title: In vitro activity and killing effect of temporin A on nosocomial isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and interactions with clinically used antibiotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the in vitro activity of temporin A, a basic, highly hydrophobic, antimicrobial peptide amide derived from the skin of the European red frog Rana temporaria, alone and in combination with co-amoxiclav, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, linezolid and vancomycin, against 42 nosocomial isolates of Enterococcus faecalis. Fourteen of these were resistant to vancomycin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antimicrobial activity of temporin A was measured by MIC, MBC and time-kill studies and by the chequerboard titration method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All isolates were inhibited at concentrations of 1 to 16 mg/L. Combination studies carried out with E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and ATCC 51299 demonstrated synergy only when the peptide was combined with co-amoxiclav and imipenem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that temporin A is active against E. faecalis and that its activity could be enhanced when it is combined with other antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. anconacmi@interfree.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacometti
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cirioni
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kamysz
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amato
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Maria Simona
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licci
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukasiak
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scalise
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C104501:temporin