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•Nanocrystalline cellulose/Gum Arabic conjugated membranes are prepared.•Nanocrystalline cellulose is synthesized from microcrystalline cellulose via acid hydrolysis process.•The ...activity of Nanocrystalline cellulose/Gum Arabic conjugates is studied for hazardous salt (Boron) removal.•The rejection efficiency of boron reaches 92.4%.•Gum Arabic can effectively hinder the E.coli attachment as both are negatively charged.
In this work, we developed hybrid membranes integrated with Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)/Gum Arabic (GuA) conjugates using crosslinked Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a matrix phase with the addition of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer that insured pore formation. At first, the NCC was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose via acid hydrolysis process. The performance property of hybrid NCC/GuA was measured using boron removal. The results showed that the rejection capability enhanced as compared to the control membranes, especially at 0.1wt% of NCC the selectivity is up to 92.4% with the flux rate of 21.3L/m2.h. Moreover, the GuA in NCC/GuA conjugate significantly enhances the antibacterial activity by hindering the bacterial attachment to the surface as both of them carry the negative charge. Also by providing the active sites responsible for hydrogen bonding thus enhancing the hydrophilic character resulted in increased permeation flux rate. Therefore, the NCC/GuA conjugated membranes have great potentials for boron removal.
Paediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) represents a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality globally, with heightened susceptibility in low- and middle-income nations where ...antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is highly prevalent. Pakistan exemplifies this setting, with widespread antibiotic overuse driving AMR expansion. Thus, expediting PBM diagnosis and targeted antibiotic therapy is imperative yet challenged by the dynamic local epidemiology. This study aimed to delineate the recent bacterial etiologies and AMR profiles of PBM from a major Pakistani diagnostics laboratory to inform empirical treatment.
This prospective observational investigation evaluated PBM epidemiology in patients under 18 years old admitted to the study hospital. Standard cerebrospinal fluid analysis identified bacterial pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility patterns.
Among 171 PBM cases, 152 (88.9%) had bacterial isolates confirmed via culture. The cohort was 42.7% male with a mean age of 3 months. The most prevalent pathogens among infants younger than 3 months were
, and
, contrasting with
and
predominating in older children. Staphylococcal isolates exhibited considerable penicillin and erythromycin resistance but maintained vancomycin and linezolid susceptibility. Other resistance patterns varied.
These findings highlight the pressing threat of paediatric AMR in Pakistan, underscoring the need for vigilant AMR surveillance and judicious antimicrobial use. This study provides a reference to current PBM epidemiology to guide context-specific empirical therapy.
