Effect of Some Volatile Oils on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Burn Patients

Abstract

Burn wound infection is a major complication in burn patients after the initial period of shock. Microbial infection of burn wounds causes more than 70% mortality in burn patients. This study was conducted from March 2019 to May 2019 at Teiba Center for Burns Surgery in Al-Jumhory Hospital located in Sana'a city, Yemen. A total of 40 swab specimens of burn wounds were collected. Specimens were inoculated on Blood agar media and MacConkey Agar media and were incubated aerobically for 24 hours at 37 ^°C. Specimens of third-degree burns were inoculated on Blood Agar media and incubated anaerobically for 75 hours at 37°C. Bacterial colonies were identified by biochemical and diagnostic tests. Screening of volatile oils (Lavandula pubescens, Plectranthus barbatus, and Thymus laevigatus) for antibacterial activities was done by the disk diffusion method. Our results showed that 25 (63%) of patients were males and 15 (37%) were females. The second-degree burns were the most common 18 (45%), followed by third-degree burns 13 (32%), 25 (62%) were flame, 7 (18%) were scalds, 8 (20%) cases were chemical burns. Out of 28 positive cultures, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated 20 (71%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8 (29%). Lavandula oils and Plectranthus oils showed inhibition against the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa at 20µl.