Algal alkaloids are widely used for their pharmacological properties as antimicrobial agents. This study determined the antibacterial activities of algal alkaloid-rich extracts against isolates of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157, as well as the probable mode of action underlying their antibacterial effect. The total alkaloids were extracted from two Libyan brown algae, namely Sargassum hornschuchii and Cystoseira compressa and tested against six different isolates from the bacteria mentioned above using the agar-well diffusion method, and their mode of action on isolates was evaluated by several bacterial physiological indicators, including intracellular potassium ion efflux and nucleotide leakage. Also, the extracts' hemolytic activity was assessed as an indicator of their cytotoxicity on red blood cells. Although not to the same extent, both alkaloid extracts presented antibacterial activities against all tested isolates with no evidence of bacterial regrowth. The alkaloid extract from S. hornschuchii exerted the best effect on bacteria growth with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging between 125 and 500 mg/mL. The results showed that the alkaloid extracts significantly induced a distinct release of nucleotide and potassium ions out of the cell membrane, indicating that they cause a change in the fluidity or permeability or both of the cell membrane. Moreover, the results revealed that there were very low cytotoxic effects. Therefore, algal alkaloids may contribute to the development of potential antibacterial agents in the future.
Salah M. Azwai(1-2021)

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most invasive organism that causes severe tissue damage in diabetic foot ulcers. A major problem in P. aeruginosa infection because of that it is commonly exhibits a high degree of resistance to antimicrobial agents .To improve appropriate antimicrobial therapy and reduce the incidence of antibiotics resistant bacteria, information on the antibiotic susceptibility to this bacterium is urgently needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate and determinate the antimicrobial susceptibility of the P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers patients. Methods: This study was carried out over the period between June 2014 to April 2015 at Tripoli Medical Center. A total of 120 bacterial isolates were cultured onto bacteriological media such as nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and blood agar. Identification of retrieved bacterial isolates was done using standard diagnostic microbiological laboratory methods and antibiogram was determined by VITEK ® 2 compact automated system. Results: Twenty one strains of P. aeruginosa from 120 diabetic foot ulcers were detected. P. aeruginosa isolates exhibited multidrug resistance to Ampicillin, Augmenting, Cefuroxime, Cefoxitin, Cefazolin, Ceftriaxone, Trimethoprim/sulfamethzole, Piperacillin. However, all isolates of P. aeruginosa were 100 % sensitive to Imipenem. Conclusion: P. aeruginosa infections of diabetic foot ulcers patients have multi-drug resistant. Imipenem is the empirical antibiotic of the choice. Key words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, diabetic foot ulcer, antibiotics resistance arabic 17 English 114
Abdulkareem Elbaz, Abdulkareem Elbaz, Abdulgader Dhawi, Asma K. Elramalli, Ibrahim A. Algondi, , , Mustafa Saieh(12-2018)

There were only 75 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported in Libya by the National Center for Disease Control during the first two months following the first confirmed case on 24 March 2020. However, there was dramatic increase in positive cases from June to now; as of 19 November 2020, approximately 357940 samples have been tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the results have revealed a total number of 76808 confirmed cases, 47587 recovered cases and 1068 deaths. The case fatality ratio was estimated to be 1.40%, and the mortality rate was estimated to be 15.90 in 100000 people. The epidemiological situation markedly changed from mid-July to the beginning of August, and the country proceeded to the cluster phase. COVID-19 has spread in almost all Libyan cities, and this reflects the high transmission rate of the virus at the regional level with the highest positivity rates, at an average of 14.54%. Apparently, there is an underestimation of the actual number of COVID-19 cases due to the low testing capacity. Consequently, the Libyan health authority needs to initiate a large-scale case-screening process and enforce testing capacities and contact testing within the time frame, which is not an easy task. Advisably, the Libyan health authority should improve the public health capacities and conduct strict hygienic measures among the societies and vaccinate as many people against COVID-19 to minimize both the case fatality ratio and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in Libya.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes(7-2021)