The antimicrobial properties of olive leaf extract (OLE) have been well recognized in the Mediterranean traditional medicine. Few studies have investigated the antimicrobial properties of OLE. In this preliminary study, commercial OLE and its major phenolic secondary metabolites were evaluated in vitro for their antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, both individually and in combination with ampicillin. Besides luteolin 7-O-glucoside, OLE and its major phenolic secondary metabolites were effective against both bacteria, with more activity on S. aureus. In combination with ampicillin, OLE, caffeic acid, verbascoside and oleuropein showed additive effects. Synergistic interaction was observed between ampicillin and hydroxytyrosol. The phenolic composition of OLE and the stability of olive phenols in assay medium were also investigated. While OLE and its phenolic secondary metabolites may not be potent enough as stand-alone antimicrobials, their abilities to boost the activity of co-administered antibiotics constitute an imperative future research area.
SUMMARY In a study of 13 local and four reference strains of Haemophilus ducreyi all grew well on a selective medium consisting of Bacto proteose No 3 agar (Difco), soluble starch, IsoVitalex, human blood, and vancomycin. All the strains reduced nitrate, were alkaline-phosphatasepositive, and (with one exception) used glucose, fructose, and mannose. P-lactamase was produced by 12 local strains. Erythromycin was the most effective antibiotic tested, followed by streptomycin, co-trimoxazole, and spectinomycin.
SUMMARY In an evaluation of four methods for detecting penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae the chromogenic cephalosporin, rapid iodometric, and penicillin disc diffusion methods gave complete agreement for all the 202 strains of gonococci tested. No false-positive or false-negative results occurred. The filter paper iodometric method detected 99% of the penicillinase-producing strains without any false-positive result.
IntroductionThe first report of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) strains appeared in 1976. Since then a number of different tests have been described to detect such strains. These include the rapid iodometric method' and its filter paper modifications,2 3the acidometric method4 and its microtitre modification,5 the chromogenic cephalosporin method,6 and various penicillin inhibition methods which use either the direct disc diffusion technique7
The antimicrobial susceptibility of gonococci isolated in Singapore has been studied over several years. In 1983, the prevalence of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) was 33.5% and 64% of non-PPNG isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin of greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/l. After a control programme, the isolation of the gonococcus from prostitutes was reduced and there was improvement in its susceptibility to antimicrobials. The incidence of PPNG strains was stabilised with a change in the treatment regimen. An influx of foreign prostitutes, however, had an unfavourable impact on these variables. Countries in South East Asia have a high prevalence of PPNG and non-PPNG strains that have reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials. In view of increased air travel the problem should be seen from a global perspective. Better treatment regimens and control strategies are urgently needed.
Two simplified media for isolating Neisseria gonorrhoeae are described. They differ from the modified Thayer-Martin medium in the enrichment and antibiotics used for preparation. The enrichment for one, enrichment 4 medium, contains only four ingredients, and amphotericin B is used instead of nystatin. This medium is comparable to the modified Thayer-Martin medium for isolating N.gonorrhoeae. It is convenient to prepare and is only one-third the cost of Thayer Martin medium. It is a suitable alternative to the modified Thayer-Martin. The enrichment 5 medium is a hemoglobin-free version of enrichment 4 medium. It is somewhat more selective for contaminants but is also more inhibitory for N. gonorrhoeae.
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