Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates

Background. Staphylococcus aureus, is a major pathogen causing infections in both hospital and community settings. Multi-drug-resistant strains, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), complicate treatment, as these strains can evade antibiotics. Biofilm formation by S. aure...

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Main Authors: Safiya Saad Dhaif, Dhuha Badr Mahmood, Ghufran Salman Jawad, Lujain Ali Ghannawi, Haidar Fadhil Al-Rubaye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Львівський національний університет імені Івана Франка 2025-06-01
Series:Біологічні студії
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Online Access:http://publications.lnu.edu.ua/journals/index.php/biology/article/view/6041
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author Safiya Saad Dhaif
Dhuha Badr Mahmood
Ghufran Salman Jawad
Lujain Ali Ghannawi
Haidar Fadhil Al-Rubaye
author_facet Safiya Saad Dhaif
Dhuha Badr Mahmood
Ghufran Salman Jawad
Lujain Ali Ghannawi
Haidar Fadhil Al-Rubaye
author_sort Safiya Saad Dhaif
collection DOAJ
description Background. Staphylococcus aureus, is a major pathogen causing infections in both hospital and community settings. Multi-drug-resistant strains, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), complicate treatment, as these strains can evade antibiotics. Biofilm formation by S. aureus protects bacterial cells from immune responses and antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. This study evalua­tes the synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and cefotaxime in inhibiting biofilm formation by clinical S. aureus isolates, especially multi-drug-resistant strains. Materials and Methods. Thirty clinical S. aureus isolates were obtained from patients with skin infections. Identification was confirmed using biochemical tests and the VITEK2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method on antibiotics including ciprofloxacin, imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, and chloramphenicol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were also determined. Biofilm formation was quantified using crystal violet staining. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using sodium borohydride and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Results. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Ninety percent were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, while 70% were susceptible to cefotaxime. All isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol. Biofilm formation assays showed variability in biofilm production. AgNPs alone demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting biofilm formation. The combination of AgNPs and cefotaxime exhibited the strongest inhibition, suggesting a synergistic effect. Conclusion. This study suggests that AgNPs alone are more effective than cefotaxime in inhibiting biofilm formation. The combination of AgNPs and cefotaxime showed the most potent effect, providing a promising strategy for treating multi-drug-resistant S. aureus infections. AgNPs may serve as an adjunct to antibiotics in overcoming biofilm-associated infections.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-4536
2311-0783
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Львівський національний університет імені Івана Франка
record_format Article
series Біологічні студії
spelling doaj-art-7bbbe5dfbf61456ebdc4e5e40d1fd9dc2025-08-20T03:25:31ZengЛьвівський національний університет імені Івана ФранкаБіологічні студії1996-45362311-07832025-06-01192779010.30970/sbi.1902.833Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolatesSafiya Saad Dhaif0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9783-3214Dhuha Badr Mahmood1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9113-145XGhufran Salman Jawad2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7578-9276Lujain Ali Ghannawi3https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1067-6550Haidar Fadhil Al-Rubaye4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-8103National Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah UniversityNational Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah UniversityNational Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah UniversityNational Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah UniversityNational Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah UniversityBackground. Staphylococcus aureus, is a major pathogen causing infections in both hospital and community settings. Multi-drug-resistant strains, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), complicate treatment, as these strains can evade antibiotics. Biofilm formation by S. aureus protects bacterial cells from immune responses and antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. This study evalua­tes the synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and cefotaxime in inhibiting biofilm formation by clinical S. aureus isolates, especially multi-drug-resistant strains. Materials and Methods. Thirty clinical S. aureus isolates were obtained from patients with skin infections. Identification was confirmed using biochemical tests and the VITEK2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method on antibiotics including ciprofloxacin, imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, and chloramphenicol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were also determined. Biofilm formation was quantified using crystal violet staining. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using sodium borohydride and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Results. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Ninety percent were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, while 70% were susceptible to cefotaxime. All isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol. Biofilm formation assays showed variability in biofilm production. AgNPs alone demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting biofilm formation. The combination of AgNPs and cefotaxime exhibited the strongest inhibition, suggesting a synergistic effect. Conclusion. This study suggests that AgNPs alone are more effective than cefotaxime in inhibiting biofilm formation. The combination of AgNPs and cefotaxime showed the most potent effect, providing a promising strategy for treating multi-drug-resistant S. aureus infections. AgNPs may serve as an adjunct to antibiotics in overcoming biofilm-associated infections.http://publications.lnu.edu.ua/journals/index.php/biology/article/view/6041staphylococcus aureusbiofilmsilver nanoparticles (agnps)cefotaxime
spellingShingle Safiya Saad Dhaif
Dhuha Badr Mahmood
Ghufran Salman Jawad
Lujain Ali Ghannawi
Haidar Fadhil Al-Rubaye
Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
Біологічні студії
staphylococcus aureus
biofilm
silver nanoparticles (agnps)
cefotaxime
title Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
title_full Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
title_fullStr Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
title_full_unstemmed Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
title_short Synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
title_sort synergism effect of silver nanoparticles and cefotaxime to treat biofilm formation of staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
topic staphylococcus aureus
biofilm
silver nanoparticles (agnps)
cefotaxime
url http://publications.lnu.edu.ua/journals/index.php/biology/article/view/6041
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