The protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum against meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: an experimental animal model.

Abstract

To determine and quantitatively measure the protective and/or therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) application on a burn wound before and after the onset of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Third-degree scald burns affecting 10% of body surface area were formed on the back of five groups of rats. Group 1 was designated as the control group. In Group 2, LP was applied immediately after the burn and then MRSA inoculated. In Group 3, MRSA was applied immediately after the burn and then LP inoculated. Groups 4 and 5 were designated as controls of LP and MRSA. On the fifth and tenth days, bacterial loads and compositions were assessed by tissue biopsies. Each group contained seven rats (n=35). In Group 2, MRSA colony counts were found to be significantly lower compared with the other groups (p<0.05). In Group 3, MRSA colony counts were not found to be significantly different compared with control groups (p>0.05). LP was shown to have a protective role in non-infected, burn wounds when applied before MRSA infection but a therapeutic effect of LP was not demonstrated. LP is thought to have a promising role in the prevention and treatment of burn wound infections.