Investigation of antibacterial effect of levobupivacaine on staphylococcus aureus

In this study; it is aimed to experimentally investigate the antibacterial effect of levobupivacaine on Staphylococcus aureus in patient controlled analgesia model at concentrations used in postoperative pain treatment (0,125 %) and painless labour (0,0625 %) in our hospital and to evidence by ?Scanning Electron Microscobe (SEM) imaging technique?.Study solutions prepared so as to 100 mL. After preparing groups as Group 1 (n=10): 0,125 % levobupivacaine + 4 mL fentanyl (200 mcg), Group 2 (n=10): 0,0625 % levobupivacaine + 4 mL fentanyl ( 200 mcg), Group 3 (n=10): 4 mL fentanyl (200 mcg) and Group 4 (n=10): 99 mL saline; 1 mL of Staphylococcus aureus 0,5 McF (1.5x108 cfu/mL) was added to all groups. Samples in all groups were infused at 4 mL/h infusion rate for 24 hours by Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device through Portex brand bacterial filter (n=40) and collected in sterile bottles. Specimens collected from bottles (n=40), filter entrances (n=40) and filter exits (n=40) cultivated in Blood Agar and colonies were counted. Results were statistically compared using SPSS 15.0 program to determine the difference among groups with Kruskal-Wallis, the difference between two groups with Mann Whitney-U test and p < 0.05 was statistically significant.According to results of our study all groups were significantly reduced Staphylococcus aureus colony counts (p<0.05). It is observed that colony counts were decreased as much as levobupivacaine concentration was increased (p<0.05). The bacterial withold capacity of Staphylococcus aureus was determined as 100 %. Our findings were evidenced by SEM imaging technique.Towards these results, it is concluded that levobupivacaine used in PCEA has antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, fentanyl contributes this effect and it can be considered as an extra barrier to reduce infection risk.Keywords: Levobupivacaine, Antibacterial effect, PCA device, Staphylococcus aureus, Scanning Electron Microscobe (SEM)