The prevalence of natural carriage and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) isolates in a Jordanian community were investigated. The MRSA nasal carriage rate in 227 healthy volunteers was 7·5% and the majority (81%) of MRSA harboured the resistance element SCCmec type IVe and were of a novel spa type t9519 (76%); other significant spa gene types were t223 (14·7%) and t044 (5·9%). All MRSA isolates were susceptible to other classes of antibiotics, and tested positive for at least three virulence factor encoding genes, but only two harboured the pvl gene. MR-CoNS carriage was 54·2% and these isolates were characterized by single, double and untypable SCCmec elements, with Staphylococcus epidermidis SCCmec type IVa predominating. Of eight subjects with nasal co-colonization of MR-CoNS + MRSA, three shared SCCmec type IV in both groups of organisms. This is the first report of methicillin-resistant staphylococci carriage in a Jordanian community and its findings are important for epidemiological study and infection control measures of these organisms.

Aims:  To evaluate the antimicrobial activities of aspirin, EDTA and an aspirin‐EDTA (A‐EDTA) combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in planktonic and biofilm cultures. Methods and Results:  Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal biocidal concentrations (MBC) were determined using twofold broth microdilution and viable counting methods, respectively. Aspirin’s recorded MIC values ranged from 1·2 to 2·7 mg ml−1. Checkerboard assay demonstrated a synergism in antimicrobial activity upon combination. Aspirin’s minimal biofilm eradication concentration values (MBEC) against the established biofilms ranged between 1·35 and 3·83 mg ml−1. A complete eradication of bacterial biofilms was achieved after a 4‐h treatment with the A‐EDTA combination. Conclusion:  Both aspirin and EDTA possess broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity for both planktonic and biofilm cultures. Aspirin used at the MBEC for 24 h was successful in eradicating P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. albicans biofilms established on abiotic surfaces. Moreover, the exposure to the A‐EDTA combination (4 h) effected complete bacterial biofilm eradication. Significance and Impact of the Study:  There is a continuous need for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents. Aspirin and EDTA are ‘nonantibiotic drugs’, the combination of which can be used successfully to treat and eradicate biofilms established on abiotic surfaces.

Background:Several Salvia species are indigenous to Jordan and are widely used as beverages and spices and for their medicinal properties. The objective of the study was to establish the antimicrobial activities, including the antiadhesive and antibiofilm effects of seven different Salvia species.Materials and Methods:Methods used for planktonic culture included agar diffusion, broth microdilution, and minimal biocidal concentration determination while viable count was used for the determination of the antibiofilm and antiadhesion activities. Overnight cultures of reference strains of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus and clinical strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were used as test microorganisms.Results:An antimicrobial activity toward planktonic cultures demonstrated a significant bacteriocidal activity (≥4 log cycle reduction) for the S. triloba extract against S. aureus including MRSA. Its volatile oil exhibited an antimicrobial activity covering all tested microorganisms with the exception of P. aeruginosa. S. triloba extract and volatile oil were successful in preventing and controlling the biofilm, demonstrating antiadhesion and antibiofilm activities, respectively.Conclusion:These reported activities for S. triloba extract and volatile oil allows their listing as potential antibiofilm and anti-MRSA natural agents. This might suggest their use as an antiseptic in the prophylaxis and treatment of S. aureus-associated skin infections. The antimicrobial activity of the other tested Salvia species was negligible.

Aims:The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize staphylococcal isolates from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Jordanian patients. Methods and Results: Selected aerobic pathogens recovered from DFU specimens and patients' nares with a focus on staphylococci were investigated. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) were determined. SCCmec types and toxigenic characteristics were analysed and spa typing was performed for methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. The relationship between toxigenic characteristics of MRSA and the Wagner ulcer grading system was statistically analysed. A total number of 87 DFU patients were recruited for the study. The DFU cultures were polymicrobial. Members of the genus Staphylococcus were the most common among DFU-associated isolates found in 48Á3% (n = 42) of all patients enrolled. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) comprised 63Á3% of staphylococci isolated from DFUs predominated by Staphylococcus epidermidis in both DFU (7Á6%) and nares (39Á2%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from DFUs and nares in 14Á2 and 9Á8%, respectively, while 93 and 70% of these isolates were MRSA. Most of MRSA carried SCCmec type IV (76Á2%) while SCCmec elements were non-typeable in most methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) (61Á9%). The most frequent MRSA spa type was t386 (23Á8%). Most MRSA and MR-CoNS exhibited resistance towards aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides and susceptibility towards vancomycin, mupirocin and linezolid. No association was found between the possession of pvl, tst, sea and hlg toxins and Wagner ulcer grading system (P value >0Á05). Conclusions: This analysis of Jordanian DFU culture demonstrated its polymicrobial nature with predominance of Staphylococcus sp. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study is the first of its type to assess the microbiology of DFU among Jordanian patients. The results will help in the appropriate application of antimicrobial chemotherapy in the management of DFU.

The quality characteristics of green olives produced by the traditional spontaneous fermentation method in Jordan have never been studied. We investigated the nutritional, functional, and microbiological characteristics of Jordanian fermented green Nabali Baladi olives (GNBFO). Proximate composition, fatty acids, and total polyphenols were determined by standard protocols. Cultivable microflora was monitored over 3 months of fermentation. Isolated microorganisms were identified by molecular sequencing and in vitro probiotic traits were tested. GNBFO contained fiber (3g⁄100g), total polyphenols (306mg⁄100g), oil (19.3g ⁄100g), and oleic acid (70%). Yeast strains (Candida diddensiae and Candida naeodendra) were predominant and showed acid (pH=2.5) and bile salt (0.1% and 0.3%) resistant and high adhesion ability (ca∼107CFU/ml) to intestinal cell lines; they were positive to catalase and negative to lipase and none possessed antimicrobial activity against selected pathogens. Lactic acid bacteria were not detected. In conclusion, the GNBFO have promising functional characteristics as they contain valuable nutrients, antioxidants, and yeast strains with potential probiotic traits.