Bacterial growth and antibiotic sensitivity of Proteus mirabilis treated with anti-inflammatory and painkiller drugs

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI), especially catheter-associated UTI. In this study, we investigated whether certain painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, when used alongside antibiotics, could lower P. mirabilis growth and consequently lower resistance to antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Urine samples (n=119) were collected from Baghdad hospitals. Proteus spp was identified using the Vitek-2 compact system and PCR amplification of the 16SrRNA gene. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the Vitek-2 system. The Kirby-Bauer method was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of chemical compounds (Dexamethasone, Nefopam, Olfen, paracetamol and Piroxicam) alone and synergism with antibiotics on extensively drug resistant (XDR) isolates. Results: 35 out of the 119 urine samples tested were found to be positive for P. mirabilis. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed the isolates to be resistant to minocycline (71.40%), ticarcillin (68.57%), trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole (65.70%) and ticarcillin/clavulanic (57.10%). Antibiotics in combination with Olfen (75 mg/2 ml) and Paracetamol (500 mg/5ml) drugs showed complete growth inhibition of P. mirabilis when compared to controls. Conclusion: Drugs dexamethasone, paracetamol, nefopam and olfen tested had no direct effect on bacterial growth of P. mirabilis when used alone. However, different concentrations of the drug in combination with antibiotics exerted a synergistic or antagonist effect on growth of P.mirabilis.