Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Triiodide [Na(12-Crown-4)2]I3 on the Pathogens Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans

New antibacterial agents are needed to overcome the increasing number of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains.  In this context, halogens, especially Iodine is known since ages for its antimicrobial activity. Therefore, especially triiodides encapsulated in organometallic complexes can be helpful as new agents against microorganisms. The aims of this work was to study the biological activity of [Na(12-Crown-4)2]I3 against gram positive Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, the spore forming bacteria Bacillus subtilis and gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as the yeast Candida albicans. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the triiodide were determined by zone of inhibition plate studies. [Na(12-Crown-4)2]I3 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity on gram positive Streptochocci and the yeast C. albicans. Furthermore, the gram negative bacteria P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae were less effectively inhibited, while E. coli and P. mirabilis proved to be even resistant.