The Effect of Chitosan as an Antimicrobial Agent

This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of chitosan nanoparticles against Proteus mirabilis, which is the primary cause of urinary tract infection. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesised, which are 10–65 nm in size, exhibiting a spherical morphology. Characterisation techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), confirmed their properties. One hundred urine samples were collected from patients at Al-Hindiya Teaching Hospital, Karbala, Iraq, between February and April 2024. Out of these, 63 were positive for Proteus mirabilis, which were confirmed through PCR detection of the ureR gene. Antimicrobial activity of chitosan nanoparticles was evaluated at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 mg/ml, with inhibition zones ranging from 10 mm to 18 mm. These results implied that chitosan nanoparticles may be effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics.