Purified Pyocyanin from Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Enhances Antibiotic Sensitivity Against Some Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most life-threatening pathogen. It is considered nosocomial
opportunistic microbe that cause wide range of infections including wound and burn infections, respiratory
infections, and Otitis media. Despite the efficiency of antibiotics against infectious diseases, P. aeruginosa
still causes complicated infections with antibiotic resistance in many clinical strains. The pigments produced
by P. aeruginosa exhibits antibacterial properties. Thus, we have examined its ability to enhance antibiotics
effect against some pathogenic microbes. 286 samples were collected from patients with different infections
who visited Mosul hospitals. 76 samples were positive to P.aeruginosa. Among them, 38 (13.28%) of isolates
were isolated from surgical infection, whereas, 12 (4.19%), 11(3.84%), and 7(2.447%) were isolated from
Otitis media, Urinary tract infection, and pus, respectively. The pyocyanin in low concentrations showed
synergistic effect with some antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. E. coli became
sensitive to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid when mixed with 100 mg/ml pyocyanin. However, cloxacillin
did not show any activity against Staph.aureus when mixed with 1 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml pyocyanin. Staph
aureus became sensitive to nalidixic acid when mixed with 1 mg/ml pyocyanin.