Background: Mobile phones are excessively used even though microbes’ ability to survive on phone surfaces was confirmed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, heavy hygiene practices have been applied to mobile surfaces. Therefore, it is interesting to evaluate the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on mobile phone surfaces. Methods: A random sampling technique was utilized on residents in Abu Dhabi, UAE between May and June 2021. A swab sample from each participant’s mobile phone was collected and transported to the microbiology laboratory for bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study was conducted via a self-administered questionnaire filled by participants. The questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, phone frequency usage and cleaning methods. Results: One hundred two-sample swabs and data have been included in the study. The majority of participants (91.1%) reported cleaning their mobile phones with wipes and alcohol. However, 100% of participants had a mobile phone contaminated by bacteria such as S. aureus, E. coli, Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter, Proteus, Enterococcus, klebsiella, Pseudomonas and Actinobacteria. Interestingly, most of these potentially pathogenic bacteria were found to be resistant to ampicillin, ceftazidime and cefotaxime. Conclusion: The continuous hand and mobile disinfectant have contributed to the emergence of resistant bacteria.
Nanomaterials manufactured of amphiphilically‐altered polysaccharides have sparked a great deal of interest due to their capability to elevate drug transport across the skin. The study presents the fabrication of alkylated chitosan through 2‐tert‐butoxymethyloxirane alteration (alkylation degree 29.7%), that was typified by spectroscopic, chromatographic, and thermal analysis approaches before being constructed into nanomaterials for the analysis of their capability in governing fusidic acid diffusion percutaneously. The nanomaterials were constructed via the ionic interaction of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged cross linker sodium tripolyphosphate, with a loading degree of fusidic acid of ca. 20% reported. Fusidic acid release was slower in nanomaterials constructed of alkylated chitosan than in neat chitosan. Under application‐relevant conditions, in vitro incubation with HaCaT cells exhibited insignificant toxicity. Using Franz diffusion cells, the alkylated chitosan nanomaterials induced fusidic acid to infiltrate the Strat‐M® membrane at a 2‐fold greater rate than the neat chitosan nanomaterials. Based on the agar diffusion test, fusidic acid was shown to have better antimicrobial activity when loaded into alkylated chitosan nanomaterials than when loaded into neat chitosan nanomaterials. Ultimately, the in vitro results revealed that alkylated chitosan nanomaterials offer a great deal of potential for percutaneous delivery, which merits greater analysis.
This article deals with exploitation of a pharmaceutical patent to treat the novel coronavirus. The laws of several Arab nations, which regulate industrial property rights in regard to the use of compulsory licensing for exploiting patented COVID-19 pharmaceutical treatments, are examined, compared, and contrasted. The cases in which such laws permit use of compulsory licensing are clarified, such as in the interest of national security and in emergencies. This article concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat to the public health of various countries which has justified the use of compulsory licensing to exploit new patents. A patent owner has the right to be granted appropriate compensation during exploitation, and the new compulsory license terminates once the purpose for which it has been given terminates.
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