Bacterial resistance to current treatments is beginning to appear all across the world. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are on the rise in hospitals and in communities across the United States. Silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have shown promising results as antimicrobial agents, displaying activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Three silver carbene complexes (SCCs ) based on 4,5,6,7-tetrachlorobenzimidazole has been synthesized, characterized, and tested against a panel of clinical strains of bacteria.  These complexes proved highly efficacious with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.25-6 �g/mL.  Overall, the complexes were effective against highly resistant bacteria strains, such as MRSA, weaponizable bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, and pathogens found within the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, and Burkholderia gladioli.  Two SCCs  also showed clinically relevant activity against a silver-resistant strain of Escherichia coli J53+pMG101 based on MIC testing.

Antimicrobial activity of 4,5,6,7-tetrachlorobenzimidazolium based silver carbene complexes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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