The dissemination of multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent clones across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

is a Gram-negative bacterium associated with a wide range of community- and hospital-acquired infections. The emergence of clonal hypervirulent strains resistant to last-resort antimicrobial agents has become a global concern. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with its diverse population and high tourism traffic, serves as a platform where the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains are facilitated.

Impact of Various Washing Protocols on the Mitigation of Contamination in Raw Salad Vegetables.

Vegetables are an essential component of a balanced diet. The consumption of ready-to-eat foods may lead to the risk of infections and illnesses due to microbial contamination. To mitigate the potential of microbial contamination risks, it is critical to promote safe handling practices among consumers.

Screening for Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Bacteria and the Presence of Heavy Metals in the Upstream and Downstream Areas of the Wadi Hanifah Valley in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Valley surface water is considered a focal public health concern owing to the presence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. The distribution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria in the surface water is affected by the presence of multiple factors, including antibiotics coming from wastewater discharge or other contaminant sources such as pharmaceuticals, biocides, and heavy metals. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that high levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can be transferred within bacterial communities under the influence of heavy metal stress.

Comparative genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in isolates from patients and retail meat.

Introduction: is a significant human pathogen that poses a threat to public health due to its association with foodborne contamination and a variety of infections. The factors contributing to the pathogenicity of include virulence, drug resistance, and toxin production, making it essential to monitor their prevalence and genetic profiles. This study investigated and compared the genomic characteristics of isolates from retail meat and patients in Saudi Arabia.

Antimicrobial Sales Comparison before and after the Implementation of Nationwide Restriction Policy in Saudi Arabia.

Antimicrobial dispensing without a prescription has been identified as a significant contributor to the burgeoning crisis of antimicrobial resistance. To combat this, the Saudi Ministry of Health introduced a stringent antimicrobial restriction policy in mid-2018, mandating prescriptions for all antimicrobial drug dispensations at pharmacies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the immediate impact of this policy on retail antimicrobial sales.

Clonal Flux and Spread of Isolated from Meat and Its Genetic Relatedness to Isolated from Patients in Saudi Arabia.

In this study, we investigated both meat-derived and methicillin-resistant (MRSA), exploring their genetic relatedness to patient-derived MRSA isolates in Saudi Arabia. We collected 250 meat samples and identified 53 isolates, with 79% being methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and 21% being MRSA. Moreover, we included 80 clinically confirmed patient-derived MRSA isolates.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the Ministry of Health restriction policy on seasonal antibiotic consumption trends in Saudi Arabia, 2016-2020.

Understanding antibiotic consumption patterns over time is essential to optimize prescribing practices and minimizing antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to determine whether the antibiotics restriction policy launched by the Saudi Ministry of Health in April 2018 has impacted antibiotic use by assessing changes and seasonal variations following policy enforcement. Quarterly sales data of J01 antibacterial for systemic use in standard units were obtained from the IQVIA-MIDAS database, spanning from the first quarter of 2016 to the last quarter of 2020.

Interception of Epoxide ring to quorum sensing system in Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) has been attracting attention as anti-virulence agent which disarms pathogens of their virulence rather than killing them. QSI marking cyclic peptide-mediated QS in Gram-positive bacteria is an effective tool to overcome the crisis of antibiotic-dependent chemotherapy due to the emergence of drug resistance strain, e.g.

The Silent Threat: Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens in Food-Producing Animals and Their Impact on Public Health.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem without geographic boundaries. This increases the risk of complications and, thus, makes it harder to treat infections, which can result in higher healthcare costs and a greater number of deaths. Antimicrobials are often used to treat infections from pathogens in food-producing animals, making them a potential source of AMR.

Draft Genome Sequence of Two Salmonella enterica Subspecies Serovar Minnesota Strains Harboring 1.1 Gene Isolated from Chicken Meat in Saudi Arabia.

Salmonella has been reported as a high-priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of 2 Salmonella enterica serovar Minnesota strains isolated from chicken meat in Saudi Arabia (named SA49317 and SA49319) belonging to sequence type (ST) 548, revealing mobile colistin resistance ()1.1 gene for colistin resistance.

Assessment of disinfectant efficacy in reducing microbial growth.

The incidence of hospital- and community-acquired infections has been dramatically increased worldwide. Accordingly, hands hygiene and the use of disinfectants have been increased leading to the expansion in hand sanitizers production to meet public demand. This study was conducted to assess the efficiency of common disinfectants in the market of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in inhibiting the microbial growth during the time of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Colistin-Susceptible Salmonella enterica Serovar Minnesota Strain Harboring on an IncHI2/IncHI2A Plasmid, Isolated from Chicken Meat.

The recent emergence and dissemination of mobilized colistin resistance () genes have triggered extensive concerns globally. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a colistin-susceptible Salmonella enterica serotype Minnesota strain (named SA18578), belonging to sequence type 548 (ST548) and carrying the gene on an IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmid, that was isolated from chicken meat in Saudi Arabia in 2020.