Atividade antimicrobiana de extratos brutos de Petiveria alliacea L.

"Antimicrobial activity of crude extratcs of Petiveria alliacea L.". Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccacea) is an herbaceous plant of great importance in traditional medicine. This species have been widely used in several applications such as antirheumatic, anticarcinogenic, anti-flu, antitussive, analgesic, insecticidal, acaricidal, as well as bactericide and fungicide. Currently, the pathogenic microorganisms are acquiring resistence against the traditional antibiotics, and the search for new herbal antimicrobial agents has been intensified. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antibacterial activity of several leaf crude extracts of P. alliacea against several strains of bacterias and yeasts namely Bacilus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida kefyr and Candida albicans, using microdilution method. Promising results were observed for the 70% v/v ethanolic extract which presented minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 250 to 760 mu g/mL for yeast. For the bacteria strains tested the MIC ranged between 240 to 3960 mu g/mL, depending of the extractive solution tested.

Propolis Standardized Extract (EPP-AF (R)), an Innovative Chemically and Biologically Reproducible Pharmaceutical Compound for Treating Wounds

The aim of this study was to develop a formulation, containing the propolis standardized extract (EPP-AF (R)), which can assist in the healing of skin lesions. To achieve this objective the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the propolis extract was determined. The final product was subjected to in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical evaluation. The broth macrodi-lution method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts and formulations against the microorganisms most commonly found in burns, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Wistar rats with puncture wounded skin were used to evaluate the wound healing properties of propolis. The results of chemical and biological characterization demonstrated the batch-to-batch reproducibility of the standardized extract which is an unprecedented result. The antimicrobial and wound healing activity of the pharmaceutical studied showed the best results when samples contain 3.6% propolis, suggesting that this is the most promising composition.

Evaluation of the in vitro susceptibility and emergence of mutants resistant to ciprofloxacin among multidrug resistant clinical isolates.

Two hundred and seventy-seven multidrug resistant clinical isolates [K. pneumoniae, (N = 87); E coli, (N = 30); Salmonella typhimurium (N = 100); P. aeruginosa, (N = 30); S. aureus, (N = 30)] from hospitalized patients specimens, were tested in vitro for sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin. Application of the disk diffusion test and determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration by the microdilution method indicated that, almost all isolates were sensitive to the drug. Overall, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were the less sensitive organisms. Ciprofloxacin-resistant mutants occurred at frequencies of > or = 10(-5)/CFU.

Estudo sobre a resistencia aos antimicrobianos em bacterias isoladas de pacientes hospitalizados (Botucatu, 1988-1992)

Since 1988 to 1992, a study about susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs of bacterias isolated from hospitalized patients was performed. The compared susceptibility to important drugs (ampicillin, cephalotin, cefoxitin, ceftaxizime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, gentamicin, amikacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, oxacillin and vancomycin) was investigated in 1200 strains (300 of each specie) of the prevalent bacterias: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. aureus. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method, using from 0.05 to 256 mcg of each drug per ml of culture medium (Mueller-Hinton). Ranges of MIC, MIC(50%), MIC(90%) and the proportion of resistant strains were determined and permitted to know the 4 drugs that were found to be more active against bacterias; the CIM(90%) values are: E. coli - aztreonam (0.1 mcg/ml), pefloxacin (0.1), ceftazidime (0.25) and ceftriaxone (0.05); K. pneumoniae-aztreonam (0.25) ceftriaxone (0.25), ceftazidime (0.5) and pefloxacin (2.0); P. aeruginosa-imipenem (4.0), aztreonam (16), ceftazidime (16) and ciprofloxacin (16); S. aureus-vancomycin (1.01, ciprofloxacin (8, 0), amikacin (128) and cephalothin (128 mg/ml). The better 'in vitro' antibacterial activity observed was related to: aztreonam (77-100% of the sensitive strains), ceftazidime (50-99,7%), pefloxacin (73-99,7%), ciprofloxacin (80%), imipenem (93%) and vancomycin (100%).

Avaliacao da atividade da nova cefalosporina de quarta geracao cefpiroma contra amostras clinicas isoladas em unidades de terapia intensiva e unidades de oncoematologia de varios hospitais brasileiros

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro activity of the fourth-generation cephalosporin cefpirome in comparison to that of ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and imipenem in a multicenter study involving nine hospitals from six cities (four states). Material and methods: A total of 804 isolates from patients hospitalized in either intensive care units or Oncology/Hematology units was evaluated. The isolates were collected between June and November of 1995, i.e. before cefpirome became commercially available in Brazil, and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution following the NCCLS procedures. All isolates resistant to cefpirome were retested by B-test. Results: Against Enterobacteriaceae (n = 344), cefpirome demonstrated an activity 2 to 32-fold higher than that of the third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs) and similar to that of imipenem. The percentages of Enterobacteriaceae susceptible were: 88%, 69% and 96% for cefpirome, TGCs and imipenem, respectively, The cefpirome spectrum were greater or equal to that of imipenem against Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Morganellao morganii and Serratia marcescens. Against Acinetobacter sp. (n = 77), cefpirome was slightly more active than ceftazidime; however, the percentages of isolates resistant to these compounds were high (84% and 88%, respectively). The activities of cefpirome, ceftazidime and imipenem were very similar against P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 128), with MIC50 (μg/ml) percent susceptible of 8/59%, 8/62% and 4/62% respectively, Against aerobic gram-positive bacteria, the cefpirome activity was 4 to 16-fold higher than that of TGCs but 2 to 8-fold lower than that of imipenem. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that, in Brazil, cefpirome has a spectrum of activity which is higher than that of the TGCs against aerobic gram-negative (Enterobacteriaceae and non-Enterobacteriaceae) and gram-positive bacteria and similar to that of imipenem against some Enterobacteriaceae species and P. aeruginosa.

Estudo sobre a resistência aos antimicrobianos em bactérias isoladas de pacientes hospitalizados (Botucatu, 1988-1992)

Since 1988 to 1992, a study about susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs of bacterias isolated from hospitalized patients was performed. The compared susceptibility to important drugs (ampicilin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, gentamicin, amikacin, peftoxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, oxacillin and vancomicin) was investigated in 1200 strains (300 of each specie) of the prevalent bacterias: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. aureus. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution method, using from 0,05 to 256 mcg of each drug per ml of culture medium (Mueller-Hinton). Ranges of MIC, MIC 50%, MIC 90% and the proportion of resistant strains were determined and permited to know the 4 drugs that were found to be more active against bacterias; the CIM 90% values are: E. coli - aztreonam (0,1 mcg/ml), pefloxacin (0,1), ceftazidime (0,25) and ceftriaxone (0,05); K. pneumoniae - aztreonam (0,25), ceftriaxone (0,25), ceftazidime (0,5) and pefloxacin (2,0); P. aeruginosa - imipenem (4,0), aztreonam (16), ceftazidime (16) and ciprofloxacin (16); S. aureus - vancomicina (1,0), ciprofloxacin (8,0), arnicacina (128) and cephalothin (128 mg/ml). The better in vitro antibacterial activity observed was related to: aztreonam (77-100% of the sensitive strains), ceftazidime (50-99,7%), pefloxacin (73-99,7%), ciprofloxacin(80%), imipenem (93%) and vancomicin (100%).

Ectima gangrenoso: Relato de caso

Report of a case of ecthyma gangrenosum with septicemia by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with favorable evolution in a 3-month-old boy. This disease is relatively rare, potentially lethal and the early diagnosis and treatment has an important role in the clinical evolution.

Atividade comparada da cefepima, cefpiroma e amicacina em amostras bacterianas hospitalares

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of cefepime, cefpirome and amikacin against the most prevalent nosocomial bacteria. Initially a prospective study was designed to compare the bacterial susceptibility to the three drugs using 1,022 pathogenic strains. The strains were isolated from hospitalized patients of the Hospital das Clinicas - Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, SP, from March to December of 1996, by using the Bauer-Kirby susceptibility diffusion controlled method. The activity of cefepime by the Kirby-Bauer method was significantly higher (χ2, p ≤ 0.05) than cefpirome and amikacin for the following bacteria: P. aeruginosa (72% x 56% x 64%, respectively), Enterobacter cloacae (98% x 88% x 80%) and total strains (79.5% x 74.3% x 76.8%). Cefpirome exhibited higher activity than cefepime only to Enterococcus faecalis (42% x 23%). In the 12 other bacterial groups studied the sensibility of the three drugs was similar (χ2, p ≥ 0.05). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 127 bacterial strains - Enterobacter cloacae (12), Citrobacter sp (15), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50), Acinetobacter baumannii (12), BGNF others (22) and Enterococcus faecalis (16)-from the same origin previously described and isolated during 1997, was determined by E-test. Ranges of MIC intervals, MIC(50%), MIC(90%) and the proportion of the sensitive bacterial strains were determined and permitted the following analysis: the activity of cefepime against Gram-negative bacteria was 2 or more times higher than that of cefpirome and amikacin, specially when CIM(90%) was considered; the activity of cefpirome was higher only against E. faecalis. This information must be considered in the rational use of antibiotic, specially in patients with nosocomial infections.

A bacteriological study of hospital beds before and after disinfection with phenolic disinfectant

In hospitals, one of the ways to control microbial contamination is by disinfecting the furniture used by patients. This study's main objective was to evaluate the microbiological condition of hospital mattresses before and after such disinfection, in order to identify bacteria that are epidemiologically important in nosocomial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RODAC plates with two different culture media were used to collect specimens. Patient beds were selected according to previously established criteria, and surface areas on the mattresses were chosen at random. From the total of 1 040 plate cultures from 52 mattresses, positive results were obtained from 500 of them (48.1%), 263 before disinfection and 237 after disinfection. Considering the selectivity of the culture media, the positivity rate was high. There were high prevalences of S. aureus both before and after mattress disinfection. The study results suggest that the usual disinfection procedures, instead of diminishing the number of microbes, merely displace them from one part of the mattress to another, and the number of microorganisms remains the same.

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of sealers and pastes used in endodontics

The antimicrobial activity of four root canal sealers (AH Plus, Sealapex, Ketac Endo, and Fill Canal), two calcium hydroxide pastes (Calen and Calasept), and a zinc oxide paste was evaluated. Seven bacterial strains were used, six of them standard; Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 10541. There was a wild strain of Streptococcus mutans isolated from saliva obtained in an adult dental clinic. Activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method with Brain Heart Infusion agar and Müller Hinton medium seeded by pour plate. Calcium hydroxide-based sealers and pastes were either placed directly into 4.0 × 4.0 mm wells or by using absorbent paper points. The plates were kept at room temperature for 2 hr for diffusion. After incubation at 37°C for 24 hr, the medium was optimized with 0.05 g% TTC gel and inhibition haloes were measured. All bacterial strains were inhibited by all materials using the well method. However, when the materials were applied with absorbent paper points, Enterococcus faecalis was not inhibited by zinc oxide, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not inhibited by AH Plus, Fill Canal, and the zinc oxide-based paste. We conclude that sealers and pastes presented antimicrobial activity in vitro and culture medium optimization with 0.05 g% TTC gel facilitated observation of the inhibition haloes. Copyright © 2000 by The American Association of Endodontists.

In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of a castor oil-based irrigant

The antimicrobial activity of irrigating solutions - Endoquil (castor oil detergent), 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution, and 0.5% NaOCI solution - was evaluated against Gram-positive cocci (Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sobrinus), Gramnegative rods (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and the yeast Candida albicans. Activity was evaluated using the two-layer agar diffusion technique. The base layer was obtained by pouring 10.0 ml of Muller Hinton Medium or 10.0 ml of Brain Heart Infusion agar in a Petri dish. After solidification a 5.0 ml seed layer of Muller Hinton Medium or Brain Heart Infusion agar with inoculum (106/ml) was added. Absorbent paper disks (6.0 mm in diameter) immersed in the solutions were placed at equidistant points. Plates were maintained at room temperature for 2 h for prediffusion of the solutions and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The candle jar system was used for the Brain Heart Infusion agar plates. All tests were performed in duplicate. After incubation the medium was optimized with 0.05 g% triphenyltetrazolium chlorate gel and inhibition halos were measured. All bacterial strains were inhibited by 2.0% chlorhexidine gluconate. Endoquil was effective against Grampositive microorganisms, and 0.5% NaOCI was effective only against S. aureus. Copyright © 2001 by The American Association of Endodontists.