Antimicrobial and Synergistic Activity of Essential Oils Facing Isolated Bacteria From Surgical Staff’s

Abstract

Objective:to evaluate antimicrobial and synergistic activity of essential oils (Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus sinensis, Mentha viridisand Thymus vulgaris) against isolated bacteria from surgical staff’s hands and bacterial strains. Method:the antimicrobial activity of oils was analyzed by microdilution method to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. Moreover, the combinatory effect of the oil that presented greater effectiveness using gentamycin sulphate through the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration index was tested. The study was performed over the period 2016-2018. Results:T. vulgaris was effective against Staphylococcus saprophyticus with a concentration of 0.0008 µL.mL-1and against the ATCC standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis,Staphylococcus epidermidis and Proteus vulgarisand the bacteria S. aureus, S. epidermidisand Bacillus sp. with MIC ≥ 0.10 µL.mL-1. This oil association with gentamycin sulphate showed synergistic activity againstS. epidermidis. Conclusion:T. vulgarisessential oil showed expressive antimicrobial activity against ATCC and isolated clinic microorganisms, suggesting broad spectrum of activity.