Sylvie Salvatico’s scientific contributions

Background/Objectives: Aerobic vaginitis (AV) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are vaginal infections requiring the fast elimination of pathogens. The frequent confusion of these infections may justify the use of a rapidly acting broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Methods: This study investigated the bactericidal kinetics of the neomycin-polymyxin B-nystatin (NPN) combination compared to those of two reference antibiotics (clindamycin and metronidazole) against 22 bacteria commonly implicated in AV and BV. Results: NPN exhibited bactericidal activity against the aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, with particularly high bactericidal activity being observed against streptococci, S. aureus, and C. amycolatum after 1 h at low dilutions and after 4 h for all dilutions. Enterococci were less sensitive to NPN. Clindamycin demonstrated poor rapid bactericidal activity against all Gram-positive bacteria tested. NPN manifested high bactericidal activity against all aerobic Gram-negative bacteria tested, whereas clindamycin showed bactericidal activity only after 4 h at a 1/2 dilution. With respect to the four anaerobic strains tested, NPN demonstrated high bactericidal activity at all tested dilutions with concentration-dependent effects. Metronidazole exhibited lower or no rapid bactericidal activity. Conclusions: These results suggest that NPN has very fast bactericidal action against the main bacteria involved in AV and BV compared to clindamycin and metronidazole, highlighting its potential in managing bacterial vaginal infections.

The antimicrobial activity of surfaces treated with zinc and/or magnesium mineral oxide microspheres is a patented technology that has been demonstrated in vitro against bacteria and viruses. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of the technology in vitro, under simulation-of-use conditions, and in situ. The tests were undertaken in vitro according to the ISO 22196:2011, ISO 20473:2013, and NF S90-700:2019 standards with adapted parameters. Simulation-of-use tests evaluated the robustness of the activity under worst-case scenarios. The in situ tests were conducted on high-touch surfaces. The in vitro results show efficient antimicrobial activity against referenced strains with a log reduction of >2. The sustainability of this effect was time-dependent and detected at lower temperatures (20 ± 2.5 °C) and humidity (46%) conditions for variable inoculum concentrations and contact times. The simulation of use proved the microsphere’s efficiency under harsh mechanical and chemical tests. The in situ studies showed a higher than 90% reduction in CFU/25 cm² per treated surface versus the untreated surfaces, reaching a targeted value of <50 CFU/cm². Mineral oxide microspheres can be incorporated into unlimited surface types, including medical devices, to efficiently and sustainably prevent microbial contamination.

There is no standard protocol for the evaluation of antiseptics used for skin and mucous membranes in the presence of interfering substances. Our objective was to suggest trial conditions adapted from the NF EN 13727 standard, for the evaluation of antiseptics used in gynecology and dermatology. Three antiseptic solutions were tested in vitro: a chlorhexidine-benzalkonium (CB) combination, a hexamidine-chlorhexidine-chlorocresol (HCC) combination, and povidone iodine (P). The adaptation of trial conditions to the standard involved choosing dilutions, solvent, and interfering substances. The activity of solutions was assessed on the recommended strains at concentrations of 97% (pure solution), 50%, and 10% (diluted solution), and 1%. A logarithmic reduction ≥ 5 was expected after 60seconds of contact, to meet requirements of bactericidal activity. HCC did not present any bactericidal activity except on P. aeruginosa at a concentration of 97%. P was not bactericidal on E. hirae at any concentration and on S. aureus at 97%. CB had the most homogeneous bactericidal activity with a reduction>5 log on the 4 bacterial strains at concentrations of 97%, 50% and 10%. Adapting the NF EN 13727 standard allowed assessing the 3 tested solutions: only CB was bactericidal in dirty conditions. This study proved the possibility of validating antiseptic choice in vitro, in current practice conditions, for adjunctive treatment of skin and mucous membranes disorders, primarily of bacterial origin or with a potential of superinfection. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Le traitement du « mal de gorge », considéré comme essentiellement d’origine virale, ne conduit pas à la mise en place d’une antibiothérapie. Le traitement préconisé fait donc appel à une approche locale associant anesthésiques et antiseptiques. Dans ce cadre, les pastilles ont une place prépondérante avec un relargage immédiat important et une persistance de la molécule au site. L’objectif de ce travail est de démontrer in vitro l’efficacité antimicrobienne des pastilles Drill® à court et long termes vis-à-vis des principaux pathogènes des infections ORL.Matériel et méthodeL’activité bactéricide et virucide vis-à-vis des principaux micro-organismes impliqués en pathologie infectieuse ORL dont le virus H1N1, a été évaluée après un temps de contact court (5 minutes) et long (3 heures), selon une méthodologie correspondant aux normes européennes d’évaluation des antiseptiques et désinfectants chimiques. Parallèlement, l’évaluation de l’activité antibactérienne globale a été contrôlée sur 30 souches représentatives des espèces commensales par détermination des dilutions maximales inhibitrices (DMI) et dilutions maximales bactéricides (DMB).RésultatsLes pastilles Drill® présentent une activité antibactérienne avec destruction significative (> 90 %) des principaux pathogènes ORL, à forte concentration après cinq minutes de contact, et après dilution et trois heures de contact. Les pastilles DRILL® présentent également une activité antivirale permettant de détruire 2 log (99 %) du virus H1N1 en cinq minutes de contact à forte concentration, avec un maintien de cette activité après dilution (3 heures). L’activité antibactérienne est homogène au niveau des souches commensales.Conclusion Ces essais in vitro confirment l’intérêt de la chlorhexidine sous forme de pastilles à sucer dans le traitement des pathologies infectieuses ORL à type « mal de gorge ».

Objectives: The treatment of sore throat, considered to be essentially due to viral infection, does not require the use of antibiotics. The recommended treatment is therefore based on the use of topical anaesthetics and antiseptics. Throat lozenges play a leading role in topical treatment by allowing immediate, massive and persistent release of the active molecule at the site of infection. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the short-term and long-term in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of Drill(®) lozenges in relation to the main pathogens responsible for upper respiratory tract infections. Material and method: The bactericidal and virucidal activity in relation to the main microorganisms responsible for upper respiratory tract infections, including the H1N1 influenza virus, was evaluated after short (5 minutes) and long (3h) contact times, according to a methodology complying with European standards for the evaluation of chemical antiseptics and disinfectants. In parallel, the global antibacterial activity was determined on 30 strains representative of the resident flora by determination of maximum inhibitory dilutions (MID) and maximum bactericidal dilutions (MBD). Results: Drill(®) lozenges presented an antibacterial activity inducing significant (>90%) destruction of the main upper respiratory tract pathogens after a 5-minute contact time at high concentration and after a 3-hour contact time after dilution. Drill(®) lozenges also exerted an antiviral activity inducing 2 log (99%) destruction of the H1N1 virus after a 5-min contact time at high concentration, with maintenance of this activity after dilution (3h). A homogeneous antibacterial activity was observed on the resident flora. Conclusion: These in vitro tests confirm the value of chlorhexidine lozenges in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections such as sore throat.