THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE AND ITS INTERACTION WITH ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII ISOLATES

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to delve into the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) molecule on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, aiming to find potential alternatives for the treatment of bacterial infections that are resistant to conventional antibiotics. Material and Method: The study included 25 A. baumannii isolates that were confirmed to be resistant to meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin. The susceptibility of antibiotics was re-evaluated in the presence of NAC using the microdilution method. FIC indexes were calculated based on the checkerboard test results to determine the effect of the combination, defined as synergistic or additive. Result and Discussion: The study demonstrated that NAC molecule, when used alongside meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin, effectively reduced the MIC values of these antibiotics against Acinetobacteria. Furthermore, NAC molecule exhibited a synergistic effect when combined with meropenem. Additive effects were observed in all isolates for the GEN-NAC and CIP-NAC combinations. In conclusion, the findings suggest that NAC molecule could serve as a new alternative for combined drug therapy, offering a promising approach to treatment.