Antimicrobial activities of essential oils on microorganisms isolated from radiation dermatitis

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.6132 Received: 18.12.2018 Accepted: 27.12.2018 Published Online: 28.12.2018 Printed: 01.05.2019 J Clin Anal Med 2019;10(3): 307-10 Corresponding Author: Timur Koca, Radyasyon Onkolojisi ABD, Akdeniz Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Konyaaltı, Antalya, Türkiye. GSM: +905422018722 E-Mail: timurkoca3@gmail.com ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7400-1837 Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of essential oils obtained from Mediterranean region plants on microorganisms isolated as secondary skin infections in patients with Grade II and III acute radiation dermatitis. Material and Method: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils, Origanum vulgare (O. vulgare), Lavandula intermedia (L. intermedia) and Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) were evaluated by broth microdilution method on microorganisms isolated from 20 patients with Grade II and III radiation dermatitis. Microdilutions had modified according to The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations and lowest concentration which inhibited growth after incubation was identified as Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The severity degree of acute radiation dermatitis was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03. Results: Nine pathogenic strains were isolated from 20 samples of the patients. The pathogens isolated from skin swabs of the patients with Grade II and III radiation dermatitis were Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant coagulasenegative Staphylococcus (MRCNS), methicillin-sensitive coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MSCNS), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Minimal Inhibitory Concentration values of O. vulgare, L. intermedia and T. vulgaris for each isolated microorganisms were found. These essential oils have been found effective on microorganisms isolated from secondary infections of radiation-related dermatitis. Discussion: Antimicrobial activity of O. vulgare, L. intermedia and T. vulgaris essential oils on pathogenic microorganisms isolated from radiation dermatitis were determined. Future use of essential oils in the treatment of acute radiation dermatitis should be considered.