The minimal peptide concentration causing ≥99 % reduction of microorganisms was defined as the MMC99.
Endophytic microorganisms are defined as those which live part of or whole life inside the plant tissues without causing damage or forming visible external structures to the host [ 29, 30].
A microorganism was defined as causing agent, if detected in respiratory specimens (sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BAL]), blood, or both, excluding normal skin or mucosal flora.
Carriage of a particular microorganism was defined as the condition in which a patient showed a minimum of two consecutive oral washings positive for that organism.
The microorganism was defined as MDR if it was not susceptible to more than three of the following eight antimicrobial agents: ampicillin/sulbactam, aztreonam, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem, piperacillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole [ 18, 19].
A microorganism was defined as MDRO if it provided resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics; aminoglycosides, antipseudomonal penicillins, carbapenems, cephalosporins, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor, quinolones, colistin, tigecycline [ 7].
For the purpose of this study, and to obtain a profile of the microorganisms in our ICU, resistant microorganisms (RM) were defined as those with non-susceptibility to one (RM1) or more than one class of antibiotics (RM2 .We also compared our results whit previous studies conducted in the ICU.
Probiotics were defined as live microorganisms which confer a health benefit on the host and include bacteria, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium etc. and yeasts (Ref. FAO/WHO.
Clinical isolates were defined as the recovery of a microorganism after culture of a clinical (not screening) specimen without specifying whether it represents colonization or infection.
Positive samples were defined as those with bacterial counts ≥105 cfu/ml of each significant microorganism.
