In vitro investigation of antibacterial activity of drugs used in sedation in intensive care unit

Abstract

Introduction: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection and is a life-threatening condition. Sedation is important such as these patients. Some drugs that used for sedation may have antimicrobial effects. the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of propofol, ketamine, thiopental, dexmedotomidine and midazolam, which are widely used in intensive care in the form of infusion for sedation. Materials and methods: in vitro antimicrobial activities of dexmedetomidine, midazolam, ketamine, propofol and thiopental sodyom drugs of different concentrations were investigated by using the agar well diffusion method. Ampicillin, streptomycin and fluconazole were used as standard antibacterial and antifungal drugs, respectively. While selecting the microorganisma, the agents which are unexpected to cause sepsis were included in the study in addition to the causative agents leading to sepsis, in order to understand the antimicrobial effect more clearly. All test microorganisms as follows: E. coli ATCC, Y. pseudotuberculosis ATCC, P. auroginosa ATCC, E. faecalis ATCC, S. aureus ATCC, B. cereus, M. smegmatis ATCC, C. albicans ATCC, C. tropicalis ATCC and S. cerevisiae ATCC. Results: Ketamine was found to have antimicrobial activity against all of the microorganisms tested, but the highest efficacy was determined against S. aureus. Bactericidal (and fungocidal) activity of ketamine was determined against all other microorganisms. Conclusion: We consider that it can be important to conduct the trial on the doses used in practice, and to demonstrate the usefulness of the antibacterial activity of these drugs in practice. in conclusion, in patients with sepsis followed in the intensive care unit, ketamine may be preferred for sedation. Thus, this can contribute to the patient's antibiotherapy. However, further clinical research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial activity of ketamine in clinical practice and to assess the effectiveness of reducing the mortality in patients with sepsis.