Antimicrobials Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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- Microbiology, Natural Products Chemistry, Antimicrobials, Clinical Microbiology

The prescription is the legal document that defines the patient's drug therapy, thus it must be intelligible and readable to allow the dispensation of the correct drugs to the patient in the right dose, route of administration and quantity. Incomplete and illegible prescriptions lead to misunderstanding and consequently, medication errors, which may cause from ineffectiveness to serious adverse reactions. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the legal aspects of drug prescriptions subject to prescription retention in a Basic Health Unit (BHU) of Joinville (Santa Catarina state). For this purpose, the adequacy and legibility of information concerning patients, prescribers, and psychotropic and antimicrobial drugs of the prescriptions dispensed by a BHU from July 15 to August 15, 2018, were analyzed totaling 500 prescriptions, of which 250 were psychotropic and 250 were antimicrobial, about 17% handwritten and 83% typed. No prescriptions mentioned the patients' telephone number and few prescriptions omitted gender and address, especially the handwritten ones. Concerning the prescribers' data, few omissions were observed, related to their contact data. All drugs were prescribed in the Brazilian Common Denomination (BCD), and all psychotropic prescriptions had no omissions of route and quantity, while the handwritten prescriptions of antimicrobials comprised 10-15% omission of these data. Regarding legibility, less than 5% of the prescriptions were partially readable and an even smaller proportion were illegible. Non-standardized abbreviations were observed in 55,6% of the prescriptions. Data allow observing that, although some errors still persist the adoption of typed prescription minimized the problems of legibility, but not the omission of information. The improvement of the prescribing writing applications can also help to minimize omissions and make the prescriptions more comprehensible and ensure adequate guidance on the rational use of medicines.

- by Eduardo Manoel Pereira and +1
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- Pharmaceutical Care, Antimicrobials, Psychotropics, Medication Safety

Purpose This study aims to compare the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of different parts (tip, mid and base portion) of lemongrass leaves for application as a natural ingredient in the functional drink. Design/methodology/approach Lemongrass leaf powder was prepared from different parts of leaves and evaluated for nutritional composition. Additionally, the extracts of different portions of lemongrass leaves were analyzed for total phenolics, free radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and antimicrobial activities for their application in food products. Findings Tip portion of lemongrass leaf anticipated significantly (p < 0.05) higher contents of ash, protein, calcium, potassium and iron i.e. 6.2 mg/100 g, 18 mg/100 g, 340 ppm, 819 ppm and 32 ppm, respectively. Maximum (p < 0.05) phenolics (14.7 mg GAE/100 g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydroxyl (86.3%) and FRAP (200 mmol/100 g) were observed in lemongrass leaf tip methanolic extracts. M...

Successful experiments with tri-sodium citrate as initial surfactant-cum-reducing agent followed by a secondary reducing agent i.e. sodium formaldehyde sulphoxylate (SFS) to silver nitrate were performed which established a clear large-scale method for the preparation of silver nano- powder of particle size of less than 50 nm. The citrate ions also create hydrophilic capping to in-situ generated zero-valent silver, thus leading to surfactant capped particles. Partial re-dispersion of such nano-powder in aqueous medium leads to colloidal silver which can be loaded in water friendly polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). UV–Visible absorption band at about 275 and 400 nm of colloidal silver in water can be retained even after loading in polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the colloidal solution showed a particle of the size b30 nm. Particle size distribution by dynamic light scattering technique (DLS) showed that the particles are in the range of 10– 40 nm. The elemental composition was studied by energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDS

- by Shamkumar Deshmukh
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- Catalysis, Antimicrobials
- by Dr Amanda J Lee
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- Pharmacology, Ophthalmology, Antimicrobials, Antibiotic Resistance

Background - Antibiotic use in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture has been linked to the rise of antibiotic resistance globally. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarise the effect that interventions to reduce antibiotic use in food-producing animals have on the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals and in humans.
Methods - On July 14, 2016, we searched electronic databases (Agricola, AGRIS, BIOSIS Previews, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, Embase, Global Index Medicus, ProQuest Dissertations, Science Citation Index) and the grey literature. The search was updated on Jan 27, 2017. Inclusion criteria were original studies that reported on interventions to reduce antibiotic use in food-producing animals and compared presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria between intervention and comparator groups in animals or in human beings. We extracted data from included studies and did meta-analyses using random effects models. The main outcome assessed was the risk difference in the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Findings - A total of 181 studies met inclusion criteria. Of these, 179 (99%) described antibiotic resistance outcomes in animals, and 81 (45%) of these studies were included in the meta-analysis. 21 studies described antibiotic resistance outcomes in humans, and 13 (62%) of these studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled absolute risk reduction of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in animals with interventions that restricted antibiotic use commonly ranged between 10 and 15% (total range 0–39), depending on the antibiotic class, sample type, and bacteria under assessment. Similarly, in the human studies, the pooled prevalence of antibiotic resistance reported was 24% lower in the intervention groups compared with control groups, with a stronger association seen for humans with direct contact with food-producing animals.
Interpretation - Interventions that restrict antibiotic use in food-producing animals are associated with a reduction in the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in these animals. A smaller body of evidence suggests a similar association in the studied human populations, particularly those with direct exposure to food-producing animals. The implications for the general human population are less clear, given the low number of studies. The overall findings have directly informed the development of WHO guidelines on the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.

- by Karen L Tang and +4
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- Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review, Public Health Policy, Public Health, Zoonoses

Increasing multiple drug resistance of microorganisms to certain antibiotics is a major health problem of the current clinical practice. Therefore, development of novel broad
range antimicrobial agents and increasing efficiency of existing antibiotics are under great interest among scientists. Some psychotropic drugs not only reverse microbial antibiotic
resistance but also exhibit direct antimicrobial activity against several biological targets. In the present study, 16 different psychotropic drugs including sertraline, paroxetine,
aripiprazole, fluvoxamine, moclobemide, venlafaxine, mianserin, trazodone, mirtazapine, clomipramine,
alprazolam, escitalopram, citaloprame, fluoxetine, gabapentin and reboxetine have been examined for their antimicrobial properties against wide range of bacteria, yeast and fungi using disc-diffusion and micro-well dilution assays. The results revealed that except FOR gabapentin, venlafaxine, moclobemide and alprazolam, the remaining drugs tested in this study showed various antimicrobial activities. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor group drugs including sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine displayed broad range
antibacterial activity compared to other psychotropic drugs. Among them, sertraline was also found to be effective against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Exploring antimicrobial activities will increase the use and application of these psychotropic drugs in clinical approaches. However, in vivo studies and clinical trials are strictly required to evaluate efficiencies of these chemicals for the treatment of systemic microbial infections.

- by Selami Demirci
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- Antimicrobials, Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, SERTRALINE

Abstract A multidisciplinary approach is being used to identify and validate virulence factors and determinants of bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Bcc is a group of problematic opportunistic pathogenic bacteria,... more

- by Christian June Ramos
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- Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Genomics, Biology
- by Serhat Unal and +2
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- Antimicrobials

Proflavine finds a wide array of applications in clinical, therapeutic, industrial and cutting edge research. This study investigates properties of proflavine and brings out its current status based on overall merits and demerits. Review was carried out starting from late 1800s to 2017 about all aspects of proflavine. We have accessed digital libraries in

- by Kannan Subbaram and +1
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- Antimicrobials, Proflavine
- by Tim Sandle
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- Microbiology, Antimicrobials, Antibiotic Resistance, Antimicrobial drug resistance

A great number of Gram (+) and Gram negative (-) bacteria produce during their growth, substances of protein structure (either proteins or polypeptides) possessing antimicrobial activities, called bacteriocins. Although bacteriocins could be categorized as antibiotics, they are not. The major difference between bacteriocins and antibiotics is that bacteriocins restrict their activity to strains of species related to the producing species and particularly to strains of the same species, antibiotics on the other hand have a wider activity spectrum and even if their activity is restricted this does not show any preferential effect on closely related strains. In addition, bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized and produced during the primary phase of growth, though antibiotics are usually secondary metabolites. Among the Gram (+) bacteria, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) especially, Lactobacilli have gained particular attention nowadays, due to the production of bacteriocins. These substances can be applied in the food industry as natural preservatives. The use of LAB and of their metabolic products is generally considered as safe (GRAS, Grade One). The application of the produced antimicrobial compounds as a natural barrier against pathogens and food spoilage caused by bacterial agents has been proven to be efficient. Nisin is the only bacteriocin that has been officially employed in the food industry and its use has been approved worldwide. Bacteriocins can be applied on a purified or on a crude form or through the use of a product previously fermented with a bacteriocin producing strain as an ingredient in food processing or incorporated through a bacteriocin producing strain (starter culture).
Keywords: Lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacilli, Bacteriocins, Nisin, Plantaricins, Lantibiotics

- by Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof and +1
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- Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering

The number of nosocomial infections related to
implants and medical devices increase alarmingly worldwide.
New strategies based on the design of antimicrobial coatings
are required to prevent such infections. Polyelectrolyte
“multilayer” films constitute a powerful tool for nanoscale
surface functionalization which allows addressing this issue. By
investigating films built up with poly(arginine) (PAR) of
various chain lengths (10, 30, 100, and 200 residues) and
hyaluronic acid (HA), we demonstrate that exclusively films
constructed with poly(arginine) composed of 30 residues
(PAR30) acquire a strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-
positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria associated
with infections of medical devices. This chain-size effect is extremely striking and is the first example reported where the length of
the polyelectrolytes played a key-role in the functionality of the films. Moreover, this unexpected functionality of nanolayered
polypeptide/polysaccharide PAR30/HA films occurs without adding any specific antimicrobial agent, such as antibiotics or
antimicrobial peptides. PAR30/HA film inhibits bacteria through a contact-killing mechanism due to the presence of mobile
PAR30 chains. These chains are assumed to diffuse toward the interface, where they interact with the bacteria with the consequence of killing them. This new coating with unique properties based on the association of a homopolypeptide of 30 residues with a polysaccharide constitutes a simple system to prevent implant-related infections with a reasonable production cost.

- by Nihal Engin Vrana
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- Polyelectrolytes, Antimicrobial Peptides, Nanotechnology, Antimicrobials

The antimicrobial activity of the leave of Acalypha wilkesiana methanolic extract and its four derivative fractions were determined on human pathogenic bacteria namely strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli and fungi; Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. carbonerium, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. Methanolic extract (200 mg/ml) and its fractions were tested on the bacteria and fungi using the disc diffusion method. In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity were screened by using Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration for the bacteria and fungi were also determined. Results showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria but same cannot be said about its activity against the fungi. The ethyl acetate fraction inhibited the growth of more bacteria and fungi compared to the other fractions; however,

- by Muyideen Haruna
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- Antimicrobials, Antibacterial agents, Acalypha Wilkesiana

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the residents in Greater Lagro, Quezon City, Philippines on antimicrobials and the development of antimicrobial resistance. Methodology: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 340 residents in Greater Lagro, Quezon City, Philippines, whereby their knowledge regarding antimicrobial use and the development of antimicrobial resistance was assessed by using a five point Likert scale, whose responses ranged from " no knowledge " to " very knowledgeable. " Findings: The study showed that the community residents were partly knowledgeable on antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge on antimicrobials and the development of antimicrobial resistance is a fundamental public health problem that could lead to ineffective treatment as well as antimicrobial resistance.

Three wetland macrophytes, Sesbania herbacea, Bidens frondosa, and Eclipta prostrata, were exposed (0.4-1,000-ppb nominal concentrations) to the antimicrobial triclosan for 28 d in a flow-through system. Sesbania herbacea had decreased seed germination at the 100-ppb exposure level at days 7, 14, and 21, and B. frondosa germination was reduced at the 1,000-ppb exposure level at day 7. Eclipta prostrata germination was unaffected. Seedling effects monitored were total fresh weight, shoot and root fresh weights, root length, and root surface area. Root metrics were most affected by exposure. Total root length was diminished at all exposure levels in S. herbacea and B. frondosa and at the 10-ppb and higher concentrations for E. prostrata. Root surface area decreased at all exposure levels in B. frondosa and at the 10-ppb level and above in S. herbacea and E. prostrata. Root and shoot bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were estimated for S. herbacea and B. frondosa. While BCFs were low in shoots of both species and roots of S. herbacea (,10), they were elevated in B. frondosa roots (53-101). Methyl-triclosan was formed in the system and accumulated in shoot and root tissues of S. herbacea to concentrations that exceeded those of the parent compound. However, methyltriclosan was nontoxic in an Arabidopsis thaliana enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (the putative enzymatic target of triclosan) assay and did not appear to contribute to the effects of exposure. Two of the three plant species assessed exhibited reduced root systems at environmentally relevant concentrations, raising the concern that wetland plant performance could be compromised in constructed wetlands receiving wastewater treatment plant discharges.

- by kevin steven
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- Wetlands, Seed germination, Antimicrobials, Quality Control

The alarming increase of resistance against multiple currently available antibiotics is leading to a rapid lose of treatment options against infectious diseases. Since the antibiotic resistance is partially due to a misuse or abuse of the antibiotics, this situation can be reverted when improving their use. One strategy is the optimization of the antimicrobial dosing regimens. In fact, inappropriate drug choice and sub-optimal dosing are two major factors that should be considered because they lead to the emergence of drug resistance and consequently, poorer clinical outcomes. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis in combination with Monte Carlo simulation allows to optimize dosing regimens of the antibiotic agents in order to conserve their therapeutic value. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explain the basis of the PK/PD analysis and associated techniques, and provide a brief revision of the applications of PK/PD analysis from a therapeutic point-of-view. The establishment and reevaluation of clinical breakpoints is the sticking point in antibiotic therapy as the clinical use of the antibiotics depends on them. Two methodologies are described to establish the PK/PD breakpoints, which are a big part of the clinical breakpoint setting machine. Furthermore, the main subpopulations of patients with altered characteristics that can condition the PK/PD behavior (such as critically ill, elderly, pediatric or obese patients) and therefore, the outcome of the antibiotic therapy, are reviewed. Finally, some recommendations are provided from a PK/PD point of view to enhance the efficacy of prophylaxis protocols used in surgery.

- by Eduardo Asín-prieto
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- Pharmacokinetics, Modeling and Simulation, Antimicrobials, Antibiotics

Glass ionomer cement Chlorhexidine digluconate Cell culture Antibacterial activity Mechanical properties Indirect pulp therapy a b s t r a c t Objectives: To evaluate: (1) the in vitro antibacterial, cytotoxic and mechanical properties of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) containing different concentrations of chlorhexidine (CHX) and (2) the in vivo microbiologic action of the best concentration of CHX associated with the RMGIC applied on remaining dentine after indirect pulp treatment (IPT).

- by Aline Castilho
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- Dentistry, Dental Research, Clinical Trials, Antimicrobials

The study assessed adherence rates and associated factors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients registered on the Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme in the public Primary Health Care (PHC) set in South Africa (SA) and the role a pharmacist could be played in ARV adherence. Data were collected from 100 HIV-infected patients during a descriptive cross-sectional study using a standardized-questionnaire and face-to-face-exit interviews. Pill-counts technique was performed and adherence-rate of 95% considered acceptable. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Univariate factors associated with poor-adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) were assessed using ANOVA and a p ≤ 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Of 100 HIV-infected, 74 were females and 26 males with mean-age (± SD) of 38.98 (± 9.24) years enrolled on HAART for more than 36 months. Of these, 26 and 36 were on WHO stages 2 and 3 respectively. Adherence-rates computed from 76 patients revealed 43 (56.6%) having poor adherence-rate and 33 (43.4%) with acceptable adherence rate. Of the demographic factors analyzed age and educational background had an influence on adherence rates with p = 0.087 and 0.097 respectively. Other factors associated with acceptable adherence were: WHO staging (p = 0.016), recent CD4 count (p = 0.07), adverse effects (p = 0.073), stigma (p = 0.027). Of the different areas with waiting times, reception and pharmacy were statistically significant with p = 0.095 and 0.042 respectively.

- by Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
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- HIV/AIDS, Pharmacy Practice, Antimicrobials

The antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts (hydro alcoholic extracts of methanol) of different parts of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl was evaluated for its antimicrobial potential. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar well diffusion method. Extraction was done by individual cold percolation method. The antimicrobial activity was tested against five Gram positive bacteria, five Gram negative bacteria and four fungi. The MIC and MBC was also determined, including five antibiotics. All the parts possessed antimicrobial activity but to a different level. The extracts showed better antifungal activity than antibacterial activity and Gram negative bacteria were more susceptible than Gram positive bacteria. The peel showed lowest MIC and MBC values indicating the therapeutic value of agro waste material.

This paper provides an introduction to the sanitization and bio-decontamination of pharmaceutical facilities. Pharmaceutical facilities are made up of a series of rooms called cleanrooms. Cleanrooms are also found in many healthcare facilities. Cleanrooms and zones are typically classified according to their use (the main activity within each room or zone) and are confirmed by the cleanliness of the air by the measurement of particles. Cleanrooms are used in several industries, including the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and in the electronics industry. For pharmaceutical cleanrooms, air cleanliness is either based on EU GMP guidance for aseptically filled products, and
the EU GMP alphabetic notations are adopted; or by using the International Standard ISO14644, where numerical classes are adopted. The cleanliness of the air is controlled by an HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).

- by Tim Sandle
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- Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Environmental Monitoring, Antimicrobials

In order to promote the use of mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed in wild and commercial species. The analysis of nutrients included determination of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of fatty acids by GC-FID, and other phytochemicals such as tocopherols, by HPLC-fluorescence, and phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometer techniques. The antimicrobial properties of the mushrooms were also screened against fungi, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The wild mushroom species proved to be less energetic than the commercial sp., containing higher contents of protein and lower fat concentrations. In general, commercial species seem to have higher concentrations of sugars, while wild sp. contained lower values of MUFA but also higher contents of PUFA. a-Tocopherol was detected in higher amounts in the wild species, while c-tocopherol was not found in these species. Wild mushrooms revealed a higher content of phenols but a lower content of ascorbic acid, than commercial mushrooms. There were no differences between the antimicrobial properties of wild and commercial species. The ongoing research will lead to a new generation of foods, and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal use.

- by Leticia Estevinho
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- Nutraceuticals, Food, Vitamins, Antimicrobials

Etlingera elatior are large ginger plants growing in clumps. rhizomes are stout, strongly aromatic and found just below ground level. crushed leaves emit a pleasant sour fragrance which is distinctive of the species. leaves are entirely green with young leaves sometimes flushed pink. Inflorescences, borne on erect stalks protruding from the ground, are large and attractive with showy bracts. Native to Malaysia and indonesia, E. elatior is widely cultivated in Southeast asia. the species is used as food, condiment, medicine, and ornament. The current knowledge on the phytochemistry of leaves, inflorescences, and rhizomes of E. elatior is reviewed. Some insights on the pharmacological properties of the species are discussed. they include antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, tyrosinase inhibition, cytotoxic, and hepatoprotective activities.

- by Eric W C Chan
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- Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Antimicrobials

Pharmaceutical Microbiology: Essentials for Quality Assurance and Quality Control presents that latest information on protecting pharmaceutical and healthcare products from spoilage by microorganisms, and protecting patients and... more

- by Tim Sandle
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- Microbiology, Mycology, Medical Sciences, Pharmacy

This review surveyed recent literature focused on factors that affect myoglobin chemistry, meat color, pigment redox stability, and methodology used to evaluate these properties. The appearance of meat and meat products is a complex topic involving animal genetics, ante-and postmortem conditions, fundamental muscle chemistry, and many factors related to meat processing, packaging, distribution, storage, display, and final preparation for consumption. These factors vary globally, but the variables that affect basic pigment chemistry are reasonably consistent between countries. Essential for maximizing meat color life is an understanding of the combined effects of two fundamental muscle traits, oxygen consumption and metmyoglobin reduction. In the antemortem sector of research, meat color is being related to genomic quantitative loci, numerous pre-harvest nutritional regimens, and housing and harvest environment. Our knowledge of postmortem chilling and pH effects, atmospheres used for packaging, antimicrobial interventions, and quality and safety of cooked color are now more clearly defined. The etiology of bone discoloration is now available. New color measurement methodology, especially digital imaging techniques, and improved modifications to existing methodology are now available. Nevertheless, unanswered questions regarding meat color remain. Meat scientists should continue to develop novel ways of improving muscle color and color stability while also focusing on the basic principles of myoglobin chemistry.

- by Melvin Hunt
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- Chemical Engineering, Genetics, Meat Science, Antimicrobials

This article reviews laboratory and epidemiological research into the endocrine disruptive effects of components of personal care products, namely, phthalate esters, parabens, ultraviolet (UV) filters, polycyclic musks, and antimicrobials. High doses of phthalates in utero can produce "phthalate syndrome, " demasculinizing effects in male rat offspring due to impaired testosterone production by fetal testes. However, evidence linking phthalate exposure to similar effects in humans appears inconclusive. Furthermore, phthalate exposure derived from personal care products is within safe limits and its principal bioavailable phthalate, diethyl phthalate (DEP), does not produce "phthalate syndrome. " Parabens exhibit very weak estrogen activity in vitro and in vivo, but evidence of parabeninduced developmental and reproductive toxicity in vivo lacks consistency and physiological coherence. Evidence attempting to link paraben exposure with human breast cancer is nonexistent. Select UV filters at high doses produce estrogenic, antithyroid, and other effects in rats in vivo. Again, no evidence links UV filter exposure to endocrine disruptive effects in humans. Some polycyclic musks weakly bind to estrogen, androgen, or progestin receptors and exhibit primarily antagonistic activity in vitro, which for the most part, has yet to be confirmed in vivo in mammals. The antimicrobials triclocarban and triclosan evoke weak responses mediated by aryl hydrocarbon, estrogen, and androgen receptors in vitro, which require confirmation in vivo. Preliminary observations suggest a novel interaction between triclocarban and testosterone. In conclusion, although select constituents exhibit interactions with the endocrine system in the laboratory, the evidence linking personal care products to endocrine disruptive effects in humans is for the most part lacking. phthalate; MOS, margin of safety; MRL, minimal risk level; NIS, sodium 3 glucose transporter; NOAEL, no observed adverse effect level; NOEL, no observed effect

- by Raphael Witorsch
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- Antimicrobials, Toxicity, Endocrine disruptors, Hygiene
- by Evelyn Alvarez
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- Antimicrobials, Environmental Protection Agency

Jenis makanan yang dikonsumsi manusia semakin lama semakin bermacam-macam sejalan dengan perkembangan gaya hidup. Salah satunya adalah peningkatan ketersediaan buah-buahan di masyarakat. Sering tidak kita sadari bahwa banyak buah di sekitar kita yang memiliki khasiat tersembunyi. Salah satu buah yang banyak dikonsumsi dan memiliki manfaat terselubung adalah stroberi. Stroberi (Fragaria x ananassa) atau juga disebut stroberi kebun merupakan buah yang dibudidayakan di seluruh dunia karena aromanya, warna merah menyala, serta manisnya yang khas. Buah ini dikonsumsi dalam skala yang besar, baik dalam bentuk buah maupun dalam bentuk olahan seperti es krim, jus buah, yoghurts, dan milk shake. Stroberi kebun pertama kali dibiakkan di Brittany, Prancis pada tahun 1740 melalui persilangan dari Fragaria virginiana dan Fragaria chiloensis dari Chile dan Argentina yang dibawa oleh Amedee-Francois Freizer. Berdasar data yang dihimpun, dalam rentang tahun 2005 sampai 2008, jumlah stroberi yang dipanen mencapai 3,5 juta ton lebih di seluruh dunia setiap tahun, dengan puncak 4 juta ton produksi buah stroberi di tahun 2008

- by Togar Sitorus
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- Antimicrobials

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol in milk has been developed. The determination of these antimicrobials was carried out using HPLC-DAD with a C 18 hybrid column and gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of an aqueous phase of 0.075 mol L À1 sodium acetate, 0.035 mol L À1 calcium chloride and 0.025 mol L À1 sodium EDTA, pH 7 and an organic phase of methanol:acetonitrile, 75:25 v/v. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction using a polymeric cartridge. The method was validated and applied for the analysis of pasteurised milk samples commercialised in Brazil. The limits of quantitation for all antimicrobials, with the exception of choramphenicol, were below the maximum residue limit, which indicates that the method is appropriate for the determination of these antimicrobials in milk.

- by Susanne Rath and +1
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- Food Chemistry, Antimicrobials, Multidisciplinary, Sample Preparation

The present study dealt with emulsive fabrication of chitosan microcapsules encapsulating essential oils in the present of bio/surfactant. The size distribution, morphology and stability of microcapsules were examined by using advanced surface characterisation techniques. At cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) concentration of 330 mg/L, the smallest average size of microcapsules was observed as12.8 mm; whereas with biosurfactant at 50 mg/L, the microcapsules of smallest average size of 7.5 mm were observed. The fabricated microcapsules were applied on a desized, bleached and mercerised cotton fabric by using pad-dry-cure method by using a modified dihydroxy ethylene urea as a cross-linking agent. The cross-linking was confirmed by using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The antibacterial activity of finished fabric was evaluated using the turbidity estimation method. The stiffness and wrinkle recovery properties of the treated fabric were also investigated by using the standard methods. In general, antibacterial activity of treated fabric increased with the increase in chitosan and essential oil concentrations, whereas stiffness increased with increase in concentration of chitosan but decreased with increase in essential oil concentration.

- by Tanveer Hussain
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- Chitosan, Textile Engineering, Antimicrobials, Microencapsulation

Resumo: As plantas medicinais constituem uma alternativa no tratamento primário da saúde, através de seus
compostos bioativos vegetais e óleos essenciais que apresentam potencial multifuncional contra microrganismos
patogênicos. O uso conjugado com drogas sintéticas pode resultar em interações indesejáveisprejudiciais ao
organismo, através de mudanças no mecanismo de ação, que além de promover reações adversas às respostas
farmacológicas esperadas, tem como principal consequência a multirresistência dos microorganismos. Este
trabalho teve como objetivo verificar na literatura científica relatos sobre os principais produtos naturais mais
comumente utilizados que possuem atividade antimicrobiana, que podem ser aplicados na substituição de
fármacos sintéticos, frente à patógenos de interesse humano. Realizou-se um levantamento bibliográfico em
diversas bases de dados, na busca de testes clínicos, in vitro e in vivo e relatos de casos que demonstrassem a
ação antimicrobiana de produtos naturais. Relacionada às doenças infecciosas de fator preocupante a saúde
pública, as espécies patogênicas mais citadas na literatura foram a E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus e C. albicans.
Das espécies de plantas frequentes no consumo da população, foram selecionadas seis (Matricaria
chamomomilla, Ocimum gratissimum, Punica granatum L., Rosmarinus officinalis, Syzygium aromaticum e
Uncaria tumentosa) das mais utilizadas, além da Própolis, ambas apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana positiva,
com ação inibitória similar ou superior aos antibióticos. Nesta perspectiva, estudos detalhados sobre o
mecanismo de ação dos produtos naturais sob o organismo humano, visam avanços na prevenção e tratamento de
diversas doenças. Palavras-chave: Antibióticos. Fitoterapia. Interação medicamentosa.
Abstract: Medicinal plants are an alternative in the primary health treatment, through its bioactive plant
compounds and essential oils that have multifunctional potential against pathogenic microorganisms. The
combined use of natural and synthetic drugs can result in undesirable interactions that are detrimental to the
organism, through changes in the mechanism of action, which in addition to promoting adverse reactions to the
expected pharmacological responses, has as main consequence the multiresistance of microorganisms. This work
aimed to verify in the scientific literature reports on the main natural products most commonly used that have
antimicrobial activity, which can be applied in the substitution of synthetic drugs, against pathogens of human
interest. A bibliographic survey was carried out in several databases, searching for clinical, in vitro and in vivo
tests and case reports that demonstrated the antimicrobial action of natural products. Related to infectious
diseases of concern to public health, the pathogenic species most cited in the literature were E. coli, P.
aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. Of the plant species that were common to the population, six (Matricaria
chamomomilla, Ocimum gratissimum, Punica granatum L., Rosmarinus officinalis, Syzygium aromaticum and
Uncaria tumentosa) were selected from the most used, besides Propolis, both showed positive antimicrobial
activity similar to or higher than antibiotics. In this perspective, detailed studies on the mechanism of action of
natural products under the human body, aim at advances in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
Keywords: Antibiotics. Phytotherapy. Drug interaction.

Many plant species are used in the different parts of the world since ancient time to control various pathogenic bacteria. This work was designed to assess the antibacterial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum chinense fruits against eight pathogenic bacterial strains. The plant extracts were assessed for the presence of large classes of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, phenol, carbohydrate, protein, reducing sugar and capsaicin. The aqueous and methanol extracts of three varieties of capsicum fruits showed wide antibacterial activities against the different human pathogenic bacteria. From this result it is concluded that capsicum fruits may serve as natural bactericidal agents for the treatment of various infectious diseases caused by different Gram positive and Gram negative human pathogenic bacteria.

- by Dipak Paul
- •
- Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Antimicrobials, Antibacterial agents

The air-dried leaves of Dillenia philippinensis, commonly known as “katmon” afforded betulinic acid (1) and 3-oxoolean-12-en-30-oic acid (2) by silica gel chromato-graphy. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate activity against the fungus Candida albicans and slight activity against the bacteria E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Compound 2 exhibited slight activity against T. mentagrophytes, while 1 was inactive against this fungus. Both compounds were inactive against A. niger.

Antibiotics provide the main basis for the therapy of microbial (bacterial and
fungal) infections. Since the discovery of these antibiotics and their uses as
chemotherapeutic agents there was a belief in the medical fraternity that this
would lead to the eventual eradication of infectious diseases. There is a
continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with
diverse chemical structures and novel mechanisms of action because there has
been an alarming increase in the incidence of new and re-emerging infectious
diseases. Another big concern is the development of resistance to the antibiotics
in current clinical use. In recent years, drug resistance to human pathogenic
bacteria has been commonly reported from all over the world. In the present
scenario of emergence of multiple drug resistance to human pathogenic
organisms, this has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial substances from
other sources including plants. Higher plants produce hundreds to thousands of
diverse chemical compounds with different biological activities. The
antimicrobial compounds produced by plants are active against plant and human
pathogenic microorganisms. It is expected that plant extracts showing target sites
other than those used by antibiotics will be active against drug-resistant microbial
pathogens.

Chitosan a natural polymer available and easy to produce in countless parts of the world; is a material that can significantly improve the standard of living in developing countries where the industry is often surpassing the need to protect the environment and/or where the environment protection is strongly dependent on limited financial resources available to those in charge of environmental protection. Its physicochemical properties such as its poor solubility in water or in organic solvents limit its utilization for a specific application. A smart way is to impart new properties to chitosan is its chemical modification of chain, generally by grafting of functional groups without disturbing the initial skeleton in order to keep the original properties intact. In this way the modified chitosan offers huge relevance in terms of its modified derivatives. The present review is dedicated to the advancements in the chitosan based derivatives and their special attention in food industry as the packaging material is also addresse

- by Shakeel Ahmed
- •
- Chitosan, Antimicrobials, Review Chitosan, Food Packaging

La recherche des conservateurs antimicrobiens d’origine végétale est un objectif indispensable à
l’heure où le monde s’alarme de la dangerosité que présentent certains conservateurs antimicrobiens
actuels. Dans ce sens, nous avons élus deux plantes endémiques du Maroc : le laurier noble (Laurus
nobilis L.) et le thym satureioides (thymus satureioides C.), connues pour leurs propriétés
antimicrobiennes.
En effet, les huiles essentielles (HE) de ces plantes ont été extraites par hydrodistillation des feuilles
pour le laurier noble et des tiges feuillées pour le thym satureioides et analysées par GC/FID. La
teneur moyenne en HE du laurier noble était de 1,7% et du thym satureioides 1,01% par rapport à la
matière sèche. Pour le laurier noble, 45 composés ont été identifiés avec une prédominance de
l’Eucalyptol (30,52 %) ; et pour le thym satureioides, 52 composés ont été identifiés dont 5 étaient
quantitativement majoritaires : Thymol (28,66 %), Bornéol (21,16 %), Alpha-Terpinéol (12,33 %),
Béta-Caryophyllène (6,39%) et Carvone (5,49%). L’étude de l’activité antimicrobienne à l’aide de
l’aromatogramme et la CMI/CMB a montré que le spectre d’action de l’HE du laurier noble ne
couvrait pas les 5 souches microbiennes testées (3 bactéries et 2 champignons) et recommandées par la
Pharmacopée Européenne, notamment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, tandis que l’HE du thym a montré
un spectre d’activité complet, raison pour laquelle, nous l’avons qualifiée pour subir le challenge test.
Les résultats de cette essai ont montré que l’utilisation de cette HE tant qu’agent conservateur
antimicrobien d’une solution de bain de bouche était en conformité avec les critères d’acceptation.
A la lumière de ces résultats, l’HE de Thymus satureioides C. pourrait être utilisée comme un
conservateur naturel substituant les conservateurs antimicrobiens conventionnels, présumés dangereux
et cancérigènes. Des applications dans l’industrie pharma-cosmétique et/ou alimentaire sont désormais
possibles.

- by Kamal Ouled Taarabt
- •
- Conservation, Antimicrobials, Antimicrobial activity, CMI

In this research, a review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is conducted as part of the One Health approach. A review of publications, which included "antimicrobial resistance" and "One Health," was conducted. Among the global health problems, AMR is the one that most clearly illustrates the One Health approach. AMR is a critical global problem affecting humans, the environment, and animals. This is related to each of these three components due to the irresponsible and excessive use of antimicrobials in various sectors (agriculture, livestock, and human medicine). Improper management of antimicrobials, inadequate control of infections, agricultural debris, pollutants in the environment, and migration of people and animals infected with resistant bacteria facilitate the spread of resistance. The study aimed to analyze the problem of AMR from a health perspective to analyze the different actors involved in One Health.

- by Veterinary World and +1
- •
- Microbiology, Veterinary Microbiology, Bacteriology, Antimicrobials

The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Labiatae culinary herbs are well documented but the effects of different drying methods are poorly studied. In this study, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of fresh and ovendried herbs of oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage, basil, thyme, peppermint and spearmint were compared with available commercial herbs. Antioxidant properties of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, caffeoylquinic acid content, free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, molybdate, DPPH radical scavenging, potassium ferricyanide and ferrozine assays, respectively. Antibacterial properties were assessed using the disc diffusion assay based on mean diameter of inhibitory zone and minimum inhibitory dose. The two drying treatments were oven drying at 50 o C (OD) and microwave pretreatment followed by oven drying at 50 o C (MOD). Fresh rosemary and oven-dried oregano had the strongest antioxidant properties. For most herbs, oven drying resulted in loss of antioxidant values compared to fresh herbs with the exception of oregano. Values of oven-dried oregano, spearmint, thyme, peppermint and basil were higher than commercial samples, while those of oven-dried rosemary were lower. Of the six commercial herbs, rosemary had the highest values, followed by oregano, spearmint, thyme, peppermint and basil. All herbs showed no antibacterial activity against Gramnegative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. Rosemary, sage, peppermint and spearmint inhibited the growth of Gram-positive Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus. Rosemary and sage had stronger antibacterial properties than green and black teas of Camellia sinensis. When used in combination, rosemary and sage can have enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial effects, which are desirable in developing nutraceutical products, and in controlling rancidity and bacterial growth in food.

- by Eric W C Chan
- •
- Antimicrobials, Antioxidants, Herbs
- by Irma Jayanti Sarampang
- •
- Antimicrobials
- by Teresita Ariza
- •
- Microbiology, Antimicrobials, Essential oils, Listeria monocytogenes

Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements, which have an effect on the host animal by means of enhancing its intestinal microbial balance. A probiotic is a culture of a single bacterial strain, or a mixture of different strains, with the aim of eliminating the colonization of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. The main sources of probiotics in poultry are strains of microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bacillus and fermented dairy products like yoghurt, cultured buttermilk and cheese. A good probiotic is characterized by its ability to exert a beneficial effect on a host, resistance to low pH and bile salts, adhere and colonizing of the intestinal epithelium, non-pathogenic to host and produces antimicrobial substances towards pathogens. It also boosts immune responses, improves the growth performance and productivity of poultry and increases the quality of meat and egg. Thus, probiotics are considered to fill the gap in the poultry industry due to diseases and antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria as well as environmental conditions that cause serious problems and economic losses in many countries. With current consumer preferences tending toward purchasing products from livestock grown without antibiotics and feed additive, the ingredients in this review paper presented the beneficial applications probiotic may have in poultry production.

- by Veterinary Medicine – Open Journal and +1
- •
- Probiotics, Antimicrobials, Microorganisms, Poultry Production

Despite the increase in popularity of hand sanitizers (HS) in Nigeria, there is a dearth of literature on the efficacies of these products. This study assessed the efficacies of four popular brands of HS in Nigeria against some clinically important bacterial pathogens. Using the well variant of the agar dilution
method to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and the broth dilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration, the activities of the HS (HSF, HSM, HDT, and HSK) were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia. Each of the products displayed varying activities against the test organisms. HSM had the highest inhibitory effect against all the test organisms, while HSF was the least effective. S. aureus was the most susceptible organism, with the highest susceptibility to HSM (12.0 mm). P. aeruginosa was the most resistant organism, with the highest resistance to HSM (9.0 mm). Each of the HS was bacteriostatic against all of the test bacteria and none displayed bactericidal activity. HSM and HDT reduced the mean colonyforming unit (cfu) counts of bacteria on the hands of subjects by 72% and 62%, respectively. A onetailed t-test showed that HSM was more effective than HDT in this regard. None of the products could reduce bacterial counts by 99.9%, as the manufacturers claim. Such claims need to be verified to ensure that these products contain the correct quantities of active ingredients, and sellers need to store such products according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

- by Mushafau Adebayo Oke
- •
- Nigeria, Antimicrobials, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Nosocomial infections

This review covers some recent advances for the maintenance of fresh-cut fruit quality with respect to the use of chemical compounds, including plant natural antimicrobials and antioxidants, as well as calcium salts for maintaining texture. It focuses especially on the use of natural preservatives, which are of increasing interest because of toxicity and/or allergenicity of some traditional food preservatives. The difficulties in the application of these substances on fresh-cut fruit without adversely affecting sensory characteristics of the product are reviewed. Edible coatings are presented as an excellent way to carry additives since they are shown to maintain high concentrations of preservatives on the food surfaces, reducing the impact of such chemicals on overall consumer acceptability of fresh-cut fruit.

- by laura gonzalez
- •
- Calcium, Antimicrobials, Browning, Postharvest biology

A new and novel approach for the green synthesis of silver
nanoparticles is the need of the hour. Use of plant parts for the
synthesis of silver nanoparticles is ecofriendly, economic and cost
effective. In the present paper, silver nanoparticles were synthesized
using aqueous stem extract of Cassia roxburghii DC as a reducing
agent. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by various
spectral analysis like UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM and Zeta potential
measurement. UV–vis spectra showed maxima absorption peak at
432 nm. XRD and TEM analysis revealed AgNPs to be facecentered, cubic structures spherical in shape with an average particle
size of 32-35 nm.
The synergistic antibacterial activity was evaluated against two Gram
positive, two Gram negative bacteria and four fungi with fifteen
commercial antibiotics alone and antibiotics plus synthesized AgNPs.
Antioxidant activity of AgNPs was evaluated by ABTS and FRAP
assay. The AgNPs showed synergistic antibacterial activity even
better than some antibiotics and also good antioxidant activity. The
results suggest that Cassia roxburghii stem could be exploited for the
fabrication of AgNPs with potential therapeutic application in
nanomedicine especially against multi drug resistant microorganisms
which are cost effective and ecofriendly and simple. They can be
definitely used in cosmetics, medical and pharmaceutical applications

Background: Until now, very few studies have investigated the susceptibility profile of biocides to nosocomial pathogens and none reported in the Saudi Arabia. Hence, the aim of this study was to detect the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of a range of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria: Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae against three common hospital disinfectants: chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride and cetrimide. Methods: The in vitro susceptibility tests of the three biocides were studied against 21 MDR A. baumannii, 11 MDR P. aeruginosa and 3 MDR K. pneumoniae strains, isolated from various clinical specimens in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Results : Among 35 isolates tested, there was no reduced susceptibility observed in A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae, however, two isolates of P. aeruginosa were showed reduced susceptibility (> 512 µg/mL) against benzalkonium chloride and cetrimide. Conclusion :Our observations imply that reduced susceptibility was observed with quaternary ammonium compounds against P. aeruginosa and no apparent relationship exists between specific disinfectants and their multidrug resistance character in A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. Further studies are required to confirm these results in terms of biocides resistance.

- by Tim Sandle
- •
- Microbiology, Medical Sciences, Bacteriology, Patient Safety

All stakeholders within the livestock industry face a considerable challenge in achieving a balance between economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability; and thus maintaining sustainable food production. This is exacerbated by information about farming practices and management systems that accentuate consumer concerns and lead to confusion as to the roles of productivity, efficiency and animal health in modern agriculture. The suggestions that intensive farms or large-scale herds have negative effects on cattle health; that we can assess cattle welfare by applying anthropomorphic philosophies; and that extensive systems are inherently beneficial to the environment, appear to be intuitively correct. Yet these suppositions are not as simple as they are often presented in mass media articles aimed at the consumer and lead to a multitude of other questions. Although it is tempting to try and overcome these issues by providing factual information, we cannot overcome negative publicity simply by supplying data and statistics. As an industry, we need to combine improved communication mechanisms with a better understanding of how consumer food-buying decisions are made to ensure future social acceptability and sustainability.

- by Jude (Judith) Capper
- •
- Organic agriculture, Productivity, Consumer Behavior, Food and Nutrition

Hospital and community-acquired infections are a serious problem worldwide often leading to increased deaths,
costs and other problems. Hand hygiene has been promoted as the most important way to prevent these
infections. The use of hand sanitizers is one of the ways to address the barriers to effective hand hygiene. In this
study, we evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of some popular hand sanitizers sold in Ilorin. The well-variant of
the agar diffusion test was used to evaluate the efficacy of the products against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Hygel alone inhibited all the test
organisms with zones of inhibition ranging between 14.3mm and 28.0mm while Dettol was only effective
against P. aeruginosa (14.5mm). The other products (SKP and Samcleans) were not active against any of the test
organisms. Hygel and Dettol were bacteriostatic at 100% concentration (MIC) and none was bactericidal. In vivo
tests to determine the efficacy of these two in reducing bacterial counts from hands of subjects showed mean
percentage cfu reduction of 89.9% for Hygel and 73.8% for Dettol. There was no significant difference in the
efficacy of the two products in this regard. Despite the claims of efficacy and 99.9% bacterial count reduction by
hand sanitizer manufacturers, there still exists a need for verification of these claims by regulatory bodies and for
the enforcement of good quality control measures.

- by Amina Ahmed El-Imam
- •
- Microbiology, Antimicrobials, Antibacterial agents, Antimicrobial activity