Inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by essential oils

What is it about?

Biofilms are the complex microbial communities responsible for refractory nosocomial infections, food, and dairy products spoilage, and industrial pipes and ship hulls fouling. Biofilms are the important virulence factors of many pathogenic organisms including S. aureus, E. coli, P .aeruginosa, S. epidermidis, K. pneumoniae, E. faecium, and A. baumannii, etc. Thus, research is required to evaluate the potential of novel natural anti-biofilm agents to combat biofilm-associated problems. Among natural products, essential oils can potentially inhibit biofilms. The present study investigated essential oils of cinnamon, peppermint, lemon grass, lavender, and tea tree for their anti-biofilm potential.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the leading cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections, thus putting a huge strain on the healthcare system. The adhesion of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae biofilms to host tissues and medical implants is considered to be the essential factor in the persistence of chronic infections. Moreover, the microbial cells within biofilms show considerable resistance to antimicrobial agents. The use of essential oils to disrupt biofilms has recently gained remarkable attention. The presence of a large number of volatile components, minimal toxicity, antimicrobial activities, and economic viability of essential oils make them a promising candidate for novel drug discovery. Our findings show cinnamon oil has the highest anti-biofilm potential followed by peppermint oil.

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