Efflux Pump Inhibition Effect of Curcumin and Phenylalanine Arginyl β- Naphthylamide (PAβN) against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Burn Infections in Tanta University Hospitals

Abstract

Introduction : Multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeuroginosa strains are very important pathogens causing hospital acquired infections especially in intensive care units. One of the mechanisms of developing drug resistance is efflux pump through which bacteria extrude antibiotics. If these efflux channels are blocked or inhibited, increased drug concentration can be obtained inside a bacterial cell with optimal drug dose. This study was aimed to investigate the role of curcumin and phenylalanine arginyl β-naphthylamide(PAβN) as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). Materials and Methods : A total of 40 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were taken from burn wounds. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed using disc diffusion test, then minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against selected antibiotics before and after adding PAβN (20mg/L, 50mg/L) and curcumin (from 5 to 50μg/ml) was tested. Results : MDR isolates showed significant reduction in MIC after adding curcumin (50μg/ml) and PAβN (20mg/L) with selected antibiotics, while no change in MIC was observed when were used alone, indicating their efflux pump inhibitor activity. Conclusion : curcumin and PAβN potentiated the effect of antibiotics and thus change their susceptibility pattern which can be attributed to efflux pumps inhibition. Further genotypic studies may be needed to confirm.