of urine source separation scenarios on wastewater treatment plants within an urban water basin.

Stringent discharge regulations are encouraging researchers to create innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Urine source separation (USS) is among the potent approaches that may reduce nutrient peak loads in the influent wastewater and improve nutrient recovery. A phenomenological model was used to simulate dynamic influent properties and predict the advantages gained from implementing USS in an urban water basin.