Antibacterial activity of Lavandula mairei Humbert essential oil against carbapenem- resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Introduction: Nosocomial infections associated with a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are considered as a significant challenge in the Intensive care units' (ICU) critically ill patients. Lack of new antimicrobial agents to treat infections caused by this multi-drug resistant microorganism reinforces the exploration of novel strategies to encounter and control this infection. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate, for the first time, the antibacterial effectiveness of the Lavandula mairei Humbert essential oil (EO) against a CRAB isolated from the hospital environment of the two ICUs. Materials and Methods: Carbapenemase encoding genes were detected by the polymerase chain reactions and sequencing methods. The chemical composition of Lavandula mairei (EO) was determined by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and its antibacterial activity was evaluated by a disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods.