Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

POTENTIATION OF ANTIBIOTIC-OXACILLIN BY CITRIC ACID AGAINST METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI

N.A. CHANDAK, , B.J. WADHER AND S.R. DESHMUKH

Abstract

Methicillin resistance in staphylococci is the major problem in hospitals and increasing in community as well. The emergence of multi-drug resistance in staphylococci is a key challenge for the effective management of infection. In the present study, citric acid was tested for its synergistic actions with the β-lactam antibiotics on methicillin resistant staphylococci so as to determine whether susceptibility to methicillin could be altered (increased). It was found that citric acid at 0.1% (w/v) concentration, in combination with β-lactam antibiotics, modulated the activities of antibiotics which may result in inhibiting the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. All 93 isolates of methicillin resistant staphylococci (25 MRSA and 68 MRCoNS) strains become susceptible to oxacillin in presence of 0.1% (w/v) citric acid.