title: Antibacterial activity of statins: a comparative study of atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins have several effects beyond their well-known antihyperlipidemic activity, which include immunomodulatory, antioxidative and anticoagulant effects. In this study, we have tested the possible antimicrobial activity of statins against a range of standard bacterial strains and bacterial clinical isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values were evaluated and compared among three members of the statins drug (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was revealed that statins are able to induce variable degrees of antibacterial activity with atorvastatin, and simvastatin being the more potent than rosuvastatin. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE), vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), acinetobacter baumannii, staphylococcus epidermidis, and enterobacter aerogenes, were more sensitive to both atorvastatin, and simvastatin compared to rosuvastatin. On the other hand, escherichia coli, proteus mirabilis, and enterobacter cloacae were more sensitive to atorvastatin compared to both simvastatin and rosuvastatin. Furthermore, most clinical isolates were less sensitive to statins compared to their corresponding standard strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings might raise the possibility of a potentially important antibacterial class effect for statins especially, atorvastatin and simvastatin.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan. mmmasadeh@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masadeh
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mhaidat
authors.forename: Karem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alzoubi
authors.forename: Sayer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Azzam
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alnasser
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin