Antimicrobial Effect of Lemongrass and Ginger Essential Oils Against Nosocomial Infection Pathogens

Abstract

Background: According to the 2011 WHO survey on nosocomial infection, 15% patients treated as in-patient had nosocomial infection globally. The causal pathogens had resistance to general antibiotics used by clinicians, therefore it is getting harder to treat patients with these infections. The study aims to investigate the antimicrobial effects of lemongrass dan ginger essential oils against nosocomial infection pathogens.Methods: The research is an experimental research. The strain used are Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCCâ 27853 and Acinetobacter baumannii ATCCâ BAA-747. The antimicrobial assays were done triplicate using disk diffusion method and microdilution method.Results: From disk diffusion assay, lemongrass essential oil shows zone of inhibition against both pathogens while ginger essential oils doesn’t show antimicrobial effect against both pathogens. The mean highest zone of inhibition is 11,33 mm on 100% concentration against A.baumannii. From microdilution assay, lemongrass and ginger oil show antimicrobial effect against both pathogens, with lowest MIC detected for lemongrass and ginger essential oils are <0.5?g/ml (against A.baumannii) and 32?g/ml (against P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii).Conclusion/Conclusions: Lemongrass and ginger essential oils had antimicrobial effects against nosocomial infection pathogens. Antimicrobial activity of lemongrass oil is more potent than ginger oil on both antimicrobial assay against both pathogens tested.