Antimicrobial ability and mechanism analysis of Lactobacillus species against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial ability and mechanism analysis of Lactobacillus species against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Methods Five Lactobacillus spp. strains and 18 CPE clinical isolates were collected. Their anti-CPE effects were assessed by agar well diffusion and broth microdilution assay, as well as time-kill test. Finally, the specific anti-CPE mechanism, especially for the effect of organic acids was determined using broth microdilution method. Results All of five Lactobacilli isolates displayed the potent activity against most CPE isolates with mean zones of inhibition ranging 10.2 to 21.1 mm. The anti-CPE activity was not affected by heating, catalase, and proteinase treatment. Under the concentration of 50% LUC0180 cell-free supernatant (CFS), lactic acid, and mix acid could totally inhibit the growth of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPE0011), and acetic acid could inhibit 67.8%. In contrast, succinic acid and citric acid could not inhibit the growth of CPE0011. While we decreased the concentration to 25%, only lactic acid and mix acid displayed 100% inhibition. In contrast, succinic acid, citric acid and acetic acid did not show any inhibitory effect. Conclusions Lactobacillus strains exhibit potent anti-CPE activity, and lactic acid produced by Lactobacillus strains is the major antimicrobial mechanism.