In a controlled evaluation of 6,010 blood cultures, the yield of clinically significant microorganisms was greater from a lysis-centrifugation system (Isolator, Du Pont Co.) than from a nonvented vacuum bottle containing tryptic soy broth with sodium polyanetholesulfonate and CO2 and a vented bottle containing biphasic brain heart infusion medium with sodium polyanetholesulfonate. The Isolator significantly increased the frequency of isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. and significantly decreased the time required for the detection of S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida spp.; however, anaerobic bacteria were recovered significantly more frequently from nonvented bottles with tryptic soy broth, and pneumococci were recovered significantly more frequently from both bottle systems. Contamination of cultures was significantly greater with the Isolator system than with either bottle system. Regardless of the number of blood cultures obtained per septic episode, the Isolator detected microbiologically proven bacteremia or fungemia in a significantly greater number of patients and significantly decreased the time required for detection.

The multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria is a global health problem that causes high mortality every year. Therefore, novel antibacterial agents are needed from natural biological sources. This research aimed to investigate the antibacterial activities of various crude extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi against MDR bacteria. The antibacterial activity was calculated based on the use agar well diffusion assay and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using Mueller–Hinton broth in a microdilution method. Bacteria from wells were subcultured using inoculating loop onto a 5% sheep BAP. The best antibacterial activity, calculated as the most widely inhibitory zone and the smallest MBC values. The ethanolic extract showed antibacterial activity against the all MDR bacterial test in the agar well diffusion assay (10-14.5 mm inhibition diameter). The MBC of water extract against ESβL + CR Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the best antibacterial activity (12.5 mg/mL). The fruit of bilimbi was shown to be potentially developed as antibacterial agents, especially for MDR strains. Further in vivo research and discovery of action mode are needed to shed light on their antibacterial effects. This study can provide new information about the benefits of bilimbi as a source of natural antibacterial againts MDR-bacteria

Objective. This study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the latex of three species members of Jatropha (J. curcas, J. gossypilofia Linn., and J. multifida) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing Escherichia coli and ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumonia, carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)-E. coli, K. pneumoniae-carbapenemase (KPC), and carbapenemase-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). Method. The antibacterial activities were calculated based on the inhibition zones using the Mueller–Hinton agar diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using Mueller–Hinton broth in a microdilution method, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using blood agar plate. Results. The latex of Jatropha showed antibacterial activities against the MRSA and CRPA. All latex of Jatropha appeared to have the antibacterial activities against MRSA and CRPA in the diffusion method (20.4–23.7 mm and 12–15 mm), MIC (0.19–6.25%, and 25%), and MBC (0.39–12.5% and 50%). Phytochemical screening of latex indicated the presence of flavonoids. Conclusions. The latex of J. curcas, J. gossypilofia Linn., and J. multifida has the potential to be developed as antibacterial agents, especially against MRSA and CRPA strain, but further in vivo research and discovery of the mode of its action are required to shed the light on the effects.

Abstract. Prastiyanto ME, Rohmah N, Efendi L, Arifin R, Wardoyo FA, Wilson W, Mukaromah AH, Dewi SS, Darmawati S. 2021. Antifungal activities of the rhizome extract of five member Zingiberaceae against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. Biodiversitas 22: 1509-1513. Fungal infections have now become serious health issues. One of the strategies to avoid the problems of fungal infections is by using natural product from plants that are effective against many human pathogenic fungi. The study portrayed the use of the extracts of plant rhizomes as the alternatives to fight against number of human pathogenic fungi. This research aimed to investigate the antifungal activities of crude ethanol extract of five member of the family Zingiberaceae (Curcuma longa, Alpinia galanga Zingiber officinale. var. rubrum, Zingiber officinale var. officinarum and Zingiber officinale var. amarum), which are widely used as folk medicines against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. Crude ethanol extracts of five members of Zingiberaceae were evaluated for their antifungal activities and the results were calculated based on the zones of inhibition using the diffusion method. The extract showed antifungal activity against Candida. albicans in the agar well diffusion assay (10.2-27.1 mm inhibition diameter) and against T. rubrum (27.3-44.3 mm inhibition diameter). The data have revealed that all rhizomes have the potential to be developed as antifungal agents, particularly against C. albicans and T. rubrum. Studies on the antifungal activity against yeast-like (C. albicans) and filamentous (T. rubrum) can provide new information about the benefits of members Zingiberaceae as a source of natural antifungal. Researchers can select the type of rhizome that has more potential for further extraction to obtain pure compounds that can be used as antifungals.

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