Potential of Ocimum basilicum L. and Salvia officinalis L. essential oils against biofilms of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates.

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms, responsible for more than 60% of the chronic human infections and they represent one of the leading concerns in medicine. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is human pathogenic bacteria which causes numerous diseases and is known for its ability to produce biofilm. Ocimum basilicum L. (basil) and Salvia officinalis L. (sage) are widely used plants in traditional medicine for the treatment of different conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of basil and sage essential oils against P. aeruginosa biofilm producing strains. The efficacy of two essential oils on P. aeruginosa biofilm forming ability was determined using crystal violet method. Out of 15 strains isolated from different clinical biological samples, two were strong, 11 moderate and one weak biofilm producer. Good efficacy of sage essential oil towards strong and weak biofilm producers, but not of basil essential oil, was observed. In the case of moderate biofilm producers, 81.8% showed lower biofilm production after incubation with the sage oil, while 63.6% showed the reduction of biofilm production after basil essential oil treatment. The obtained results showed high potential of both oils for the treatment of persistent infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

Cathelicidin-BF, a snake cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide, could be an excellent therapeutic agent for acne vulgaris.

Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides acting as multifunctional effector molecules in innate immunity. Cathelicidin-BF has been purified from the snake venoms of Bungarus fasciatus and it is the first identified cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide in reptiles. In this study, cathelicidin-BF was found exerting strong antibacterial activities against Propionibacterium acnes. Its minimal inhibitory concentration against two strains of P. acnes was 4.7 µg/ml. Cathelicidin-BF also effectively killed other microorganisms including Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was possible pathogen for acne vulgaris. Cathelicidin-BF significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory factors secretion in human monocytic cells and P. acnes-induced O2.- production of human HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Observed by scanning electron microscopy, the surfaces of the treated pathogens underwent obvious morphological changes compared with the untreated controls, suggesting that this antimicrobial peptide exerts its action by disrupting membranes of microorganisms. The efficacy of cathelicidin-BF gel topical administering was evaluated in experimental mice skin colonization model. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects of cathelicidin-BF were confirmed by relieving P. acnes-induced mice ear swelling and granulomatous inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effects combined with potent antimicrobial activities and O2.- production inhibition activities of cathelicidin-BF indicate its potential as a novel therapeutic option for acne vulgaris.

The occurrence and anti-microbial susceptibility of Salmonellae isolated from commercially available pig ear pet treats.

In Canada, there have been reported outbreaks of human salmonellosis related to exposure to animal-derived pet treats, involving pig ear treats, beef steak patty dog treats and pet treats of seafood origin. As a follow-up to recommendations made to the pig ear treat industry in 1999, a total of 245 pig ear treats were purchased in two Canadian cities to provide evidence of adoption of the recommendations and to determine the current levels of Salmonella contamination of pig ear treats available at pet stores. An overall prevalence of 4% was observed, with isolates exhibiting resistance to up to seven anti-microbials. Serotypes recovered included S. Bovismorbificans, S. Give, S. Derby and S. Typhimurium var. Copenhagen. Although the prevalence observed during this study is lower than the prevalence observed in 1999, pig ear treats should still be considered as a possible source of Salmonella and anti-microbial resistant bacteria to humans and dogs in Canada.

[Aetiology and antibiotic sensitivity of the most frequent outpatient infections]. / Etiología y sensibilidad antibiótica de las infecciones extrahospitalarias más frecuentes.

The diffusion of the outlines of antibiotic sensitivity is a practice that is recommended for improving the prescription of antibiotics and for controlling the appearance and spread of resistances. During the years 2003 and 2004, data was gathered on the sensitivity to antibiotics of the main bacteria isolated in outpatient urine cultures, coprocultures, faringoamygdal and otic smears in the Pamplona health area, which attends to a population of approximately 400,000 inhabitants. Of the 9,495 uropathogens isolated, 90% were sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanate, 96.4% to 2nd generation cephalosporins, 95.3% to phosphomycin and 97.7% to nitrofurantoin. One point eight percent (1.8%) of the strains of Escherichia coli isolated in urine were producers of extended spectrum b-lactamases, while 0.5% of the urinary isolations of Klebsiella pneumoniae were producers of this type of b-lactamases. Ninety-six point five percent of the 797 isolations of Salmonella serotipo Enteritidis were sensitive to cotrimoxazol, and 97.5% of the 1,057 isolations of Campylobacter jejuni were sensitive to eritromycine. Of the 319 bacteria isolated in otitis media, 96.5% were sensitive to amoxyline. The Gram negative bacillae producers of otitis externa showed a sensitivity above 90% to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin and polimixin B. Twenty-nine point seven percent of the isolations of Streptococcus pyogenes were resistant to eritromycine. Fourteen point three percent and 17.4% of the Staphylococcus aureus isolated in the years 2003 and 2004 respectively were resistant to methicillin. Knowledge of the map of antibiotic sensitivity of the microorganisms in circulation in each geographical area is information that is necessary for the empirical choice of antibiotic treatment.

Etiología y sensibilidad antibiótica de las infecciones extrahospitalarias más frecuentes / Aetiology and antibiotic sensitivity of the most frequent outpatient infections

La difusión de los perfiles de sensibilidad antibiótica es una práctica recomendada para mejorar la prescripción de antibióticos y controlar la aparición y diseminación de resistencias. Durante los años 2003 y 2004, se recogieron los datos de sensibilidad a antibióticos de las principales bacterias aisladas de urocultivos, coprocultivos, frotis faringoamigdalares y óticos extrahospitalarios, en el área de salud de Pamplona que atiende a una población aproximada de 400.000 habitantes. De los 9.495 uropatógenos aislados, el 90% fueron sensibles a amoxicilina-clavulánico, el 96,4% a cefalosporinas de 2ª generación, el 95,3% a fosfomicina y el 97,7% a nitrofurantoína. El 1,8% de las cepas de Escherichia coli aisladas en orina fueron productores de b-lactamasas de espectro extendido, mientras que el 0,5% de los aislamientos urinarios de Klebsiella pneumoniae fueron productores de este tipo de b-lactamasas. El 96,5% de los 797 aislamientos de Salmonella serotipo Enteritidis fueron sensibles a cotrimoxazol y el 97,5% de los 1057 aislamientos de Campylobacter jejuni fueron sensibles a eritromicina. De las 319 bacterias aisladas en otitis media, el 96,5% fueron sensibles a amoxicilina. Los bacilos Gram negativos productores de otitis externa presentaron una sensibilidad superior al 90% para ciprofloxacino, gentamicina y polimixina B. El 29,7% de los aislamientos de Streptococcus pyogenes fueron resistentes a la eritromicina. El 14,3% y el 17.4% de los Staphylococcus aureus aislados durante los años 2003 y 2004 respectivamente fueron resistentes a la meticilina.El conocimiento del mapa de sensibilidad antibiótica de los microorganismos circulantes en cada área geográfica es una información necesaria para la elección empírica del tratamiento antibiótico

The diffusion of the outlines of antibiotic sensitivity is a practice that is recommended for improving the prescription of antibiotics and for controlling the appearance and spread of resistances. During the years 2003 and 2004, data was gathered on the sensitivity to antibiotics of the main bacteria isolated in outpatient urine cultures, coprocultures, faringoamygdal and otic smears in the Pamplona health area, which attends to a population of approximately 400,000 inhabitants. Of the 9,495 uropathogens isolated, 90% were sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanate, 96.4% to 2nd generation cephalosporins, 95.3% to phosphomycin and 97.7% to nitrofurantoin. One point eight percent (1.8%) of the strains of Escherichia coli isolated in urine were producers of extended spectrum b-lactamases, while 0.5% of the urinary isolations of Klebsiella pneumoniae were producers of this type of b-lactamases. Ninety-six point five percent of the 797 isolations of Salmonella serotipo Enteritidis were sensitive to cotrimoxazol, and 97.5% of the 1,057 isolations of Campylobacter jejuni were sensitive to eritromycine. Of the 319 bacteria isolated in otitis media, 96.5% were sensitive to amoxyline. The Gram negative bacillae producers of otitis externa showed a sensitivity above 90% to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin and polimixin B. Twenty-nine point seven percent of the isolations of Streptococcus pyogenes were resistant to eritromycine. Fourteen point three percent and 17.4% of the Staphylococcus aureus isolated in the years 2003 and 2004 respectively were resistant to methicillin. Knowledge of the map of antibiotic sensitivity of the microorganisms in circulation in each geographical area is information that is necessary for the empirical choice of antibiotic treatment

Preoperative treatment of children with chronic suppurative otitis media.

259 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media were bacteriologically assessed. 12 bacterial strains were isolated in 196 of the cases. The most common species present was Staphylococcus - 77 (39%) cases, followed by Proteus vulgaris isolated in 36 (18%) cases, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 33 (17%) cases. The flora in 25 cases (18%) yielded two bacterial strains with identical oxygen demands, and a mixture of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in 32%. In 60.6% of cases the flora was sensitive to ototoxic antibiotics (gentamycin, kanamycin and neomycin), especially to gentamycin - 29.9%. The highest sensitivity of the flora to non-ototoxic antibiotics was to chlorocid (in 25.5% of the cases). Topical and systemic treatment were administered based on antibiogram and the inflammation and the otorrhea were controlled in 91.4% of the cases. No or little effect was found in the patients with cholesteatoma (8.6%). A conclusion was made that the monoflora was the commonest in the ear effusion (87%), comprising facultative anaerobes, present in 63.8%, anaerobes in 18.8%, and aerobes, mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in 17.4%. The combined (topical and systemic) treatment based on antibiogram is effective in the preoperative management of the inflammation.