In-Vitro Effect of Statins on Enterococcus Faecalis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the in-vitro efficacy of statin medications on putative Enterococcus faecaelis, as determined by minimum inhibitory concentration. Methods: Enterococcus faecalis 47077 was grown in the presence of simvastatin lactone (prodrug), simvastatin carboxylate (active metabolite), rosuvastatin, pravastatin and fluvastatin. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were determined by serial broth dilution assays and bacteriostatic activity by observing the effect of statin on growth curves. Results: MICs against E. faecalis were simvastatin lactone (26.1 μg/ml) and fluvastatin (249 μg/ml). The antibacterial effect of simvastatin lactone and fluvastatin was determined to be bacteriostatic. Simvastatin carboxylate, rosuvastatin and pravastatin did not inhibit bacterial growth. Conclusion: The lipophilic statins simvastatin and fluvastatin act as in-vitro bacteriostatic antimicrobial agents against E. faecalis, whereas the hydrophilic statins simvastatin carboxylate, rosuvastatin and pravastatin did not inhibit bacterial growth in-vitro. The suppression of this pathogen may contribute to the known pleiotropic effect of certain statins, in particular simvastatin.