title: The ongoing battle against multi-resistant strains: in-vitro inhibition of hospital-acquired MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas, ESBL E. coli and Klebsiella species in the presence of plant-derived antiseptic oils.
abstract: The fight against hospital-acquired infections involving antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has become of critical concern to surgeons worldwide. In addition to the development of new effective antibiotic chemotherapy, exploration of 'forgotten' topical antibacterial agents from the pre-antibiotic era has recently gained new attention. We report the promising efficacy of plant-derived antiseptic oils used in traditional aboriginal and south-east Asian treatments such as Lemongrass, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil in the inhibition of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), multi-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the in-vitro setting. Large consistent zones of inhibition were observed for all three plant-derived oils tested in an agar diffusion test. The commonly used antibacterial agents chlorhexidine 0.1%, and ethanol (70%), and standard olive oil consistently demonstrated notably lower or no efficacy in regard to growth inhibition of strains. Notably, Lemongrass oil proved to be particularly active against gram-positive bacteria, while Tea Tree oil showed superior inhibition of gram-negative microorganisms. As proven in vitro, plant-derived antiseptic oils may represent a promising and affordable topical agent to support surgical treatment against multi-resistant and hospital-acquired infections.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. pwarnke@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Warnke
authors.forename: Alexander J S
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lott
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sherry
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiltfang
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Podschun
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D031743:Cymbopogon; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005052:Eucalyptus; D000078122:Eucalyptus Oil; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069463:Olive Oil; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants; C511306:Eucalyptus terpene oil; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; D000078122:Eucalyptus Oil; D000431:Ethanol; C052901:lemongrass oil; D020947:Tea Tree Oil; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D002710:Chlorhexidine