Reducing antibiotic resistance with monoglycerides and free fatty acids

 Antimicrobials have been used in animal feed for about 70 years to treat diseases, boost growth and obtain improvement in productivity (FAO 2018). Use of antibiotics to promote animal growth has been banned in European Union (EU) since January 1, 2006. Europe has done it and USA is in progress. Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious threat to public health worldwide. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, 2017 (ECDC 2017) from many European countries is reported that high percentages of isolates with resistance to key antimicrobial groups still exist which shows great concern and represent a serious threat to patient safety. Overview of the annual morbidity and mortality of antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States, estimating their number at approximately 2 million and the number of death associated with these infections at 23,000 (CDC 2013). Antibiotic Growth Promoters are still used as feed additives in countries outside EU. A radical rethinking of policies to reduce antibiotic consumption and resistant is necessary worldwide.

As global population has been increasing, livestock production must be increased significantly to overcome the high demand. Europe was the first major market where restricted use of antibiotics in meat and poultry production. Furthermore, the consumer interest in meat and poultry products either without the use of antibiotics or restricted antibiotic use has increased. Non-Antibiotic Growth Promoters (NAGPs) has been replacing to Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP) due to no risk for bacterial resistance and undesired residues in animal production. Additionally, NAGPs are helping to reduce environmental emissions with the main emphasis on phytogenic, organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, fatty acids and some trace minerals as well.

Bacterial pathogens (Gram-negative/ positive) of medical importance such as Escheria coli and Enterococci are a common cause of healthcare-associated infection, which could be able to survive and persist for long periods in the hospital environment and they are present in animal gut which are able to develop high-level resistance to antimicrobial. Based on ECDC report (2017) these two bacteria are well spread in Europe:

• Escherichia coli which is one of the most frequent infections worldwide requires close attention regarding antibiotic resistance as the percentage of isolates resistant to commonly-used antibiotics continues to increase throughout Europe. The highest resistance percentages were reported from southern and south-eastern Europe.

• Enterococcus faecium resistant is becoming common specially reported in countries in eastern and southeastern Europe and in Ireland. However, a significant increase in the percentage of resistance to faecium isolates was observed in countries reporting comparatively high resistance percentage.

Short/ medium chain fatty acids and their monoglycerides antimicrobial activity

Antimicrobial activities of lipids were reported first time at 19^th century. Later on, many studies demonstrated that fatty acids inhibit or kill a wide spectrum of pathogens.  Short and medium chain fatty acids (SCHFAs/ MCHFAs) have activity to extend along the entire intestinal channel and moreover, they become systemic and attack agents that may be present in other tissues. Short and medium chain fatty acids are known to be fighting against certain infection-causing factors, and as well against some protozoal agents that are common in animal production. Fatty acids and their monoglycerides are effective in inhibiting bacterial growth. Medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and their monoglycerides have potential activity against bacteria molecules both against Gram- negative and Gram- positive bacteria. Among saturated fatty acids with chain lengths between 6 and 18 carbons, lauric acid and monolaurate which is the monoglyceride of lauric acid was identified having the most potent inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria and enveloped viruses.

Is there an environmentally friendly solution against Gram+/ – bacteria without antibiotic resistance threat?  We have the answer: NovoVital

A complex of free fatty acids and monoglycerides of Butyric acid (C4); Caprylic acid (C8); Capric acid (C10) and Lauric Acid (C12) antibacterial activity was evaluated against 37 strains of Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and 17 presenting resistance of Enterococci (Gram positive), which are among the bacteria those that easily acquire antibiotic resistance and can cause infections in humans has been studied at the Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The antimicrobials tested for Gram-negative bacteria were ampicillin, piperacillin, meropenem, amikacin, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. Gram-positive resistance was tested by vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, teicoplanin, tetracycline, rifampin and erythromycin and all strains utilized in this study were resistant to at least two of the antibiotics tested.

The results obtained showed that NovoVital is effective on both Gram-positive/ Negative bacteria. It has a strong activity against Gram-positive Enterococci, while only concentrations above 1% were able to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative E. coli strains. With regard to E. coli strains, the majority of them, 21 (58.3%) were inhibited by a concentration (MIC) of 1.4% of the blend and the remaining strains were inhibited by concentrations (MIC) between 1.1 and 1.6% About the Enterococci, all strains were inhibited by tested concentrations between 0.1 and 0.4%. It is concluded that alternative substances such as NovoVital can be considerate for the potential treatment of multidrug-resistant strains.

NovoVital Liquid and Dry are supporting variety range of animal species as Growth promotion.

References are available on request, contact us to info@xvetgermany.com