Characterization of bee venom and its synergistic effect combating antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

The bacterial resistance increases day after day augmenting the need for the discovery of new generations of antibiotics, particularly those belonging to the natural origin. During our study, sixty-two bacterial isolates were recovered from 75 clinical specimens, 11 bacterial isolates (18%) were preliminarily identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa through checking their behavior on blood agar medium, MacConkey agar medium, and Gram stain. A susceptibility test was performed using 16 different antibacterial discs, and P. aeruginosa exhibited a multidrug resistance phenomenon. Susceptibility of P. aeruginosa toward three different antibacterial drugs which are commonly prescribed in the Egyptian medical was estimated, and regretfully the activity of selected drugs was limited hence, bee venom (Apis mellifera L.) was investigated as an antibacterial agent and fortunately, it exhibited a promising result. Combinations of bee venom and drugs were made and evaluated, a synergistic effect was easily observed. MIC and MBC for the combinations were determined, in addition to characterization of bee venom was performed. Conclusively, bee venom has a promising antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, and when it was combined with antibacterial drugs, it gave a superior activity as evidence for synergism. Subsequently, the dose administrated and the side effects would be minimized via combined therapy.