Effects of N-acetyl-cysteine and acetylsalicylic acid on the tonsil bacterial biofilm tissues by light and electron microscopy

F. Bulut, F. Meric, E. Yorgancilar, Y. Nergiz, M. Akkus, S. Nergiz, Y. Nasir

Ear Nose and Throat Nose Diseases, Memorial Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey. yusufnergiz21@gmail.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the bacterial biofilm formation on the tonsil surface exposed N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) of patients undergoing tonsillectomy by light and electron microscopy. The general process of biofilm formation comprises adhesion of free-living or planktonic bacteria to a surface, which subsequently develop into microcolonies and form a biofilm. Based on studies that have shown the presence of biofilms in common sites of chronic infections, it has become clear that bacteria may persist on mucosal surfaces through formation of biofilms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients between 4 and 39 years of age (mean, 11.9 ± 11.2 years). In all cases, periodic acide Schiff (PAS) staining was found to be an accurate predictor of the presence or absence of biofilm using light microscopy as a control standard. Therapeutic doses of NAC and ASA were identificated as the effective on the tonsil bacterial biofilm using light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Biofilm formation was detected on all samples. Tonsils removed from patients with ASA-10 had showed higher-grade inhibitory effect at the biofilm formation than the other group (p ≤ 0.0001). The correlation was found between drug dose and decrease at the biofilm formation.

CONCLUSIONS: In chronic or recurrent tonsillitis patients, decrease on the tonsils surface biofilm formation may be associated with ASA dose. Whether effect on the tonsils surface biofilm formation of other agent have a role is not known.

Key Words:
Acetylsalicylic acid, Chronic tonsillitis, In vitro, Mucosal biofilm, N-Acetyl-cysteine.

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