The in vitro antibacterial effect of permethrin and formaldehyde on Staphylococcus aureus

This study investigated the effect of permethrin and formaldehyde on the growth ofStaphylococcus aureus, in particular MRSA strains. While permethrin alone was not bactericidal, formaldehyde both in the presence and absence of permethrin was. This was at concentrations of formaldehyde and permethrin found in the anti ‐scabies permethrin cream and suggests a potential use of such creams for treating bacterial skin infections, particularly refractory impetigo. AbstractAntibiotic ‐resistant strains of bacteria such as methicillin‐resistantStaphylococcus aureus are a threat to human health, and effective treatment options against them are needed. This study aimed to determine whether the insecticide permethrin was capable of inhibiting the growth ofS.  aureus or if some other component of a permethrin cream was responsible for a decrease in scabies associated bacterial infection previously observed. TenS.  aureus strains were grown in the presence of permethrin and formaldehyde both alone and in combination with percent inhibition determined by viable counts. Also, a time ‐kill assay was conducted onS.  aureus exposed to the same conditions. Finally, the morphology ofS.  aureus grown in the presence of permethrin was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Bacterial inhibition by permethrin ranged from 0% to 41% whereas inhibition by formaldehyde was 100%. The time ‐kill curves of permethrin exposed cells were very similar to the positive growth control while the ...
Source: MicrobiologyOpen - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research