Synergistic activity of biocides and antibiotics on resistant bacteria from organically produced foods

Microb Drug Resist. 2014 Oct;20(5):383-91. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2013.0234. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Abstract

Synergism between biocides and antibiotics was investigated in 20 biocide and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains that were previously isolated from organically produced foods, according to their antimicrobial resistance profiles. Most of the antibiotic/biocide combinations yielded synergistic interactions, reducing the inhibitory concentrations of biocides and antibiotics by 4- to 16-fold. Among enterococci, synergism with biocides was detected for amoxicillin (AM), cefuroxime (CX), erythromycin (EM), ciprofloxacin (CP), and trimethoprim/sulphametoxazol (T/S). Among staphylococci, interactions were synergistic (AM) and either synergistic or indifferent (CX and EM, depending on biocide). Among the three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains included in the study, the combinations of methicillin and triclosan or hexachlorophene acted synergistically in all strains, but interactions were either synergistic or indifferent for the other biocides, depending on the strain. All combinations tested were synergistic for Lactobacillus (AM, CX, EM, and CP) and Micrococcus (AM, EM). In Salmonella, interactions were indifferent (AM, CX, EM, and CP) or synergistic (T/S). Synergism with biocides was also detected in Klebsiella isolates (AM, CX, and T/S), Enterobacter sp. (AM, CX, EM, and T/S), Pantoea (AM, CX, EM, CP, and T/S), and Chryseobacterium sp. (EM). These results suggest that combinations of biocides and antibiotics may open new possibilities to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amoxicillin / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cefuroxime / pharmacology
  • Chryseobacterium / drug effects
  • Chryseobacterium / growth & development
  • Chryseobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
  • Disinfectants / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enterobacter / drug effects
  • Enterobacter / growth & development
  • Enterobacter / isolation & purification
  • Enterococcus / drug effects
  • Enterococcus / growth & development
  • Enterococcus / isolation & purification
  • Erythromycin / pharmacology
  • Food, Organic / microbiology*
  • Klebsiella / drug effects
  • Klebsiella / growth & development
  • Klebsiella / isolation & purification
  • Lactobacillus / drug effects
  • Lactobacillus / growth & development
  • Lactobacillus / isolation & purification
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Micrococcus / drug effects
  • Micrococcus / growth & development
  • Micrococcus / isolation & purification
  • Pantoea / drug effects
  • Pantoea / growth & development
  • Pantoea / isolation & purification
  • Salmonella / drug effects
  • Salmonella / growth & development
  • Salmonella / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus / growth & development
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Disinfectants
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Erythromycin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Cefuroxime