Introduction

Currently, awareness of nosocomial infections has increased and the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus has been showing a problem in clinical trials because it is associated with these infections. In dentistry, natural products have been extensively studied due to the search for products with greater pharmacological activity. In this sense, Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia, presents itself as of great medicinal importance for its proven bactericidal and antifungal action against several human pathogens. Its essential oil has an inhibitory action against the spread of bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics and present in hospital infections.

Aim

To evaluate the antimicrobial and non-adherent activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia against the clinical strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Methodology

Assays were performed using broth microdilution techniques in 96-well plates to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and inclined tube technique to determine the Minimum Adhesion Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to glass, in the presence of 5% sucrose.

Results

It was observed that the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia has a strong antibacterial activity, classified by the CIM against the strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The CBM of 512 demonstrated that this oil acts as a bactericide and bacteriostatic for the same strain. As for CIMA, a value of 1:4 was observed, being equal to 0.12% Chlorhexidine Digluconate. The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia has strong bacterial activity, behaving as bactericidal and bacteriostatic against the clinical strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus.