Essential Oils, an Answer to the Dilemma of Multiply Resistant Bacteria? |Biomedgrid

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing worldwide phenomenon. Recently, there has been an interest in using essential oils (EO) both in and out of the hospital. Most current research concentrates on the antimicrobial activity of Tea tree. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the activity of 10 EO, (Tea tree, Thyme, Lavender, German chamomile, Peppermint, Palma rosa, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus citriodora, Lemongrass and Rose) against multiply resistant organisms. Twenty five strains of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), ten strains of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus sp. (VRE), and 5 strains of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) or Amp C resistant gram negative rods were tested. An aromatogram (Bauer- Kirby [KB]), killing curve, and synergy tests were performed against the isolates. Organisms were classified as multiply resistant using NCCLS approved methods. The bacteria were obtained from the Pinnacle Health microbiology repository. The ten EO were tested in three phases.