Abstract INTRODUCTION:

Essential oils can serve as novel sources of antibiotics for multidrug-resistant bacteria.

METHODS:

The multidrug-resistance profile of a Klebsiella aerogenes strain was assessed by PCR and sequencing. The antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil (CCeo) against K. aerogenes was assessed by broth microdilution and time-kill methods.

RESULTS:

K. aerogenes showed high antibiotic resistance. The genes bla KPC-2, ampC, bla CTX-M-15, bla OXA-1, and bla TEM were present. CCeo exhibited an inhibitory effect with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 17.57 μg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS:

The antibacterial activity of CCeo makes it a potential candidate for treating carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant K. aerogenes strains.