Penicillin Antibiotics Research Articles

Unraveling the resurgence of syphilis: a deep dive into the epidemic sweeping across the United States; a mini review.

Syphilis, a resurging public health concern in the United States, has witnessed a staggering rise in cases over the past decade. This highly contagious sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum presents significant challenges due to its infectious nature and potential for severe complications. Despite the successful syphilis elimination plan launched in the early 2000s, which showed a decline in syphilis cases in highly funded states, syphilis has rapidly reemerged, with incidence rates steadily climbing across many states. Transmitted through sexual contact and vertically from infected mothers to babies, syphilis progresses through distinct stages, each with varying symptoms and complications. Despite modern treatment availability such as the antibiotic benzathine penicillin G, cases often go undiagnosed until severe complications arise. Neurovascular and cardiovascular issues can result from untreated syphilis. The resurgence of syphilis is evident across demographics, with men, particularly men who have sex with men, and certain racial groups being disproportionately affected. Additionally, congenital syphilis cases have surged, leading to serious adverse outcomes for newborns. Public health initiatives must prioritize education, outreach, and preventive services tailored to high-risk populations. Partner notification, aided by technological advancements, is crucial for controlling transmission. Laboratories play a vital role in surveillance and disease monitoring. In conclusion, tackling syphilis resurgence demands a multifaceted approach addressing social, economic, and health care disparities. By implementing comprehensive public health strategies including enhanced screening and public awareness campaigns, the burden of syphilis and its associated adverse outcomes can be mitigated, safeguarding public health in the United States.

Occurrence of Antibiotic-resistant Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris in African Catfish (Clarias sp.) Isolates in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia

Background: This study seeks to evaluate the resistance profiles of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris in isolates from African catfish in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. Methods: A total of 74 African catfish samples were procured from 12 distinct aquaculture ponds in Banyuwangi. The catfish were intentionally selected from tarpaulin and cement ponds. The samples were categorized into two groups: G1, comprising African catfish with clinical evidence of hemorrhage and superficial ulceration and G2, consisting of those without apparent clinical symptoms. Water quality assessments were performed for each pond. Following this, P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris were isolated and identified from liver and skin samples utilizing MCA media, followed by Gram staining and biochemical assays. The identified bacterial isolates were sensitivity tested for beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam resistance. Result: The findings indicated that P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris were present in African catfish, with prevalence rates of 4.05% (3/74) and 10.81% (8/74), respectively. P. mirabilis exhibited extremely high resistance rates against beta-lactams antibiotics Cefadroxil, Ampicillin, Penicillin and Oxacillin, with very high resistance to non-beta-lactam antibiotic Erythromycin (66.7%). P. vulgaris showed extremely high resistance to beta-lactams antibiotics Penicillin and Oxacillin and very high resistance to Cefadroxil and non-beta-lactam Erythromycin (both at 62.5%), Streptomycin (50%) and Cefixime (25%). The factor influencing the presence of P. vulgaris in African catfish is the type of pond (p = 0.044). It can be concluded that the beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit the highest and most prevalent resistance on Proteus spp. isolates. Additionally, resistance to other non-beta-lactam antibiotics is also observed. Greater caution should be exercised in the administration of antibiotics in aquaculture facilities to safeguard public health.

Modeling and optimization of surface modification process of ultrafiltration membranes by guanidine-based deep eutectic solvent.

Modeling and optimization of surface modification process of ultrafiltration membranes by guanidine-based deep eutectic solvent.

The prevalence of Salmonellosis in broiler chickens raised under a semi-intensive production system.

Aim: The study aimed to identify the prevalence of Salmonella species in live broiler chickens, their level of antimicrobial resistance and implications for public health. Methods: Cloacal swabs were collected, packaged and transported to Mutare Provincial Veterinary Laboratory where laboratory tests were carried out. The swabs were taken from fifteen randomly sampled chickens, representing each batch, over time in a CRD with two factors: batch (1 -5), and time (d2, 16, 30 and 44), the production cycle ended at d45. The swabs were transported aseptically (minimizing handling and enclosed in sterile equipment) in peptone water and incubated overnight in Rappaport Vissiliadis (RV) broth to obtain a pure suspension of Salmonella species. Xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLD) was used to culture the samples suspension followed by the citrate, lysine, motility and urease confirmatory biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was evaluated using the disc diffusion technique, this test was done to determine the susceptibility of Salmonella species to eight common commercial antibiotics. Results: The confirmed Salmonella species were S. enterica (74%), S. typhi (17%) and S. paratyphi (9%). The results also indicated that the chickens at d2 had significantly (P<0.001) higher mean cfu/gm counts. Isolates (Salmonella species) showed resistance to penicillin (100%) and ampicillin (100%) but were sensitive to kanamycin (100%). Conclusion: The current study concluded the presence of Salmonella species in live broiler chickens, and that Salmonella species are not sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin antibiotics, have intermediate sensitivity to erythromycin, but sensitive to kanamycin. This has implications to both broiler production and public health, since proliferation of the species is correlated to environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, pollution, and nutrient availability, all of which are generally high in Zimbabwe.

“Oxford housewife” or the only british woman to have ever won the Nobel Prize in science? – Dorothy Hodgkin

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, a British chemist and Nobel Prize winner, who extended the method of X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of biomolecules that furthered the development of structural biology. In 1964, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances”, particularly vitamin B12 and antibiotic penicillin. Five years after winning the Nobel Prize, Dorothy Hodgkin also established the structure of insulin. Although The Daily Mail headlined her as an “Oxford housewife”, Dorothy Hodgkin overcame gender inequality to become the third woman in history to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and remains the only British woman researcher to be awarded the most prestigious prize in the sciences. Keywords: Dorothy Hodgkin, insulin, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, structures of penicillin, vitamin B12, X-ray crystallography

Distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa across different point sources of pollution in the Buriganga River, Bangladesh.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium widely distributed in the environment, with increasing concerns about multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in riverine systems. In this study, we assessed the antibiotic resistance of 50 P. aeruginosa isolates from surface water samples collected at seven distinct sites along the Buriganga River. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method. The results showed widespread antibiotic resistance, with 88% of isolates resistant to cefotaxime and tetracycline, followed by 48% resistance to cefepime and 24% to ciprofloxacin. Conversely, most isolates were susceptible to penicillin, aminoglycosides, carbapenems, and fluoroquinolone-class antibiotics, with sensitivity rates of 100, 98, 92, 94, and 96%, respectively. Thirteen isolates (26%) were classified as MDR, predominantly from point-source pollution sites such as industries, medical waste, and municipal waste discharges. Notably, 4% of isolates exhibited resistance to both imipenem and meropenem, raising concerns about the spread of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa in the river. This study highlights the contamination of river water with antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa and its potential transmission through aquatic systems. Proper waste management and treatment are critical to controlling the spread of MDR isolates, which pose risks to both public health and the environment.

Ultra-high-throughput screening of antimicrobial combination therapies using a two-stage transparent machine learning model.

Here, we present M2D2, a two-stage machine learning (ML) pipeline that identifies promising antimicrobial drug combinations, which are crucial for combating drug resistance. M2D2 addresses key challenges in drug combination discovery by predicting drug synergies using computationally generated drug-protein interaction data, thereby circumventing the need for expensive omics data. The model improves the accuracy of drug target identification using high-throughput experimental and computational methods via feedback between ML stages. M2D2's transparent framework provides mechanistic insights into drug interactions and was benchmarked against chemogenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics datasets. We experimentally validated M2D2 using high-throughput screening of 946 combinations of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved drugs and antibiotics against Escherichia coli . We discovered synergy between a cerebrovascular drug and a widely used penicillin antibiotic and validated predicted mechanisms of action using genome-wide CRISPR inhibition screens. M2D2 offers a transparent ML tool for rapidly designing combination therapies and guides repurposing efforts while providing mechanistic insights.

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation biological activity of some 2-mercaptobinzemidazol complexes

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation biological activity of some 2-mercaptobinzemidazol complexes

OXIDATIVE DESTRUCTION OF AMOXICILLIN IN PHOTO-FENTON-LIKE OXIDIZING SYSTEM USING SOLAR IRRADIATION

The kinetic regularities of oxidative destruction of β-lactam penicillin antibiotics are studied using amoxicillin as example in Fenton-like iron-persulfate system under solar irradiation. The effect of Fe2+ and persulfate concentrations on the antibiotic degradation rate and mineralization in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) decay in combined {Solar/Fe2+ /S2O82-} system was examined. With the increase of oxidant concentration from 0.5 mM to 1.5 mM, the initial reaction rate of amoxicillin degradation increased to 2.5-fold, and the conversion of target compound and TOC mineralization reached 90% and 19%, respectively, after 120 min of solar exposure. Increasing the Fe2+ concentration from 0.1 mM to 0.3 mM resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the initial reaction rate of amoxicillin oxidation and up to 21% for TOC mineralization. A comparative evaluation of different oxidizing systems was given. It was experimentally established that the efficiency of amoxicillin destruction process increases in the order: {S2O82-} < {Solar} < {Solar/S2O82-} < {Fe2+/S2O82-} < < {Solar/Fe2+/S2O82-}. It should be noted that TOC mineralization was observed only in combined {Solar/Fe2+/S2O82-} system, which indicates to deep oxidation of intermediates and, consequently, increasing biodegradability of the final reaction products. It was found that in the real water matrix, in the natural surface water of Selenga River, inhibition of amoxicillin degradation and TOC mineralization were observed, due to a greater extent to bicarbonate ions presented in it. The obtained results demonstrate the prospect of using solar irradiation for effective degradation of β-lactam penicillin antibiotics in the combined {Solar/Fe2+/S2O82-} oxidation system. For citation: Alekseev K.D., Sizykh M.R., Batoeva A.A. Oxidative destruction of amoxicillin in photo-fenton-like oxidizing system using solar irradiation. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2024. V. 67. N 12. P. 123-130. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20246712.7082.

Proline-Modified RWn Peptides: Enhanced Antifungal Efficacy and Synergy with Conventional Antibiotics for Combating Resistant Fungal Infections.

Candida albicans (Ca) and Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) infections pose a growing threat due to rising antifungal resistance. This study explores a new class of antifungal agents, the RWn series (n = 4, 6, 8) peptides. These synthetic peptides were evaluated for their ability to inhibit Ca and Cn growth. All peptides except RW4 displayed antifungal activity, with RW6 exhibiting exceptional potency against Cn. Importantly, the incorporation of a proline residue significantly reduced cytotoxicity while maintaining antifungal activity against Cn for all RWnP peptides. Notably, RW6P demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against both Ca and Cn with low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal toxicity. Furthermore, combining RW6P with trace amounts of traditional antibiotics (penicillin, vancomycin, and ampicillin) achieved synergistic effects, significantly reducing MICs against both fungi. These findings suggest that RWnP peptides, particularly RW6P, have promising potential as novel antifungal agents due to their high potency, broad-spectrum activity, and ability to resensitize fungi to existing antibiotics.

Effects of Black Garlic (Black Allium sativum) on Creatinine Levels in Tuberculosis-Infected Mice (Mus Musculus)

There is a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Indonesia, which is the second country with the highest TB cases in the world. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can attack various organs of the body and is the main cause of death among other infectious diseases. Garlic (Allium sativum) contains the compound allicin which has high antibacterial activity, equivalent to penicillin and modern antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, so it can be used to prevent and treat various diseases including tuberculosis. This study aims to determine the benefits of black garlic (Black Allium sativum) in controlling creatinine levels in mice (Mus musculus) infected with TB, considering that black garlic is known to have various medical properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. The research design used is Quasi-Experimental Design, namely a non-random repeat experimental design carried out with a post-test and having a control group and an experiment determined using a non-random method. The mice used were divided into several groups, including a healthy group, a group infected with tuberculosis, a group that received black garlic treatment, and a group that was given a combination of black garlic + OAT. Mice infected with TB were given black garlic, and creatinine levels were measured to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. A statistical test was carried out using the One Way Anova test on the creatinine levels of a group of tuberculous mice given black garlic. The average creatinine levels in the four treatment groups of mice were within normal limits, with the lowest value being 0.24 mg/dL and the highest value being 0.59 mg/dL. Next, a statistical test was carried out using the One Way Anova test and the results showed a P value of 0.807. This P value>0.05 indicates that the administration of black garlic does not affect creatinine levels in mice infected with tuberculosis.

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization and Antibiogram Pattern of Livestock Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Livebird Markets Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Study’s Excerpt The prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in poultry markets within the Gusau metropolis was examined. Phenotypic and molecular (PCR) detection methods were combined to identify the LA-MRSA isolates. Multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes were observed in 72.2% of the isolates. Full Abstract Poultry farms have been identified as hotspots for the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA). In this study, a total of 320 swab samples were randomly collected from fecal litter, Hands of poultry handlers, Soil, Feed, and Water from five different poultry markets in the Gusau metropolis. The LA-MRSA isolates involved were detected culturally and identified phenotypically by the use of PCR assay. The pooled prevalence of the LAMRSA isolates in the samples was 22(100%). The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of LAMRSA among the samples collected at 95% confidence interval and 0.05 level of significance. There is no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of LAMRSA among the samples. Findings from the antibiogram study conducted revealed that all the 22(100%) LAMRSA isolates were resistant to Penicillin antibiotics, with resistance to other antibiotics following the order: Nitrofurantoin, 17(77.3%), Sulphamethoxazole, 13(59.1%), Chloramphenicol 6(27.28%), Ciprofloxacin 5(22.7%) and Erythromycin 4(18.2%). A total of 14 multidrug resistant phenotypes were identified from the 22 LAMRSA isolates with 16(72.2%) demonstrating cross resistant to ≥3 of the six different classes of antibiotics used. The MDR rate in soil samples was the highest (27.3%) (p<0.05) compared to other MDR isolates from the other sources. Of all the isolates, 22(100%) demonstrated a MAR Index ranging from 0.2-0.8. These are disturbing trends with significant risks to humans and animals. Suggesting a potential for inoculation of self and transmission to others, particularly through those who sell and make daily contact with live birds. Therefore, the government should awaken the consciousness of poultry farmers/handlers by way of sensitization on the need to improve water quality and practice routine personal and environmental hygiene as it relates to poultry management, with a focus on antibiotic stewardship within the one health framework so as to lower endemicity and equally break the chain of transmission of LA- MRSA across the farm to fork continuum.

Probing the interaction mechanisms between three β-lactam antibiotics and penicillin-binding proteins of Escherichia coli by molecular dynamics simulations

Probing the interaction mechanisms between three β-lactam antibiotics and penicillin-binding proteins of Escherichia coli by molecular dynamics simulations

Serum metabolomics analysis reveals potential biomarkers of penicillins-induced fatal anaphylactic shock in rats

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions are the most concerning adverse events after penicillin antibiotics (PENs) administration because of their rapid progression and potential for fatal outcome. However, the diagnosis of allergic death is a forensic challenge because it mainly depends on nonspecific characteristic morphological changes, as well as exclusion and circumstantial evidence. In this study, an untargeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to screen potential forensic biomarkers of fatal anaphylactic shock induced by four PENs (benzylpenicillin (BP), amoxicillin (AMX), oxacillin (OXA), and mezlocillin (MEZ)), and analyzed the metabolites, metabolic pathway and the mechanism which were closely related to the allergic reactions. The metabolomics results discovered that a total of 24 different metabolites in all four anaphylactic death (AD) groups, seven of which were common metabolites. A biomarker model consisting of six common metabolites (linoleic acid, prostaglandin D2, lysophosphatidylcholine (18:0), N-acetylhistamine, citric acid and indolelactic acid) AUC value of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.978. Metabolism pathway analysis revealed that the pathogenesis of PENs-induced AD is closely related to linoleic acid metabolism. Our results revealed that the metabolomic profiling has potential in PENs-induced AD post-mortem diagnosis and metabolic mechanism investigations.

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of sumac extract on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The research aimed to evaluate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of aqueous sumac extract on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through in-vitro and in-vivo study. Sumac extract has been obtained through the soaking method, and its antioxidant properties were gauged using the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of sumac extract was determined on S. aureus obtained from hospitalized patients, as well as an assessment of biofilm-formation and the release of bacterial intracellular compounds. in vivo experimentation involved injecting bacteria (108 cfu/ml) into mice, which subsequently manifested indicators of symptoms of infection, and the number of bacteria within their bloodstream was quantified. The Sumac extract demonstrated strong antioxidant properties at concentrations of 1000 mg/ml. Furthermore, the agar tests for the gram staining, mannitol, coagulase, and DNase revealed that 190 cultured bacteria samples were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria were resistant to clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, and methicillin antibiotics, but sensitive to erythromycin and penicillin antibiotics. Additionally, the bacteria displayed significant methicillin resistance and formed a strong biofilm (65.78%). The sumac extract showed a MIC range of 125–1000 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment with concentrations above the MIC was found to prevent the formation of biofilm and increase the release of bacterial intracellular compounds. Sumac extract led to a decrease in bacterial count in the blood of mice and reduced signs of infection. Sumac extract demonstrated powerful antioxidant and antibacterial effects against resistant microorganisms, suggesting its potential as a promising compound for the treatment of resistant infections in future research.

Antibacterial Power of Lemon Essential Oil, Ginger And Their Synergy With Neem Vegetable Oil On Mastitis Pathogenic Germs Dairy Cows From The Poro Region In Ivory Coast

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of essential oils of (Citrus limon, Zingiber officinalis and Azadirachta indica vegetable oil), purchased, identified 32.80%, 42.40% and 47.10% of its constituents. This study consisted of evaluating the antimicrobial performance of some EOs obtained from three medicinal plants, considered to have a great bacterial effect. This is in order to standardize their use to apply them as an alternative remedy to antibiotics in the face of the advance of resistant bacteria and the failure of antibiotic therapy. The essential oils of these plants were tested alone or in combination on nine pathogenic microbial strains from cows suffering from mastitis and resistant to certain antibiotics, namely: four Gram (-) bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli ATCC25922, E. coli, Klebsiella spp) ; five Gram (+) bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp, S. aureus ATCC19213, SCN (S. lentus and S. xylosus)); and E. coli ATCC25922, S. aureus ATCC19213 as reference strains. Reasonable antimicrobial activities of the studied EOs were observed on some of the germs tested. All the strains tested are sensitive to concentrations less than or equal to 100μg.ml -1 of essential oil. Enterobacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp) are resistant to standard antibiotics with the exception of Colistin, which have been shown to be sensitive to all essential oils studied. This observation applies to Gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp, Staphylococcus lentus and Staphylococcus sylosus) which are very sensitive to the oils studied but resistant to three types of standard antibiotics (Ampicillin, Colistin and Penicillin). The CMB/MIC ratios of Zingiber officinalis and Citrus limon oils have a bacteriostatic action while that of the combination of EO (Zingiber officinalis, Citrus limon and Azadirachta indica oil ) are bactericidal on all bacterial strains tested. There was no significant difference between the MIC and MBC values of the essential oil resistant strains. As a result of the study, an idea could be proposed for the development and upgrading of a new generation of combination of natural antimicrobial agents that can be used in humans and animals against infections with commonly used antibiotics.

Uji Efektivitas Daya Hambat Ekstrak dan Perasan Lidah Buaya (Aloe barbadensis Miller) pada Bakteri Staphylococcus Aureus dengan Metode Difusi

Aloe vera is a plant that is rich in minerals, vitamins, and antibacterial properties. A study to analyze the antibacterial effectiveness of aloe vera in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria isolated from acne pus. This study was an experimental laboratory study using the disc diffusion method, located at the Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, from February to May 2024. There were 6 sample treatments with 4 replications, 4 treatments of extract and juice concentration variations, namely concentrations of 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, positive control using penicillin antibiotics, and negative control using clean distilled water. The results of this study show that at aloe vera extract concentrations of 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%, the average diameter of the inhibition zone was 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, and 12 mm, respectively, while in aloe vera juice, these concentrations did not form an inhibition zone. So it was concluded that aloe vera extract is more effective than aloe vera juice, the most successful test material to slow the growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in this study was aloe vera extract with a concentration of 100%. This study also conducted qualitative phytochemical testing on aloe vera extract which has antibacterial compounds, namely saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The results of the study on the effectiveness of the inhibitory power of aloe vera extract and juice against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria using the disc diffusion method were analyzed using quantitative descriptive and presented in tabulation form in the form of the diameter of the inhibition zone formed.

История организационно-управленческой деятельности советского микробиолога Зинаиды Виссарионовны Ермольевой

The study aims to reconstruct the organizational and managerial aspect in the scientific biography of Zinaida Vissarionovna Ermolyeva (1898-1974), a prominent Soviet microbiologist who produced the first Soviet antibiotic penicillin. The paper analyzes Ermolyeva’s work leading various scientific units and institutions: the Department of Microbial Biochemistry at the A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, followed by the A. M. Gorky All-Union Institute of Experimental Medicine, the Institute of Biological Prophylaxis of Infections, and the Department of Microbiology at the Central Institute for Advanced Medical Training. The study is novel in that it is the first one to shed light on the role of Z. V. Ermolyeva as an organizer of science and a leader of a scientific team, based on the analysis of a number of unpublished documents from three federal archives. As a result of the study, Ermolyeva’s scientific-organizational activity has been reconstructed and it has been established that for half a century her professional activity was associated not only with research in the field of microbiology and medicine, but also with the successful organization of Soviet science within academic and educational institutions, where she managed to create cohesive teams of talented researchers who made a significant contribution to the development of Soviet microbiology and medicine.

Hospital charge and resource use analysis of extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic therapy after pancreatoduodenectomy in intermediate- and high-risk patients

Hospital charge and resource use analysis of extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic therapy after pancreatoduodenectomy in intermediate- and high-risk patients

Antimicrobial Activity of Senna didymobotrya and Thunbergia alata Plant Extracts Against Selected Bacterial Clinical Isolates from Kericho Referral Hospital in Kenya

Bacterial infections are distributed worldwide and cause deadly infectious bacterial diseases such as skin, soft tissue and respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and tuberculosis. Bacterial infections are very common and can be easily acquired since bacteria are ubiquitous. It has challenged modern healthcare providers; conventional drugs are costly and have side effects. Therefore, alternative remedies that are easily available, affordable, and effective are needed. This study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial activity of Senna didymobotrya and Thunbergia alata crude plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and pseudomonas aeruginosa common in Kericho County. Plant leaves of the two plants were sourced from two sites (Bomet and Kabianga), dried, milled into powder and solvent extracted using hexane, dichloromethane: methanol ratio (1:1) and methanol. Phytochemicals present in each plant extract were evaluated using standard laboratory procedures. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined. Discs impregnated with standard antibacterial drugs were used as positive control. Leaves of T. alata and Senna didymobotrya collected from Bomet contained 7.41% and 10.4% while those from Kabianga contained 8.07% and 17.71% of extracts respectively, suggesting that site conditions do not influence the percentage of extracts. Leave extracts of S. didymobotrya and T. alata were found to be rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides and tannins irrespective of plant collection site, solvent of extraction. S. didymobotrya and T. alata plant extracts significantly inhibited growth of the exposed microbes in the following order: S. aureus, ≥S. pyogenes and≥ P. aeruginosa bacteria in comparison with commercial antibiotics (penicillin, chloromphenical, and erythromycin). The MIC values of the isolates ranged from 20×10-3 mg/ml to 4.8 ×10-3 mg/ml. However, bacterial inhibition by plant extracts showed re-growth of S. pyogenes after 36 hours, suggesting bacteriostatic nature. These results suggest that S. didymobotrya and T. alata leaves contain significant amounts of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides and tannins hence can be used as traditional medicine to manage S. aureus, S. pyogenes and P. aeruginosa bacteria found on human skin