N-chlorotaurine, a potent weapon against multiresistant bacteria

N-chlorotaurine (NCT) is a body-own mild oxidizing antiseptic that can be applied topically as a well-tolerated anti-infective at many body sites. The objective of this study was to demonstrate its activity against representative nosocomial multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The bactericidal activity of NCT was tested in quantitative killing assays against a panel of multiresistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates. N-chlorotaurine (1%, 55 mmol l^-1 ) reduced the number of CFU of strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, vancomycin-resistant, and linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, 3MRGN and 4MRGN Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae by at least 2 log₁₀ steps after 15 min and completely or nearly to the detection limit after 30 min at pH 7·1 and 37°C.

The activity of NCT against these clinical isolates is similar to that against non-resistant ATCC strains and therefore not influenced by antibiotic resistance. This can be explained by the oxidizing and chlorinating mechanism of action of NCT, which leads to an attack of multiple targets in the microorganisms.

The bactericidal spectrum of NCT is not restricted by resistance against antibiotics. Therefore, it can be used against resistant strains, too.