Antimicrobial Effect of Silver Nanosilver Particles on Multi-Drug Resistant Isolates of Kluyvera Cryocrescens and Citrobacter Freundii

Abstract

Background: Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, Kluyvera cryocrescens and Citrobacter freundii are infrequent cause of infection in healthy human and multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of both species had been isolated from different clinical specimens.  The difficulty in treating of MDR biofilm producing bacteria invites the researchers to find a new way to resolve this problem. According to the various studies, using of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be considered as an alternative therapy to eliminate the MDR biofilm forming bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of silver nanoparticles on the MDR biofilm-forming strains of K. cryocrescens and C. freundii isolated from human blood, and urine, and cow’s milk specimens.

Materials and methods: The K. cryocrescens and C. freundii strains were isolated from various samples and their identity and antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using VITEK 2 AST system. The biofilm producing property was investigated using Congo red agar method. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs was evaluated by agar well diffusion method.

Results: The results revealed the average inhibition zone of 29 ± 0.64 for 22 K. cryocrescens isolates and 14 ± 0.4 mm for 11 C. freundii isolates.

Conclusions: Silver nanoparticles could be used as a potential alternative therapy for treatment of infections caused by K. cryocrescens and C. freundii. Further in vivo studies are required to confirm the effects of AgNPs.