Inhibitory activity of Myrtus communis oil on some clinically isolated oral pathogens

To determine the antimicrobial activities of Myrtus communis oil [MCO] on some oral pathogens. Thirty strains of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and 20 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans isolated from patients with dental caries, periodontal diseases, pharyngitis and oral lesions associated with artificial dentures were used for the antimicrobial activity of MCO. The oil was prepared by hydrodistillation procedures using a Clevenger apparatus. Agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods were performed on various concentrations of MCO [3.9-1,000 micro g/ml] using all the pathogens isolated. All isolates were sensitive to MCO at 125-1,000 micro g/ml by agar disk diffusion producing inhibition zones of 8.1-41.25 mm in diameter. All of the S. pyogenes, S. mutans and C. albicans strains were sensitive to 62.5 micro g/ml while 70% [21/30] of A. actinomycetemcomitans and 66.6% [20/30] of P. gingivalis were resistant to these concentrations. All S. pyogenes and S. mutans strains were sensitive to 31.25 micro g/ml. All S. pyogenes strains were sensitive to 15.6 and 7.8 micro g/ml of MCO. None of the clinical isolates in this study were sensitive to 3.9 micro g/ml or to a lower concentration of oil. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of MCO for S. pyogenes, S. mutans, C. albicans, A.actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were 29.68 +/- 4.8, 31.25 +/- 0, 46.9 +/- 16, 62.5 +/- 0 and 62.5 +/- 0 micro g/ml, respectively. Data obtained in this study revealed a strong antimicrobial activity of MCO on the tested oral pathogens, and MCO could therefore be useful in the prevention of the related oral infections

Inhibitory activity of green tea [camellia sinensis] extract on some clinically isolated cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria

To determine the in vitro inhibitory activity of green tea extract on some clinically isolated cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria. Twenty strains of each of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotellaintermedia were isolated from carious teeth and periodontal pockets of patients with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Green tea extract was prepared by aqueous extraction method and diluted from 50 to 1.56 mg/ml. Standard techniques of agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays were applied for qualitative and quantitative determinations of antibacterial activity of green tea extract on each isolates. All clinical isolates of S. mutans [100%] were sensitive to green tea extract at concentrations 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml producing inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 38 mm. All periodontopathic isolates [A. actinomycetemcomitans, n = 20, P. intermedia, n = 20, and P. gingivalis, n = 20] [100%] tested were sensitive to 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml of this extract. The minimal inhibitory concentration of green tea extract for S. mutans was 3.28 +/- 0.7 mg/ml and for A. actinomycetemcomitans 6.25, for P. gingivalis and P. intermedia 12.5 mg/ml. Our findings showed that green tea extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity on S. mutans,A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and P. intermedia and therefore may be used in mouthwashes or dentifrices for prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases

[Inhibitory effect of aqueous garlic [Allium sativum] extract on multi-drug-resistant Streptococcus mutans species: an in vitro study]

Garlic [Allium sativum] extract has an inhibitory effect on various pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro inhibitory effect of garlic extract on multi-drug-resistant [MDR] strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from human carious teeth. Filtered sterilized aqueous extract of garlic was used in the present study. In this in vitro case-control study data was analyzed with Student's t-test [? = 0.05]. From 105 extracted human carious teeth 92 strains of S mutans were isolated. Disk sensitivity tests and broth dilution methods were used to determine antibiotic sensitivity profile and inhibitory activity of garlic extract on S mutans. Among 92 isolates of S mutans, 28 [30.4%] were MDR since they were resistant to four or more antibiotics. The highest and least resistance rates were observed for tetracycline [30.4%] and teichoplanin and vancomycin [0%], respectively; on the other hand, 22.8% and 23.9% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin, respectively. Chlorhexidine minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] for MDR and non-MDR S mutans varied from 2 to 16 microg/mL and from 0.25 to 1 microg/mL, respectively [p value < 0.05]. All the isolates, MDR and non-MDR, were sensitive to garlic extract with the MIC ranging from 4 to 32 mg/mL. Considering the data obtained from the present study, mouthwashes or toothpastes containing optimum concentrations of garlic extract can be used for the prevention of dental caries

Aqueous and vitreous penetration of oral cefixime and ciprofloxacin in rabbit eye

To investigate the penetration of cefixime and ciprofloxacin to the rabbit eye on the basis of microbial inhibition of aqueous and vitreous humour after oral administration. In this experimental study, 36 rabbits [72 eyes] were randomly divided into two groups; group A consisted of 20 rabbits and group B 16 rabbits. Each group was divided into four equal subgroups. The rabbits in each subgroup of group A received 4, 8, 12, and 20 mg/kg of syrup of cefixime every 12 hr respectively and the rabbits in each subgroup of group B received 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg tablet of ciprofloxacin respectively every 12 hr. Immediately after the first dose of the drugs, the anterior chamber of one eye was irrigated randomly by 30-40 cc of ringer lactate solution alongside with mild traumatization of iris. Then by 4, 8, 12, 24 and 72 hr intervals after the 3rd dose, 0.1 cc of aqueous, 0.2-0.5 cc of vitreous, 3 cc of blood and one standard disk of the used antibiotic was placed on culture media of a known bacteria which was completely sensitive to the respective antibiotic. Forty eight hours later, the microbial inhibition zone of each sample and the standard disk of antibiotic were compared. No microbial inhibition was seen by sample of aqueous and vitreous, although very large zone of inhibition was seen by blood sample and standard disk of antibiotic. It seems that oral cefixime and ciprofloxacin do not produce an effective dose for microbial inhibition in rabbit eye

Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Iran

To determine the prevalence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients with community-acquired pneumococcal infections. A broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of penicillin and other commonly used antibiotics. 115 heavy growth or pure culture of S. pneumoniae strains were isolated from: blood 10, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] 15, ear 5, eye 12, purulent rhinosinusitis 48, sputum 22, and pleural fluid 3. Of the 115 pneumococcoal isolates, 76 [66.1%] were sensitive to penicillin while the remaining 39 [33.9%] were nonsusceptible [15.6% resistant and 18.3% intermediately resistant]. Among the 25 pneumococcal isolates from sterile sites [blood 15, CSF 10], 15 [60%] were penicillin-resistant whereas among the 90 isolates from nonsterile sites, 24 [26.7%] were resistant to penicillin [<0.004]. The MIC values of antibiotics tested for S. pneumoniae were: penicillin 0.008-4 micro g/ml, chloramphenicol 0.25-32 micro g/ml, erythromycin 0.008-128 micro g/ml, tetracycline 0.06-64 micro g/ml, vancomycin 0.03-0.5 micro g/ml, azithromycin 0.016-128 micro g/ml, ciprofloxacin 0.006-8 micro g/ml, cefotaxime 0.007-2 micro g/ml, and ceftriaxone 0.016-12 micro g/ml. Approximately one third of S. pneumoniae isolated from the clinical specimens were nonsusceptible to penicillin in this region

Cross- reaction of sera from patients with various infectious diseases with Leishmania infantum

To compare and evaluate the application of indirect fluorescent antibody [IFA] and counterimmunoelectrophoresis [CIEP] for laboratory identification of visceral leishmaniasis. Materials and Serum samples from patients with malaria [Plasmodium vivax, n = 86; Plasmodium falciparum, n = 38], brucellosis [n = 26], tuberculosis [n = 31] and typhoid fever [n = 35] were examined for the presence of antibody to Leishmaniainfantum antigen using IFA and CIEP tests. Using IFA, false-positive results were malaria [P. vivax 19.8%, P. falciparum 13.2%], tuberculosis [6.4%], brucellosis [3.8%], and typhoid fever [2.8%]. Using CIEP, a lower percentage of false-positives was observed only among malaria patients [P. vivax 2.3%, P. falciparum 2.6%]. Serum samples from patients with other infectious diseases were negative in the CIEP test. Based on the results of this study, the CIEP technique is recommended for immunodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, especially in regions where malaria, brucellosis and tuberculosis are prevalent