Antibacterial Effect of some Mineral Clays In Vitro

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Al-Anbar University West of IRAQ

2 Microbiology Department , College of Dentistry, Anbar University

Abstract

Background:- The use of geological mineral clay to heal bacterial infections has been evident, since the earliest recorded history, and specific clay minerals may prove valuable in the treatment of bacterial diseases, including infections for which there are no effective antibiotics, such as multi-drug resistant infections.
Objectives:- The aim of this study is to identify new inhibitory agents in an era when bacterial antibiotic resistance continues to challenge human health and the availability of new antimicrobial compounds is limited.
Materials and methods:- Two bacterial isolates were taken from patient with different infections (UTI, skin infection). The two isolates were used to study the antibacterial effect of four types of mineral clays (gray clay, yellow clay, white clay, and pink clay).
Result:- Three types of clays (white clay,  gray clay, and yellow clay,) have an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus that was isolated from skin infection. And have no effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was isolated from patient with UTI. On the other hand, pink mineral clay explained an antibacterial effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and has low effect against Staphylococcus aureus
Conclusions:- Our results indicated that mineral clay could provide an alternative treatment against numerous human bacterial infections.

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