Antibacterial activity of citrate and acetate.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated citrate salt, acetate salt, and their combinations for antibacterial activity against a sample of common pathogens.


METHODS
Bacterial suspensions were added to serial microdilutions of the salts in broth, with final cell concentrations of 10(4-5) colony-forming units per milliliter. After overnight incubation at 35 degrees C, the minimum inhibitory concentration was recorded. Bactericidal activity was screened by quantitative subcultures from the minimum inhibitory concentration dilution.


RESULTS
Citrate salt was active against gram-positive species and Candida albicans but showed little activity against gram-negative species; acetate salt showed the opposite results. Their combination did not show synergism or antagonism.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be feasible to take advantage of the different antibacterial spectra of these two agents and combine them for possible application such as food or medical preservative agents.
Lee
Yee-lean
YL
Medical Center, University of California-Irvine, 101 City Drive, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
Cesario
Thomas
T
Owens
John
J
Shanbrom
Edward
E
Thrupp
Lauri D
LD
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D019347:Potassium Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000187:drug effects; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002951:Citrates; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D019347:Potassium Acetate