Background: Microorganisms, which cause UTIs, exhibit drug resistance due to misuse
and/or inadequate use of antimicrobial agents. Essential oils derived from aromatic
medicinal plants have been reported to exhibit exceptionally good antimicrobial effects
against bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and viruses.
Objectives: To determine the in vitro antibacterial activity, drug level interaction of
Ocimum suave (Willd) essential oils and antibiotics against uropathogens.
Methods: A cross sectional and experimental study was carried out in six selected
hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda. Midstream clean catch urine samples were
collected and inoculated on CLED agar, using calibrated inoculation loop. The plates
were incubated at 37ºC for 24 h to 48 h. The Ocimum suave (Willd) leaves were hydro
distilled for 4 h using a Clevenger apparatus. The oil was collected and dried over
anhydrous sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) and kept at 4°C till further use. The antimicrobial
activity of O. suave (Willd) essential oils against uropathogen isolates was determined by
agar well method. The MIC of reference antimicrobial drug and Ocimum suave (Willd)
essential oil extract was carried out by micro-broth dilution method. The drug level
interaction of the Ocimum suave (Willd) essential oil and ciprofloxacin in combination
was obtained by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI).