N‐chlorotaurine, a potent weapon against multiresistant bacteria

Aims N-chlorotaurine is a body-own mild oxidizing antiseptic that can be applied topically as a well-tolerated anti-infective at many body sites. The objective of this study was to demonstrate its activity against representative nosocomial multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods and results The bactericidal activity of N-chlorotaurine was tested in quantitative killing assays against a panel of multiresistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates. N-chlorotaurine (1%, 55 mmol l-1 ) reduced the number of CFU of strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, vancomycin-resistant, and linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, 3MRGN and 4MRGN Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae by at least 2 log10 steps after 15 min and completely or nearly to the detection limit after 30 min at pH 7.1 and 37°C. Conclusion The activity of N-chlorotaurine against these clinical isolates is similar to that against non-resistant ATCC strains and therefore not influenced by antibiotic resistance. This can be explained by the oxidizing and chlorinating mechanism of action of N-chlorotaurine, which leads to an attack of multiple targets in the microorganisms. Significance and impact of study The bactericidal spectrum of N-chlorotaurine is not restricted by resistance against antibiotics. Therefore, it can be used against resistant strains, too.