Title:
Interaction between Burkholderia ceoncepacia and Staphylococcus aureus in Presence of Meropenem
Interaction between Burkholderia ceoncepacia and Staphylococcus aureus in Presence of Meropenem
Author(s)
Wang, Runyi
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Abstract
In recent decades, chronic pulmonary infections have become the leading cause of death among patients with cystic fibrosis. Despite the large number of available studies that explore the effects of single-species bacterial infections, the dynamics of polymicrobial infections are not as well-understood. Initial pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis often involve multiple species. Therefore, it is important to identify the interactions between multiple bacterial species and the potential effects to patients during treatment. β-lactam antibiotics such as meropenem, are often prescribed by clinicians for infection treatment and management. However, Burkholderia cenocepacia is capable of producing β-lactam degrading enzymes β-lactamases. In this study, we show that B. cenocepacia’s production of β-lactamases has potential to rescue nearby bacteria that would be susceptible to the β-lactam antibiotics, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The study shows that S. aureus does not grow better in the presence of B. cenocepacia. This finding suggests that S. aureus is not being rescued by B. cenocepacia despite the β-lactamases produced. While it is probable that such relationship is detrimental to traditional treatment options, additional studies need to be conducted to definitively conclude its effects on treatment outcomes.
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Date Issued
2022-05
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Text
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Undergraduate Thesis