THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SALICYLIC ACID ON ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, BIOFILM FORMATION, AND ACTIVITY OF EFFLUX PUMPS AMONG ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII CLINICAL ISOLATES

Abstract

Objective: Salicylic acid (SA) has played a critical role in medicine throughout history and has an ever evolving and important role still today. Exposure of bacteria to SA effect cross-resistance to antimicrobial compounds, decreasing their ability to form biofilms and increasing persister cell populations. This research aim to evaluate the effect of SA on antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation and presence of efflux pump system of Acinetobacter baumannii.

 Methods: A total of 35 A. baumannii isolates have been isolated from different clinical specimens and identified by vitek 2 compact system. Antibiotic resistance pattern toward 21 antibiotics, biofilm formation and efflux pump system were determine phenotypically using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, Congo red agar test, and Cart wheel method respectively. Phenotypic effect of 4mM of SA on antibiotic resistance pattern, biofilm formation and efflux pump system has been studied.

Results: All isolates (100%) showed resistance to ampicillin , cefepime , ceftazidime , ceftriaxone , cefotaxime , cefoxitin , aztreonam while The percentage of resistance to other studied antibiotics was range between 94.28%  -34.28%. Strong biofilm producer isolates formed 17.14% while 2.80% and 80% of isolates  showed weak and  non- biofilm forming respectively.  All isolates have the ability to producing efflux pumps. Using of SA cause decrease in antibiotic resistance of A. baumannii to some ß lactam such as imipenem and aminoglycoside. Also it cause decrease in the ability of isolate to form biofilm and decrease in activity of efflux pump. SA play role in decreasing antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of A. baumannii suggestion possibility to use it in combination with antibiotics as drug of choice for treated of infection caused by  A. baumannii.

Conclusion: SA play role in decreasing antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of A. baumannii suggestion possibility to use it in combination with antibiotics as drug of choice for treated of infection caused by  A. baumannii.