Combating Drug Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Clinical Infections, with Silver Oxide Nanoparticles

The antibiogram study of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates revealed 100% resistance to vancomycin, bacitracin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. Eight isolates (53.3%) showed resistance to co-trimoxazole and one isolate to rifampicin, which was the drug of choice. An effort was made to evaluate the antimethicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity of silver oxide (Ag(2)O) nanoparticles synthesized from Aspergillus terreus VIT 2013. Production of Ag(2)O nanoparticles was confirmed by color change of fungal filtrate and UV light absorption at 450 nm. X-ray diffraction pattern showed 2θ values at 27, 32, 38 and 57°, which corresponded to the cubic structure of Ag(2)O nanocrystals. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of primary amine, carbonyl group, NO(2) and silver, revealing protein mediated nanoparticle production. The scanning electron microscope image showed freely dispersed Ag(2)O nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were active against all methicillin resistant isolates and hence can be used as antibacterial agents against drug resistant bacteria.