Antimicrobial Activity of Five Yemeni Medicinal Plants against Selected Human Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi

Background: The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, as well as the evolution of new strains of disease causing agents, are of great concern to the global health community. Nowadays, reports have indicated that many of healthcare-associated, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are not only multidrug resistant pathogens but also broadly drug-resistant and pandrug-resistant bacteria. Objective: This study is focused on exploring the antimicrobial properties of five different plants that are commonly being used as traditional medicines in Yemen against Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and fungi. Methods: The antimicrobial potential of five different plant extracts was screened against selected human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Methanolic extracts of Dodonaea viscose, Plantago lanceolata, Withania samnifera, Pulicaria crispa, and Rumex nervosus were subjected to a test of their antimicrobial properties by Modified Agar Diffusion and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. Results: The results indicated that all the five plants extract showed antibacterial activity against a selected microorganism at a concentration of 60 mg/ml. The highest potential was observed in the extract of W. somnifera against S. taphyloccocus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus miarbilis and Candida albicans with zone of inhibition of 23 mm, 20.7 mm, 20 mm and 25.3 mm, respectively. R. nervosus also showed the highest MIC against test organisms. Only two medicinal plant Pulicaria crispa, and Rumex nervosus extracts showed non antifungal activity. Conclusion: The experiment confirmed the efficacy of some selected plant extracts as natural antimicrobial and can be potential sources for the synthesis of antibacterial drugs.

Prevalence and Potential Risk Factors of Hospital Acquired Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase—Producing <i>Proteus</i>Species

Background: Multidrug resistance and production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) by a large group of bacterial agents in hospitals are to be a matter of scientific concern. Objective: This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of ESBL producing Proteus species and risk factors associated with hospital acquired infection in addition to study the antibiotics susceptibility patterns of all bacterial isolates from inpatients of four Yemeni general hospitals. Methods: A total of 740 consecutive non-repeat culture isolates were obtained from admitted patients of Al-Kuwait University Hospital, Al-Thowra General Hospital, Al-Jumhori Teaching Hospital, and Military General Hospitals Sana’a city. We used Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method to detect antimicrobial susceptibility and establish the presence of ESBLs-producing bacteria according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Results: Out of 740 isolate, 233 (31.5%) were Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus aureus 188 (25.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 149 (20.1%), Klebsiella sp. 107 (14.5%), Enterococcus faecalis 25 (3.4%) and Proteus spp. 38 (5.1%). The highest frequencies of ESBLs producing among Proteus sp. were Proteus mirabilis 26 out 38 (68.4%) and Proteus vulgaris 12 out 38 (31.6%). The most effective of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among Proteus spp. were Imipenem (100%) followed by Pipracillin-Tazobactam (92.3%) for P. mirabilis and (83.3%) for P. vulgaris, while the Amikacin (80.8%) for P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris with (91.7%). Amoxicillin and Cefotaxime were the highest for both species (100%). Conclusion: The prevalence of ESBL-producing Proteus spp. detected in this study is of great concern for public health authorities and a strict adherence of infection control policies and procedures with continuous antibiotics resistance surveillance including antimicrobial management and routine detection of ESBL-producing isolates are very important to prevent nosocomial infections.