Antibiotic and silver resistance in bacterial strains isolated from leg ulcers

Abstract: Although there are numerous studies concerning biofilms of chronic wounds, by classic diagnostic methods or by association of molecular methods, there are not comparative data regarding resistance to antibiotics and antiseptics of the isolated microbial strains, responsible for the development of biofilms. Moreover, in Romania there is insufficient data regarding the specific composition and the involvement of the microbial biofilms in the process of the delayed healing of leg ulcers.  The main objectives of the present project are: (1) Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance features in a collection of microbial strains isolated from leg ulcers; (2) Characterization of silver efficiency on microbial strains isolated from infections of leg ulcers in planktonic and adherent state; (3) Screening of synergic actions of silver and antibiotics against the chronic wounds isolates; (4) Demonstrating the efficacy and the advantages of the proposed  combinatorial strategy comparing with classical methods for treatment of leg ulcers. The results of this project will have a positive impact on the public health through the improvement of quality of life of patients with leg ulcers by offering biological criteria and a selection methodology of optimal strategy for treating severe infections with multidrug resistant bacteria to antibiotics with the production of biofilms.

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Contract no.: PD 200 din 27/08/2020

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-1193

Acronim: SILVER-RES

Project director:
Georgescu Mihaela
georgescucmihaela@gmail.com

Contract start date: 01.09.2020

Date of conclusion of the contract: 30.08.2022

Duration: 24 months (2020-2022)

Team members:
Prof. univ. dr. Veronica Lazăr
Dr. Georgescu Mihaela

Objective:

1. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance features in a collection of microbial strains isolated from leg ulcers;
2. Characterization of silver efficiency on microbial strains isolated from infections of leg ulcers in planktonic and adherent state;
3. Screening of synergic actions of silver and antibiotics against the chronic wounds isolates;
4. Demonstrating the efficacy and the advantages of the proposed combinatorial strategy comparing with classical methods for treatment of leg ulcers.

Estimated results:
– collection of leg ulcers strains (at least 100), – Selection of the optimal association variants based on antibiotics, silver based antiseptics or association of the two of them regarding the microbicidial effect, anti-biofilm and reduced citotoxicity

– 2 ISI papers, 

– 2 oral/ poster presentations; 

– 3 annual scientific reports.   

Total value from budget: 246.950,00 RON

Total value of the Contract: 246.950,00 RON

Article:   Georgescu, Mihaela, Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu, Marcela Popa, Irina Gheorghe, and Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc. 2022. “First Report on the Phenotypic and Genotypic Susceptibility Profiles to Silver Nitrate in Bacterial Strains Isolated from Infected Leg Ulcers in Romanian Patients” Applied Sciences 12, no. 10: 4801. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104801

Paper soon to be published