POTENTIAL USE OF CHLORPHENIRAMINE AS A CURING AGENT FOR MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
Osonwa UE1*, Anagu LO2, Gugu TH2, Okoye UC1
1. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University-Awka 422001, P. O Box 5025, Awka, Nigeria
2. Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University-Awka, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 7(2): 142-148; Nov/Dec 2015
ABSTRACT
The study was aimed to investigate the potential of chlorpheniramine as a curing agent in comparison to a standard curing agent, acridine orange, for multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA). Urine samples from 50 patients were screened for Staphyloccocus aureus. Seventeen (17) different strains were isolated and labelled S1-S17. The susceptibility patterns of the 17 isolates were determined in order to further isolate MDRSA and as determine a baseline pattern. The intrinsic antibacterial activity of chlorpheniramine was also determined. The plasmid in the MDRSA were then removed or inhibited by curing with acridine orange or chlorpheniramine. The susceptibility pattern of the MDRSA isolates were then determined after curing. Ten (10) out the 17 S. aureus isolates were MDRSA. Chlorpheniramine showed no appreciable antistaphylococcal activity when used alone. Chlorpheniramine and acridine orange were able to inhibit the replication of resistant markers for gentamicin, cotrimoxazole and nitrofurantoin resistance, with reversal of resistance to gentamicin and cotrimoxazole and increased susceptibility to nitrofurantoin. In addition, chlopheniramine was able to reverse resistance in 3 of the 10 MDRSA strains. In each case, better results were obtained with chlorpheniramine than with acridine orange. In conclusion, chlorpheniramine showed promise as an alternative curing agent for MDRSA. Also, since it is an already approved drug it may be beneficial in combination therapy with an antibiotic that has resistance problems.
Authors of correspondence: udumaosonwa@yahoo.com