Antibacterial activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil alone and in combination with other essential oils

Essential oils (EOs) from plants represent an alternative approach in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One of the EOs with proven antibacterial properties is Thymus vulgaris EO. The purpose of the present work was to investigate in vitro antibacterial activity of T. vulgaris EO alone and in combination with other EOs. The activity of T. vulgaris EO was screened in combination with 34 EOs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by disk diffusion method; then the most effective combinations were evaluated by broth microdilution method. Against S. aureus the synergistic effect was found in combination of T. vulgaris and Cinnamomum zeylonicum EOs with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of 0.26; Juniperus communis and Picea abies EOs showed additive effect (FIC indexes were 0.74 and 0.78, respectively). Combination of T. vulgaris EO with Aniba rosaeodora and Melissa officinalis EOs demonstrated synergistic effect against E. coli (FIC indexes were 0.23 and 0.34, respectively); combination of T. vulgaris and Mentha piperita EOs was additive (FIC index 0.55). Therefore, combining T. vulgaris EO with other EOs has potential in further enhancing its antibacterial properties

Plant essential oils and their constituents in coping with multidrug-resistant bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is documented to be a serious problem that affects the choice of appropriate antibiotic therapy and increases the probability of unfavorable infection outcome. One of the proposed methods to cope with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is the use of alternative antibacterial treatments, which include natural antimicrobial substances such as plant essential oils (EOs). The aim of the present article is to review published studies on the activity of EOs and their constituents against MDR bacteria and to formulate perspectives for the future. In general, published studies indicate that EOs can be used as effective antiseptics against many species, including MDR bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and others; certain EOs may potentiate the effectiveness of antibiotics against MDR bacteria; EOs can be synergistic with bacteriophages; and polymeric nanoparticles can be used for delivery of EOs and enhancement of their activity at the site of infection

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

The Microbiology of Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infections /

The Microbiology of Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infections: Volume 2 discusses modern approaches in diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections. The volume has been divided into three sections. The first section includes chapters on diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of skin and soft tissue infections. It discusses antimicrobial and surgical treatment of wounds, diabetic foot, and different soft tissue infections. Ten chapters are devoted to cutaneous and musculoskeletal infections in special groups of patients, which have their own specificity, i.e. in pediatric and HIV-infected patients. Together with chapters on commonly present diseases, there are chapters which discuss interesting but not well studied pathologies (natal cleft pilonidal sinus) and pathogens (Malassezia and Shewanella spp.). The second section reviews etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint infections, mainly osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infections. Also, one chapter in this section discusses a newly emerging bacterial pathogen that causes skeletal infections, Kingella kingae. The third section incorporates alternative and new approaches-such as nanotechnology, ultrasound, novel delivery approaches and phyto-derived medicines-to the treatment and prophylaxis of skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections.Section I: Skin and soft tissue infections: Diagnosis and treatment 1. Methods and Timing of Surgical Reconstruction of Infected Wounds: An Algorithmic Approach 2. Soft tissue infections: considerations regarding different international guidelines 3. Evidence-Informed Approach to Natal- cleft Pilonidal Sinus and related disorders 4. The diabetic foot 5. Surgical approach to severe diabetic foot infection: from emergent to reconstructive diabetic foot surgery 6. Cutaneous manifestations of parasitic tropical diseases 7. Microbiology of skin, soft tissue and bone and joint infections in children 8. Cutaneous and Musculoskeletal Complications in HIV infection 9. Diseases caused by Malassezia species in Human beings 10. Skin and soft tissue infections related to marine injuries -- Emerging of Shewanella species Section II. Bone and joint infections: Diagnosis and treatment 11. Mechanism and consequences of bone and joint infection 12. Microbiological Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infections 13. Laboratory Detection of Kingellakingae in Skeletal System Infections Section III: III. Alternative and novel approaches to the treatment of skin, soft tissue, bone and joint infections 14. Nanotechnology for the treatment of fungal infections on human skin 15. Alternative antimicrobials from natural products against dermatological infections 16. Medicinal plants versus skin infections: A survey from ancient to modern herbalism 17. Natural compounds in treatment of skin and soft tissue infections 18. Antimicrobial strategies in novel drug delivery systems, applications in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections 19. Medical and alternative treatment of vascular graft infections.The Microbiology of Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infections: Volume 2 discusses modern approaches in diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections. The volume has been divided into three sections. The first section includes chapters on diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of skin and soft tissue infections. It discusses antimicrobial and surgical treatment of wounds, diabetic foot, and different soft tissue infections. Ten chapters are devoted to cutaneous and musculoskeletal infections in special groups of patients, which have their own specificity, i.e. in pediatric and HIV-infected patients. Together with chapters on commonly present diseases, there are chapters which discuss interesting but not well studied pathologies (natal cleft pilonidal sinus) and pathogens (Malassezia and Shewanella spp.). The second section reviews etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint infections, mainly osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infections. Also, one chapter in this section discusses a newly emerging bacterial pathogen that causes skeletal infections, Kingella kingae. The third section incorporates alternative and new approaches-such as nanotechnology, ultrasound, novel delivery approaches and phyto-derived medicines-to the treatment and prophylaxis of skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections.Includes bibliographical references and index.Elsevie

Fighting multidrug resistance with herbal extracts, essential oils and their components / edited by Mahendra Kumar Rai MSc, PHD, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India, Department of Chemical Biology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas SP, Brazil, Kateryna Volodymyrivna Kon MD, PHD, Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

pharmacy bookfair2016Includes bibliographical references and index.xvii, 271 pages

Fungi as an efficient mycosystem for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles: progress and key aspects of research

PubMed ID: 26164702Nanotechnology is an emerging cutting-edge technology, which involves interdisciplinary subjects, such as physics, chemistry, biology, material science and medicine. Different methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles have been discussed here. Although physical and chemical methods have been successfully used to synthesize nanoparticles, the use of hazardous chemicals and synthesis at high temperature is a matter of concern. Hence, there is a necessity to develop eco-friendly techniques for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, lichen and viruses have been reported eco-friendly. Moreover, the fungal system has emerged as an efficient system for nanoparticle synthesis as fungi possess distinctive characters including high wall binding capacity, easy to culture and simpler biomass handling, etc. In this review, we have discussed fungi as an important tool for the fabrication of nanoparticles. In addition, methods and mechanism for synthesis of nanoparticles and its potential applications have also been discussed.Web of Science37112120209

A Global Declaration on Appropriate Use of Antimicrobial Agents across the Surgical Pathway

This declaration, signed by an interdisciplinary task force of 234 experts from 83 different countries with different backgrounds, highlights the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and the need for appropriate use of antibiotic agents and antifungal agents in hospitals worldwide especially focusing on surgical infections. As such, it is our intent to raise awareness among healthcare workers and improve antimicrobial prescribing. To facilitate its dissemination, the declaration was translated in different languages