Evaluating the Effects of Probiotics and Vinegars on Bacteria Isolated from Burns and Wounds Infections

This study aimed to isolate bacterial causative of burn and wound infections and treat them by vinegars and probiotics. For such purpose, a total of 58 swab samples were obtained from patients of both gender and various ages who referred to two teaching hospitals in Baghdad suffering from burn and wound infections of different severity and location of injuries in their body. Only 43 (74.2%) of the
samples were positive for giving bacterial growth. The samples were cultured on MacConkey agar and blood agar as initial step for cultivation of bacteria. Results showed that 64 bacterial isolates were
obtained. After identification by cultural, microscopic, biochemical characterizations and Vitek 2 system they were found to be belonging to Gram positive and negative bacteria of the following 10 species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28), Staphylococcus aureus (12), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6), Escherichia coli (3), Pseudomonas putida (1), Pseudomonas alcaligenes (1), Enterobacter cloacae (1), Acinetobacter baumannii (1), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (1).After subjection of these isolates to the susceptibility test toward ten of the more abundantly-used antibiotics as well as against two antibiotics that are given to the patients in the hospital where the samples had been collected, results declared that amikacin and imipenem were the most effective antibiotics against
both Gram positive and negative bacteria. Among the above-mentioned pathogenic isolates, Pseudomonas spp were the most resistance species followed by Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter baumannii.As probiotic, two types were used Lactobacillus reuteri alone and mixture of (Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum) propagated, independently, in MRS medium. Then their fermentation products were concentrated and tested for inhibitory activity against burn and wound infections bacterial isolates.Results showed that only the three-fold concentrated fermentation product of Lactobacillus reuteri possessed observable activity, while other probiotic fermentation product did not do so.When various types of apple vinegar were used as antibacterial agents against the bacterial isolates causing burn and wound infections, the obtained results revealed great ability for these vinegars in eliminating the pathogenic bacteria. Distinctly, the chemically-synthesized type apple vinegar gave the highest antibacterial activity followed by the commercial apple type then the homemade apple vinegar.Upon using combinations of Lb. reuteri three-fold concentrated fermentation product and apple vinegar in different ratios, results showed that synergistic effect was recorded in most of the ratios with the exception of the effect against Acinetobacter baumannii when the vinegar alone gave better effect. However, highest antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacterial isolates was recorded by the ratio of 1:3 Lb. reuteri three-fold concentrated fermentation product to chemically-synthesized apple vinegar.