Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Antimicrobial Synergy Testing by the Inkjet Printer-assisted Automated Checkerboard Array and the Manual Time-kill Method
12:03

Antimicrobial Synergy Testing by the Inkjet Printer-assisted Automated Checkerboard Array and the Manual Time-kill Method

Published on: April 18, 2019

26.9K

Synergistic activity of weak organic acids against uropathogens

J Burns1, C P McCoy1, N J Irwin1

  • 1School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|February 5, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Weak organic acids show potent antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against common urinary tract infection pathogens. Combinations of these acids demonstrate synergistic effects, offering a promising strategy for treating catheter-associated UTIs.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common hospital-acquired infections, often linked to urinary catheters.
  • Antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens necessitates novel treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of various weak organic acids (WOAs) against prevalent nosocomial uropathogens.
  • To investigate the synergistic potential of WOA combinations in combating planktonic and biofilm bacterial growth.

Main Methods:

  • Microdilution and time-kill assays were employed to determine key antimicrobial parameters.
  • Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • All tested WOAs exhibited bactericidal activity against planktonic and biofilm forms of uropathogens.
  • Synergistic activity was observed when WOAs were combined against Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.
  • Significant reductions in MIC values (up to 250-fold) and biofilm formation were achieved with WOA combinations.

Conclusions:

  • Weak organic acids demonstrate significant potential for treating and preventing catheter-associated UTIs.
  • Synergistic combinations of WOAs offer a promising multi-mechanistic approach against resistant uropathogens.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistanceBiofilmSynergyUrinary catheterUropathogenWeak organic acid

More Related Videos

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method07:51

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method

Published on: May 21, 2018

12.2K
A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries09:39

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries

Published on: December 27, 2016

18.2K

Related Concept Videos

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
5.8K
Molecular Structure and Acidity02:34

Molecular Structure and Acidity

An acid can be deprotonated to form a conjugate base or an anion. If the produced anion is more stable, then the acid is stronger. On the contrary, if the anion is unstable, then the acid is weaker. Hence, to determine the acidity of the compound, the stability of its conjugate base is studied using various factors.
The size effect explains the change in atomic size on acidity. When comparing the acids formed from elements that belong to the same column in the periodic table, their atomic sizes...
19.1K
Weak Acid Solutions04:02

Weak Acid Solutions

Few compounds act as strong acids. A far greater number of compounds behave as weak acids and only partially react with water, leaving a large majority of dissolved molecules in their original form and generating a relatively small amount of hydronium ions. Weak acids are commonly encountered in nature, being the substances partly responsible for the tangy taste of citrus fruits, the stinging sensation of insect bites, and the unpleasant smells associated with body odor. A familiar example of a...
40.9K
Acidity and Basicity of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives01:25

Acidity and Basicity of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Carboxylic acids are the strongest among organic acids, as they readily lose the hydroxyl proton to form a resonance-stabilized carboxylate ion. In comparison, the acid derivatives lack acidic hydrogens directly attached to a functional group. In these compounds, the acidic nature arises from their ability to lose α hydrogens, making them weakly acidic.
The relative acidic strength of the derivatives can be explained based on the extent of resonance stabilization of the conjugate base. The...
4.0K
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
2.0K
Solvating Effects02:12

Solvating Effects

An understanding of the solvating effect helps rationalize the relation between solvation and acidity of the compound. In addition, this also explains the relative stability of conjugate bases for compounds with different pKa values. This lesson details, in-depth, the principle of solvating effects. The strength of an acid and the stability of its corresponding conjugate base are determined using pKa values. This observed relationship is a consequence of solvation, which is the interaction...
8.2K