Origanum vulgare essential oil and carvacrol: natural alternatives against resistant bacteria / Óleo essencial de origanum vulgare e carvacrol: alternativas naturais contra bactérias resistentes / El aceite esencial de origanum vulgare y el carvacrol: alternativos naturales contra las bacterias resistentes

Bacteria that are resistant to several antibiotics are a serious One Health problem, as new alternatives for treatment do not appear at the same speed. Thus, the aim of this work was to carry out a survey of studies involving the activity of the essential oil of O. vulgare and its isolated compound carvacrol on antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To this end, a qualitative review of the literature was carried out in the PubMed database from 2015 to 2020. Both for the essential oil and for the isolated compound, the inhibitory action extends to strains often associated with difficult-to-treat infections such as oxacillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, ß-lactamase-producing strains, carbapenemases, among others. The point that distinguishes the studies is the type of methodology used in the tests, with studies with carvacrol more directed towards mechanisms of molecular action and application in cells and animals, while those with oils are more preliminary. Although these substances have potential to control resistant bacteria, more research is needed to enable their use.

Bactérias resistentes a vários antibióticos são um grave problema para a Saúde Única, pois novas alternativas de tratamento não aparecem na mesma velocidade. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento de estudos envolvendo a atividade do óleo essencial de O. vulgare e seu composto isolado, carvacrol, sobre bactérias resistentes a antibióticos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão qualitativa da literatura na base de dados PubMed no período de 2015 a 2020. Tanto para o óleo essencial quanto para o composto isolado, a ação inibitória se estende a cepas frequentemente associadas a infecções de difícil tratamento como Staphylococcus aureus resistente à oxacilina e vancomicina, cepas produtoras de ß-lactamase, carbapenemases, entre outras. O ponto que diferencia os estudos é o tipo de metodologia utilizada nos testes, sendo os estudos com carvacrol mais direcionados para mecanismos de ação molecular e aplicação em células e animais, enquanto os com óleos são mais preliminares. Embora essas substâncias tenham potencial para controlar bactérias resistentes, mais pesquisas são necessárias para viabilizar seu uso.

Las bacterias resistentes a diversos antibióticos son un grave problema para la Sanidad Única, ya que las nuevas alternativas de tratamiento no aparecen a la misma velocidad. Así pues, el objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar una encuesta sobre los estudios relativos a la actividad del aceite esencial de O. vulgare y su compuesto aislado, el carvacrol, sobre las bacterias resistentes a los antibióticos. Para ello, se realizó una revisión bibliográfica cualitativa en la base de datos PubMed en el periodo comprendido entre 2015 y 2020. Tanto para el aceite esencial como para el compuesto aislado, la acción inhibidora se extiende a cepas frecuentemente asociadas a infecciones de difícil tratamiento como el Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la oxacilina y a la vancomicina, cepas productoras de ß-lactamasas, carbapenemasas, entre otras. El punto que diferencia los estudios es el tipo de metodología utilizada en las pruebas, siendo los estudios con carvacrol más dirigidos a mecanismos de acción molecular y aplicación en células y animales, mientras que los de aceites son más preliminares. Aunque estas sustancias tienen potencial para controlar las bacterias resistentes, es necesario seguir investigando para que su uso sea viable.

Bacteria with a Potential for Multidrug Resistance in Hospital Material.

The objective of this research was to determine the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from items related to hygiene and antisepsis, equipment, and instruments used in different hospital wards. Bacterial isolation and identification, phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility assays, mecA gene detection, and multiple antimicrobial resistance index analysis were performed. In total, 105 bacteria were isolated from 138 items. Of these, 49.52% bacteria were collected from instruments, 43.80% from equipment, and 6.66% from items related to hygiene and antisepsis. All gram-positive bacteria (88 isolates) were identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Five species of gram-negative bacilli (17 isolates) were isolated, and the prevalence of Enterobacter agglomerans (29.41%), Escherichia coli (11.76%), and Serratia liquefaciens (11.76%) was high. Antimicrobial resistance was reported for 93.33% of the isolates. Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to sulfazotrim (88.64%) and penicillin (82.95%), while gram-negative bacteria showed resistance to sulfazotrim (70.59%) and ampicillin (64.71%). Analysis of multiple antibiotic resistance index showed that 73.33% of the isolates were a high risk to public health. The mecA gene was detected in 23 (71.88%) isolates. The evaluation of microorganisms isolated in the hospital environment revealed their high multidrug resistance index. Thus our study presses the need to pay more attention to the cleanliness of frequently used instruments, which may be potential sources of infections.