Investigation of in vitro efficacy of quercetin-meropenem combination in carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates

Authors

  • Özlem Aydemir Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Sakarya, Turkey
  • Gökçen Ormanoğlu Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Sakarya, Turkey
  • Tuğba Ayhancı Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Sakarya, Turkey
  • Mustafa Zengin Sakarya University, Faculty of Science and Art, Department of Chemistry, Sakarya, Turkey
  • Mehmet Köroğlu Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Sakarya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8101-1104

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.17635

Keywords:

Quercetin, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, checkerboard method, meropenem

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, the rapid spread of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, their higher mortality rates, and limited treatment alternatives cause difficulties in the treatment of these infections. New treatment alternatives are needed to cope with resistant strains. In recent years, natural products such as Quercetin have started to be preferred in combination studies due to their antimicrobial effects and low side-effect profiles. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro efficacy of the combination of Quercetin and Meropenem on carbapenemase-producing (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48, and blaIMP), carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae isolates using the checkerboard method.

Methodology: Thirty Carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae strains in the culture collection of our laboratory were included in our study. Carbapenemase genes were determined using the Xpert® Carba-R (Cepheid, USA). Synergism with meropenem was assessed by checkerboard analysis, followed by FIC index, and combination index calculation.

Results: Twenty (66.6%) strains had OXA-48, 6 (20%) NDM, 1 (3.3%) KPC, 1 (3.3%) OXA-48+NDM genes, and 2 strains (6.6%) gene could not be detected. In the Quercetin and Meropenem combination study, synergy was found in 24 (80%) of the strains; an additive effect was found in 5 (16.6%) and an antagonist effect in 1 (3.3%). In 19 (63.3%) of the strains, meropenem MIC values were below the sensitive limit (MIC ≤ 2 μg/mL).

Conclusions: Although the combination of quercetin and meropenem has a high synergistic effect in carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates, it seems that the carbapenemase species affects this situation. however, more work is needed on this subject.

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Published

2023-09-30

How to Cite

1.
Aydemir Özlem, Ormanoğlu G, Ayhancı T, Zengin M, Köroğlu M (2023) Investigation of in vitro efficacy of quercetin-meropenem combination in carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:1325–1329. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17635

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Original Articles