No abstract

Antibiotics have been effective in treatment of infectious diseases, but resistance to these drugs has led to the severe consequences. In recent years, medicinal herbs have been used for the prevention and protection against infectious diseases. Thymol and carvacrol are active ingredients of family Lamiaceae; these components have antibacterial and antifungal effects. In this review, we survey antimicrobial properties of carvacrol and thymol. Available data from different studies (microbiological, retrieve from PubMed, and Scopus databases) about antimicrobial affects carvacrol and thymol was evaluated. Carvacrol and thymol can inhibit the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These compounds have antifungal and antibiofilm effects. Thymol and carvacrol can also be applied as an alternative antimicrobial agent against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Thus, thymol and carvacrol are recommended for potential medical use; however, more research is required on toxicity and side-effects of the compounds.

Accurate identification of early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) is challenging. Blood culture has been considered as a gold standard method but the identification of EOS is intricate by a high false-negative results. This review provides an overview of biomarkers as indicators for the diagnosis of EOS. There is an affluence of studies appraising diagnostic indicators in the identification of EOS. Acute-phase reactants, cytokines, and cell surface antigens have been investigated as indicators for EOS, but none of them are presently in routine clinical setting. Despite the promising data for some immunologic biomarkers, present evidence shows that none of them can constantly diagnose 100% of infections. IL-6 is the most potent marker for evaluation of EOS prognosis. Procalciton (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are appropriate indicators for the detection and monitoring of antibiotics therapy. A panel of sepsis biomarkers along with presently routine tests will make easy earlier identification, appropriate management, and improved outcome may be more efficient than single indicator.