N-Acetyl Cysteine Reduces Biofilm Formation

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N-Acetyl Cysteine Reduces Biofilm Formation

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m_formation)

Byron's Comments:

The ability of NAC to disrupt biofilm formation is a signficant finding.

 

 

Study Title:

Effect of ciprofloxacin and N-acetylcysteine on bacterial adherence and

biofilm formation on ureteral stent surfaces.

 

 

Study Abstract:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ciprofloxacin (CIP),

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) alone and in combination on biofilm production and

pre-formed mature biofilms on ureteral stent surfaces. Two strains each of

Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli,

Klebseilla pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris, recently

isolated from patients undergoing ureteral stent removal and shown to be

capable

of biofilm production, were used in this study. The inhibitory effects of

ciprofloxacin, N-acetylcysteine and ciprofloxacin/N-acetylcysteine

combination were determined by static adherence assay. Ciprofloxacin (MIC and 2

MIC)

and N-acetylcysteine (2 and 4 mg/ml) inhibited biofilm production by > or

= 60% in all tested microorganisms. Disruption of pre-formed biofilms of all

tested microorganisms was found to be > or = 78% in the presence of

ciprofloxacin (MIC and 2 MIC) and > or = 62% in the presence of

N-acetylcysteine

(2 and 4 mg/ml), compared to controls. Ciprofloxacin/N-acetylcysteine

showed the highest inhibitory effect on biofilm production (94-100%) and the

highest disruptive effect on the pre-formed biofilms (86-100%) in comparison

to controls. N-acetylcysteine was found to increase the therapeutic

efficacy of ciprofloxacin by degrading the extracellular polysaccharide matrix

of

biofilms. These data are statistically significant. The inhibitory effects

of ciprofloxacin and N-acetylcysteine on biofilm production were also

verified by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In conclusion,

Ciprofloxacin/N-acetylcysteine combinations have the highest inhibitory effect

on biofilm

production and the highest ability to eradicate pre-formed mature biofilms.

 

 

Study Information:

El-Feky MA, El-Rehewy MS, Hassan MA, Abolella HA, Abd El-Baky RM, Gad GF.

Effect of ciprofloxacin and N-acetylcysteine on bacterial adherence and

biofilm formation on ureteral stent surfaces. Pol J Microbiol. 2009

September 58(3):261-7.

Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit,

Egypt