-acetylcysteine prevents catheter occlusion and inflammation in catheter associated-urinary tract infections by suppressing urease activity.

Introduction: is a key pathobiont in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs), which is well known to form crystalline biofilms that occlude catheters. Urease activity alkylates urine through the release of ammonia, consequentially resulting in higher levels of Mg and Ca and formation of crystals. In this study, we showed that -acetyl cysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant, is a potent urease inhibitor that prevents crystalline biofilm formation.

N-Acetylcysteine Protects Bladder Epithelial Cells from Bacterial Invasion and Displays Antibiofilm Activity against Urinary Tract Bacterial Pathogens.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect more than 150 million individuals annually. A strong correlation exists between bladder epithelia invasion by uropathogenic bacteria and patients with recurrent UTIs. Intracellular bacteria often recolonise epithelial cells post-antibiotic treatment.

Disruption of biofilms and killing of Burkholderia cenocepacia from cystic fibrosis lung using an antioxidant-antibiotic combination therapy.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The resulting chloride and bicarbonate imbalance produces a thick, static lung mucus. This mucus is not easily expelled from the lung and can be colonised by bacteria, leading to biofilm formation.

The effect of N-acetylcysteine in a combined antibiofilm treatment against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: The WHO declared Staphylococcus aureus as a 'pathogen of high importance' in 2017. One-fifth of all bloodstream-related infections in Australia and 12 000 cases of bacteraemia in the UK (2017-18) were caused by the MRSA variant. To address the need for novel therapies, we investigated several permutations of an innovative combination therapy containing N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antibiotic and an enzyme of choice in eradicating MRSA and MSSA biofilms.

Conditions Under Which Glutathione Disrupts the Biofilms and Improves Antibiotic Efficacy of Both ESKAPE and Non-ESKAPE Species.

Bacterial antibiotic resistance has increased in recent decades, raising concerns in hospital and community settings. Novel, innovative strategies are needed to eradicate bacteria, particularly within biofilms, and diminish the likelihood of recurrence. In this study, we investigated whether glutathione (GSH) can act as a biofilm disruptor, and enhance antibiotic effectiveness against various bacterial pathogens.