## 1 Introduction  
Nosocomial infections caused by certain microbial strains remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1]. Many countries across the world have a great incidence of nosocomial diseases induced by multi-resistant microorganisms [2]. Several synthesized drugs have not been effective against nosocomial infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria [3]. It is thus fitting that medicines give high priority to alternative natural drugs to fight nosocomial antibiotic-resistant microbes [4]. Several studies have reported that plants could be promising sources of effective drugs against various microorganisms [5; 6]. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complicated situation where bacteria and fungi develop strategies to defeat drugs designed to eliminate them, and therefore, the germs that are not killed continue to grow strongly, even more than before [7]. Over the past few decades, AMR has been considered as one of the biggest human health threats and was classified as belonging to the tenth challenging threat by the World Health Organization for 2019 [8; 9]. Many factors are involved in the emergence of AMR including the unreasonable use of antibiotics in human health, animal husbandry, hygiene, and the food industry [10; 11]. Effects of the drying pipeline of antibiotics have been also contributed to the aggravation of this issue. The phenomena of AMR are seriously alarming with complex threats, but regrettably with very few definite responses [12]. The death due to AMR infections is expected to reach 10 million by 2050 with a tremendous impact on the economy if no treatment options are conducted to contain AMR and its causative agents [13]. The studied bacteria in the present work are among the drug-resistant microbes known as the SAPEEKE group, an acronym of the following strains; _Staphylococcus aureus_, _Acinetobacter baumannii_, _Pseudomonas aeruginosa_, _Enterobacter_ spp, _Enterococcus facicum_, _Klebsiella pneumoniae_, and _Escherichia coli_ pathogens. These species are multidrug-resistant, extensive drug-resistant, and even pan drug-resistant, as reported elsewhere [14; 15; 16]. It is well known that _Candida_ spp. tested in this work is among the drug-resistant pathogens. A few years ago, mucosal candidiasis was responsible for affecting more than 90% of patients with AIDS. Due to the massive use of different drugs including oral azoles to fight mucosal candidiasis and invasive fungal infections, the resistance of _Candida_ spp. is becoming largely recognized as one of the greatest growing health burdens [17]. Free radicals can be defined as molecules containing unpaired electrons of cellular oxygen metabolism in mammals. However, free radical-associated damage is largely involved in many pathological processes and cause damage to cells, membranes, and DNA. In this sense, free radical scavengers are required to fight free radicals. Free radical scavengers from natural sources including plants are regarded as potent antioxidant agents to control free radical damage [18]. In traditional medicine, _Withania fufescens_ L. is frequently used by the indigenous population to fight bacterial infections, conjunctivitis, inflammation, tuberculosis, stress, bronchitis, anxiety, neurological disorders, and ulcers as well as liver and Parkinson's disease [19]. Previously published studies reported some pharmacological activities of _Withania fufescens (W. fufescens)_ including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing activities [19]. _W. fufescens.L_ extracts have been found to be rich in withanolides, which were isolated from the plant leaves. Moreover, the chemical analysis of the _W. fufescens.L_ extract showed that this plant possessed pentacarbonyl (13.22%), **2**-phenazine carbonitrile (10.64%), Tepinenol-**4** (10.04%), **4**H-**1**-benzopyran-**4**-one,**2,**3**-dihydro-**5**,**7**-dihydroxy-**2**phenyl(S) (8.76%), and bicyclo **[3.1.1]heptane, **6**,**6**-dimethyl-**2**-methylene (28.48%) [20; 21]. Earlier works showed no toxic effects in animals treated with the _W.