Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of molecular hybrids based on eugenol and chloramphenicol pharmacophores.

In the constant search for new pharmacological compounds, molecular hybridisation is a well-known technique whereby two or more known pharmacophoric subunits are combined to create a new "hybrid" compound. This hybrid is expected to maintain the characteristics of the original compounds whilst demonstrating improvements to their pharmacological action. Accordingly, we report here a series of molecular hybrid compounds based upon eugenol and chloramphenicol pharmacophores. The hybrid compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and also rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). The results highlight that the antimicrobial profiles of the hybrid compounds improve in a very clear fashion when moving through the series. The most prominent results were found when comparing the activity of the hybrid compounds against some of the multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clinical isolates of rapidly growing mycobacteria.

Molecular characterization of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenem antimicrobials / Caracterização molecular de enterobactérias resistentes aos carbapenêmicos

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to genotypically and phenotypically characterize clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae collected from inpatients at the University Hospital of Santa Maria, during seven months. Among the clinical isolates subjected to the modified Hodge test (MHT), 62.5% were positive, indicating possible production of carbapenemase. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that blaKPC was the most frequently found gene (31%), followed by blaIMP (12.5%). Combined use of the methods is needed to identify carbapenem resistance in enterobacteria to prevent their spread and control the infections caused by these organisms.

RESUMO Objetivou-se caracterizar fenotípica e genotipicamente isolados clínicos de enterobactérias resistentes aos carbapenêmicos (CRE) provenientes do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (RS). Entre os isolados clínicos submetidos ao teste modificado de Hodge (MHT), 62,5% apresentaram positividade, indicando possível produção de carbapenemase. A reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) demonstrou que o blaKPC foi o gene mais encontrado (31%), seguido de blaIMP (12,5%). O uso conjunto de distintas metodologias faz-se necessário para identificar a resistência aos carbapenêmicos produzida pelas enterobactérias, de modo a auxiliar o controle de infecção prevenindo a disseminação desses microrganismos.