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Joan Stephenson, PhD

JAMA. 2008;299(7):755.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

A naturally occurring chemical in the skin of amphibians may inhibit some multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria associated with nosocomial infection, according to new research reported by Italian investigators (Mangoni ML et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008;52[1]:85-91).

Previous research had found that amphibian skin is a rich source of antimicrobial peptides. In this study, the researchers tested 5 peptides from 3 frog and toad species for activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of bacteria often associated with hospital acquired infections (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Acinetobacter baumannii).

Peptides isolated from the skin of frogs may serve as models for developing antimicrobials for multidrug-resistant nosocomical infections. (Photo credit: Karel Broz/iStockphoto.com)

In vitro studies revealed that with few exceptions, all 5 of the peptides had bactericidal activity against these strains, but most of the peptides were almost completely inhibited . . . [Full Text of this Article]