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ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF CYMBOPOGON FLEXUOSUS (LEMON GRASS) AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII: A PRELIMINARY IN-VITRO STUDY

Aim – In recent years, the incidence of nosocomial infections due to A.baumannii has increased to a point of concern. Rapid spread of multidrug and extremely drug resistant A.baumannii in clinical settings has made treatment options difficult for clinician. It has also increased the morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of essential oil of a traditional medicinal plant, Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemon grass) against the problematic multidrug resistant A.baumannii. Methodology – Essential oil of lemon grass was distilled by Neo-Clavenger’s method and the antibacterial activity was tested against 102 multidrug resistant A.baumannii clinical isolates by punch-well and disc diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration of lemon grass oil was determined by Macrobroth dilution method. Results – Majority of A.baumannii isolates were inhibited by lemon grass oil, inhibition zone ranging from 13mm to 33mm, mean inhibition zone being 23mm and the minimum inhibitory concentration of lemon grass oil was 6.25µl/ml. Conclusion – essential oil lemon grass showed good antibacterial activity against A.baumannii and might be considered as an alternative treatment option against multi-drug resistant A.baumannii infections. However, further pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies are needed for routine clinical use.