ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM STRAINS, ISOLATED FROM KATAK

Abstract

Several Lactobacillus species are accepted as microorganisms with Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) in the EFSA’s list. One of them, Lactobacillus plantarum is a widely distributed species with a proven probiotic potential and technological relevance. In addition, every strain must complete several requirements, before implementation. Antibiotic susceptibility is one of EFSA’s important criteria regarding the safety of probiotics. The reason is to avoid any possibility of antibiotic resis-tance genes transfer to opportunistic pathogens in the gut. In the present study 14 Lactobacillus plan-tarum strains were assessed for susceptibility to 21 antibiotics from different groups. A high number of resistant strains was determined toward 12 antibiotics (penicillins – penicillin, piperacillin; IIIth generation cephalosporins – cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime; glycopeptides – vancomycin; tetra-cyclines – tetracycline; aminoglycosides – gentamicin; macrolides – clarithromycin; quinolones – nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin). Concerning the other tested antibiotics, strain-specific antibiotic-sensitivity patterns were observed. Antibiotic resistance was also discussed as an advantage in the selection of probiotic strains, however only when it is not transferable. Estimated susceptibility patterns of some of tested candidate probiotic strains are also important, considering the use of the latter as agents accompanying antibiotic therapy

Keywords

• antibiotic susceptibility
• lactobacillus spp.
• probiotics