Assessment of IL-6 and Evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds on biofilm forming- Acintobacter baumanni isolated from patients with urinary tract infection

This study highlights the challenge of ineffective antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to antimicrobial-resistant strains and biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii (AB), particularly problematic in immunocompromised individuals. We aimed to investigate pharmaceutical compounds that could inhibit biofilm production in A. baumannii isolates associated with UTIs. In the study conducted from October 2023 to February 2024, interleukin IL-6 levels were measured using ELISA. Compounds Cinnamic(C) and Gallic (G) acids were evaluated for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) through broth microdilution. Bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics was assessed using the Kirby disk diffusion method and the Vitek-2 compact system with an AST card. Biofilm formation was analyzed using Congo red staining and a 96-well ELISA plate, and the efficacy of compounds C and G in treating biofilms was evaluated using the same method. Results showed that UTI patients had a mean IL-6 level of 19.00±1.581 pg/mL, significantly higher than the control group (mean IL-6 level: 7.400±1.140 pg/mL; p < 0.0001). Resistance rates among A. baumannii isolates were considerable, with varying percentages for different antibiotics. Gallic and cinnamic acids demonstrated antibacterial activity, inhibiting biofilm formation in A. baumannii at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 128 mg/mL (p ≤ 0.01). These compounds effectively suppressed biofilm formation across A. baumannii strains. In conclusion, IL-6 shows promise as a biomarker for diagnosing UTIs. Notably, gallic and cinnamic acids significantly reduced biofilms of extensively drug-resistant (PDR) A. baumannii strains, suggesting their potential therapeutic value against multidrug-resistant biofilms.