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Purpose: Drug resistance against antimicrobials is on the rise at alarmingly high rates.Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the six ESKAPE pathogens which are a significant "one health" issue. Clinical isolates of A. baumannii exhibit MDR phenotype mostly and infrequently the XDR and PDR phenotype. As a result, these infections have one of the highest mortality rates in hospitals. Alternative therapies are urgently needed. Methods: Various phages were enriched against XDR clinical strain of A. baumannii. A potent phage, QAB 3.4, was further tested against 100 clinical strains. Because of its broad lytic activity, it was further tested for stability, resistance development and as an infection control agent. Results: Phage QAB 3.4 showed broad lytic activity against 100 MDR and XDR clinical isolates representing a wide diversity of infection sites. Assays conducted to document the phage's stability, and ability of clinical isolates to develop resistance against it, showed promising outcomes for its potential use in clinical applications. Phage QAB 3.4 was able to eradicate A. baumannii from pre-inoculated solid surfaces. It provides a proof of concept that phages can be used as environmentally friendly infection control agents. Conclusion:We propose the phage QAB 3.4 is a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical studies to test its biosafety and efficacy.

In developing nations like Pakistan, the dumping of untreated industrial effluents into drains is a major source of subsurface pollution. This research was carried out at the area of Chokera, Faisalabad and focused on the Paharrang drain to examine its impact on groundwater quality since companies in the area discharge untreated sewage into the drain at various points along its length. It was primarily concerned with determining the impact of the outflow on groundwater quality and observing discharge rate fluctuations. The goal of this study was to assess the toxicity of the drain’s effluent and treatment plant on groundwater quality. Physio-chemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, TSS, DO, Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Cl, Arsenic, Lead, Chromium, Copper, Cadmium, and Zinc were measured in the collected samples. The findings of these samples were compared to WHO recommendations. The values of these data were represented using ArcView GIS v10.2 and a mapping of quality parameters. None of the values in the wastewater samples were determined to be within the WHO acceptable limit. Similarly, groundwater investigation revealed that all samples were unsuitable for human consumption. Drinking groundwater directly might be hazardous to one’s health.

13Hospital acquired infections are responsible for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acinetobacter spp. 14 infections are particularly notorious for complicating patient management in ICU settings. Extremely high 15 mortality rates are associated with Acinetobacter infections because of their resistance to first-and 16 second-line drugs. There is imminent need to develop infections control systems that are specific and 17 environment friendly. Here, we report a proof-of-concept anti-Acinetobacter spp. bacteriophage-based 18 infection control assay that is very target specific as well as innocuous to environment. extensively drug 19 resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii strain was inoculated at various solid surfaces. A 20 bacteriophage, enriched in the same strain, was applied on the inoculated surfaces. Phenol (carbolic acid) 21 was used as a positive control. We show that bacteriophages can be used as infection control agents. In 22 our assay, they killed XDR Acinetobacter baumannii present on solid surfaces. Our bacteriophage was 23 extremely effective at reducing the CFU of inoculated strain to almost undetectable levels. 24