Salmonella is a gram-negative bacterium with intrinsic resistance to large-scaffold antibiotics due to the presence of an outer membrane. Based on the mode of action of the organic acids in outer membrane disintegration, and consequently, an enhancement in cell permeability, a combination of acetic acid and a large-scaffold antibiotic is it evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the combination of different levels of acetic acid with vancomycin, in order to determine whether or not the organic acid may overcome the cell wall and the intrinsic resistance in multi-drug resistant Salmonella. Screening of five wild-type Salmonella strains and one clinical strain was performed to select the strain more resistance to acid inhibition. Acetic acid was tested at 2.0, 1.75, 1.50, and 1.25% levels, separated or combined with 8 µg/mL vancomycin dose. An aliquot was collected after exposure and inoculated into the brain and heart infusion agar. The plates were counted and the data analyzed by ANOVA and a posthoc Tukey test (p < 0.05). The results indicate that 1.25 and 1.50% levels did not affect the vancomycin inactivation of multi-drug resistant Salmonella. However, at levels of 1.75 and 2.0%, an increase in microbial reduction is observed. Also, 2% level acetic acid and vancomycin had a threefold increase compared to vancomycin alone. Therefore, the use of acetic acid as prior treatment for Salmonella increased the inactivation rate of vancomycin. The combination of organic acid and antibiotics is a potential tool to overcome cases of antimicrobial resistance.
Keywords: Antimicrobial drug resistance; Glacial acetic acid; Organic chemicals; Public health; Vancomycin resistance.
© Association of Microbiologists of India 2019.