Possible Tracheal Relaxant and Antimicrobial Effects of the Essential Oil of Ethiopian Thyme Species (Thymus serrulatus Hochst. ex Benth.): A Multiple Mechanistic Approach

The genus Thymus is traditionally used for the treatment of hyperactive airways complaints. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the potential tracheal relaxant effect and possible mechanism(s) of the essential oil of Thymus serrulatus (TS Oil) in isolated guinea pig tracheal tissues. The essential oil was obtained from the fresh erial parts of Thymus serrulatus, and its phyto-components were identified by GC-MS analysis. Guinea pig tracheal preparations were used for testing the tracheal relaxant effect of TS Oil with the determination of the mechanism(s) involved in this relaxation. GC-MS findings reveal that terpenes, fragrance constituents, saponins, and higher fatty acids are present in TS Oil. In isolated guinea pig trachea, TS Oil inhibited carbachol (CCh, 1 µM) and K⁺ (80 mM)-induced contractions in a pattern similar to that of dicyclomine. TS Oil, at 0.3 mg/ml, shifted parallel CCh-curves towards the right, followed by a non-parallel shift at higher concentration (1 mg/ml), thus suppressing maximum response in the same manner as produced by dicyclomine. Pretreatment of tissues with TS Oil (1 and 3 mg/ml) also produced a rightward shift of Ca⁺⁺ concentration-response curves (CRCs) in the same manner as caused by verapamil. Further, TS Oil at low concentrations (0.3 and 1 mg/ml) shifted isoprenaline-induced inhibitory CRCs towards the left and increased cAMP levels in isolated tracheal homogenates similar to papaverine, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor. In the antimicrobial assay performed by the agar well diffusion method, TS Oil was found most active against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus where the zone of inhibition measured was 28 mm. Additionally, there was little difference between standard strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) showed a small zone of inhibition as compared to standard strains (22 mm). From these results, it can be concluded that the essential oil of T. serrulatus has the potential to produce antimicrobial effects while causing tracheal relaxation mediated possibly by anticholinergic effects, Ca⁺⁺ channel blockade, and PDE inhibition whereas additional mechanism(s) cannot be ruled out.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Type II Diabetics and non Diabetics: Risk factors, Bacterial types and their corresponding resistance pattern

Introduction: Silent Bacteruria or asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) means the existence of bacteria in urine without clinical signs or symptoms of the host. Both diabetic and non diabetic patients have the possibility of urinary tract infections with or without symptoms. Bacteria cause asymptomatic bacteriuria are colonizing flora which usually arise from the vagina, gut, or periurethral area. The risk of asymptomatic bacteriuria is greater among diabetic and non-diabetic patients particularly women. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is considered clinically significant and worth treating primarily in pregnant women. Objectives: In this study, we examined the silent bacteriuria among diabetics and healthy persons, type of strains, and their corresponding resistance pattern. Materials and Methods: A total of 220 diabetic patients and 70 healthy persons were subjected to study. Diabetic patients without malignancies, asthma or heart diseases, symptoms free regarding urinary tract infection and without prior antibiotic administration were included. Blood sample obtained from all subjects study under aseptic technique for fasting blood sugar and HbA1C. Urine samples were collected, All urine samples were passed to cultivation on suitable culture media. Plates of more than two clinical isolates from the same patient were considered to be contaminated. Plates showing more than 104 CFUs/ mL were considered significant ASB and subjected for confirmation of bacterial type and antibiotic susceptibility test. Results: From diabetics urine samples, 21(9.55%) and from healthy persons 3(4.3%) showed significant bacterial growth. In both diabetics and non-diabetics, women demonstrated a far higher prevalence of ASB than men. The high the HbA1c, the more possibility of positive ASB. In 66,7% of ASB, E. coli was the main uropathogens, followed by K. pneumoniae. These species showed identical antibiotic resistance patterns. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of routine urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing for diabetic patients who have risk factors identified. ASB should be treated in order to avoid potential serious renal complications. Amikacin, Gentamicin, Piperacillin/Tazobactam, Fosfomycin, and Ciprofloxacin are recomended for treatment of ASB while Ampicillin is not.

Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Perceptions about Antimicrobial Stewardship

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the serious threats to global public health. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should be implemented by all hospitals to improve antimicrobial use. It is important that pharmacy students have a sound knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions about antimicrobial stewardship. Methodology: The study included a questionnaire that was used to assess the background knowledge of pharmacy students and their perceptions on antimicrobial stewardship. Results and Discussion: Out of 103 students who completed the survey, 25 students (24.27%) reported that they know what antimicrobial Stewardship is, and only 39 students were familiar with antimicrobial stewardship programs in Saudi Arabia. Most of the students (95.14%) reported that they need more antimicrobial stewardship training. Conclusion: Our results, therefore, recommend that pharmacy students should have more training on bacterial resistance, antibiotic use and antimicrobial stewardship.