A bis(pyrazolyl)methane derivative against clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from otitis externa

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effects of a p-Cymene-based bis(pyrazolyl)methane derivative (SC-19) to advance in developing alternative therapeutic compounds to fight against bacterial isolates from patients with otitis externa (OE). Methods Eighteen swab specimens were collected from patients aged over 18 years diagnosed with OE within at least 7 days of symptom onset, contaminated by only one bacterium type: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 5); Staphylococcus aureus (n = 8); Klebsiella aerogenes (n = 2); Serratia marcescens (n = 1); Morganella morganii (n = 2). To appraise antibacterial activity, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assays were run at different SC-19 concentrations. Results When using SC-19, S. aureus strains showed less bacterial growth, but no bactericidal effect was observed. The MIC and MBC of SC-19 were 62.5 and 2000 mu g/ml against S. aureus and were >2000 mu g/ml against the other isolates obtained from OE, respectively. In addition, the MBICs and MBECs of SC-19 against S. aureus were 125 and >2000 mu g/ml, respectively. Conclusion Nowadays the acquired antibiotic resistance phenomenon has stimulated research into novel and more efficient therapeutic agents. Hence, we report that, helped by the structural diversity fostered herein by a range of bis(pyrazolyl)methane derivatives, SC-19 can be a promising alternative therapeutic option for treating OE caused by S. aureus given the observed effects on both planktonic state and biofilm. Level of Evidence IV

Automated summary

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial effects of a p-Cymene-based derivative (SC-19) as an alternative therapeutic compound for patients with otitis externa. The results showed that SC-19 exhibited good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, making it a promising treatment option for otitis externa caused by S. aureus.