EFFECTS OF DIRECT ELECTRIC-CURRENT ON THE GROWTH OF MICROBES AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ANTIBIOTICS

The in vitro effect of weak constant direct electric current on the growth of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans yeast was examined. Of the microbes tested, significant changes in colony formation could be obtained only with C albicans. The growth inhibition of C. albicans increased with the amplitude and application time of the electric current. This effect proved to be reversible. No significant effect of direct current was observed on bacterial growth. Increased susceptibility of S. aureus to Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Piperacillin and Amikacin, of P. aeruginosa to Ofloxacin and Amikacin, and of E. coli to Ciprofloxacin and Piperacillin was noticed after simultaneous exposure of the bacteria to electric current and antibiotics.