Silver nanoparticles have unique antimicrobial properties. They have a variety of applications: diagnostics, wound healing, pharmaceuticals, etc. These nanoparticles destroy bacterial cells walls and interrupt membrane integrity by their electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged bacterial cell walls [10]. Metal nanoparticles are usually synthesized by chemical techniques which is costly and highly toxic. Currently, there is a growing demand for alternative methods that would limit the costs associated with the chemical synthesis of nanoparticles. Over the years, researchers have shown the ability of microbes to synthesize metal nanoparticles to be used against multidrug-resistant organisms. This study seeks to analyze biomineralization specifically investigating the relationship between bacterial endospore and healthcare associated infections. Healthcare Associated Infections Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are infections that derive from using medical equipment and devices during surgical procedures [1]. Healthcare associated infections include: central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical site infections [1]. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), five to ten percent of hospitalized patients per year will acquire a healthcare associated infection. In a 2014 report, 721,800 people acquired a healthcare associated infection in 2011 and 75,000 patients died during their hospitalization [1]. It is projected that up to 7% of patients in developed and 10% in developing countries will acquire at least one HAI [12]. Common bacteria that causes infections include: Acinetobacter, Enterobacteriaceae (carbapenem-resistance), gram-negative bacteria, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) [1]. Acinetobacter accounts for 80% of reported infections and is prevalent in intensive care units and facilities housing very ill patients causing pneumonia and serious blood or wound infections [1]. Enterobacteriaceae causes infection in patients whose care require devices such as ventilators or urinary catheters [1]. This bacterium is difficult to treat because it has high levels of antibiotic resistance. Gram-negative bacteria and MRSA are typically found throughout the hospital setting. Gram-negative bacteria are multi-drug resistant and can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound infections, and meningitis [1]. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics including: methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin [1]. MRSA can cause skin infections that can eventually become life-threating. There are several strategies to minimize healthcare associated infections including the use of silver nanoparticles. Silver Nanoparticles Nanoparticles have been used for over 2,000 years for various physical, biological, and pharmaceutical applications [7, 10].
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Particularly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown excellent antimicrobial activity and have been used as antimicrobial agents in public places such as railroad stations and elevators in China [10]. Advances in silver nanoparticle development has revived the use of AgNPs as bactericidal agents. Medical applications of AgNPs include bactericidal coatings in air filters and antimicrobial agents in sanitizer sprays, pillows, respirators, socks, shampoos, washing machines, bone cements, catheters, neurosurgical shunts, etc. [7, 10]. The mode of action of AgNPs is not clearly understood however, there are many proposed theories that explain its mechanistic approach. It been suggested that silver nanoparticles anchor to bacterial cell walls and penetrate the cell causing structural changes leading to cell death [10]. Another suggestion is that free radicals produced by AgNPs when in contact with bacteria have the ability to damage the cell membrane and make it porous leading to cell death [10]. Silver nanoparticles can be chemically and physically synthesized. Some chemical methods include the reduction of metals, electrochemical methods, and sonodecomposition [6, 7, 10]. The chemical synthesis of AgNPs is very costly and produces substances that are highly toxic which may pose a threat to the environment …show more content…
They investigated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by the spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt had been used because of its ease of availability and lack of seasonal dependence. The Bt strain IS1 was isolated from the soils of Bikaner, Rajasthan and was added to a mixture of silver nitrate to form silver nanoparticles [5]. The AgNPs synthesized were found highly toxic against many different multi-drug resistant human pathogens: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus aureus. These silver nanoparticles even exhibited greater antibacterial activity than standard antibiotics [5]. This investigation showed how bacterial endospores have the potential of being excellent bactericidal agents against multi-drug resistant pathogens which is important in the context of healthcare associated
Particularly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown excellent antimicrobial activity and have been used as antimicrobial agents in public places such as railroad stations and elevators in China [10]. Advances in silver nanoparticle development has revived the use of AgNPs as bactericidal agents. Medical applications of AgNPs include bactericidal coatings in air filters and antimicrobial agents in sanitizer sprays, pillows, respirators, socks, shampoos, washing machines, bone cements, catheters, neurosurgical shunts, etc. [7, 10]. The mode of action of AgNPs is not clearly understood however, there are many proposed theories that explain its mechanistic approach. It been suggested that silver nanoparticles anchor to bacterial cell walls and penetrate the cell causing structural changes leading to cell death [10]. Another suggestion is that free radicals produced by AgNPs when in contact with bacteria have the ability to damage the cell membrane and make it porous leading to cell death [10]. Silver nanoparticles can be chemically and physically synthesized. Some chemical methods include the reduction of metals, electrochemical methods, and sonodecomposition [6, 7, 10]. The chemical synthesis of AgNPs is very costly and produces substances that are highly toxic which may pose a threat to the environment …show more content…
They investigated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by the spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt had been used because of its ease of availability and lack of seasonal dependence. The Bt strain IS1 was isolated from the soils of Bikaner, Rajasthan and was added to a mixture of silver nitrate to form silver nanoparticles [5]. The AgNPs synthesized were found highly toxic against many different multi-drug resistant human pathogens: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus aureus. These silver nanoparticles even exhibited greater antibacterial activity than standard antibiotics [5]. This investigation showed how bacterial endospores have the potential of being excellent bactericidal agents against multi-drug resistant pathogens which is important in the context of healthcare associated