Effect of tobacco tar on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans biofilm formation

Abstract

Twenty compounds were determined in the tar of cigarette smoke. The tar was obtained using tobacco filters and then analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Tobacco tar expressed marked decrease in the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillin, tetracycline and amoxicillin/clavulanic antibiotics and showed marked decrease in susceptibility of Candida albicans to the tested antifungals except for clotrimazole and ketoconazole. Tobacco tar decreased the permeability of the tested organisms to ethidium bromide in the presence of antimicrobials, after 2 h for both S. aureus (17.8-20%) and C. albicans (13.3-16.3%) and decreased the adherence of the tested microorganisms at concentrations above Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Tobacco tar showed a marked increase in the hydrophobicity of the tested microorganisms by 2.5 to 7 fold. Tobacco tar increased or upregulated ALS1 and HWP1 genes that play an important role in adhesion, hyphae formation and biofilm formation of C. albicans and increased the expression of ica A gene that regulate biofilm formation of S. aureus.

Isolation, Identification, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria Associated with Waterpipe Contaminants in Selected Area of Saudi Arabia

“…Most of the isolated bacteria are included among the potential causes of bacterial pneumonia and infections in lower respiratory tract [11–13]. Recently, Mahmoud et al [14] reported that tobacco tar increases microbial hydrophobicity that leads to the increase of microbial adherence to epithelial cells and their colonization, which is considered the first step in developing invasive infections. Interestingly, this study has shown that Klebsiella oxytoca and Aerococcus viridians contaminated water bowl and mouthpiece of the same samples in Hafar Al-Batin and Kocuria rhizophila in Al-Ghat and Riyadh.…”

“…Water bowl can act as a good environment for the growth of bacterial pathogens and also the microbes can acquire/develop drug resistance capability [14]. Smoke which is drawn through water can transmit bacterial pathogens to the smokers and cause serious health effects.…”