title: The activity of silver nanoparticles (axonnite) on clinical and environmental strains of Enterococcus spp.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance among clinical strains is a growing problem nowadays. Resistance in Enterococcus spp. strains has merited special concern of late, as they have become significant nosocomial pathogens. Hence, the use of compounds such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), displaying various mechanisms of action, is a growing new approach against virulent, drug-resistant infections. Therefore, the activity of AgNPs obtained by a physical method (microexplosion method) was tested against 30 clinical and environmental Enterococcus spp. strains presenting diverse virulence and resistance patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimal inhibitory concentration for all the species ranged from 0.39 to 3.125 μg/ml. No statistical differences (p=0.26) were found between resistance to AgNPs and resistance to antibiotics, suggesting high activity of AgNPs even against multidrug-resistant strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AgNPs obtained by this method seem to be a promising alternative to chemotherapeutics in the treatment or prevention of enterococcal infections.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Sanitary Microbiology Department, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. monika.lysakowska@umed.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Monika Eliza
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Łysakowska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denys
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciebiada-Adamiec
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sienkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors; D012834:Silver