Antimicrobial effects of topical skin cream containing natural oil mixtures against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of a topical skin cream containing a mixture of emu oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and tea tree oil against the canine skin pathogens Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis. Three S. pseudintermedius isolates from dogs and a type strain of M. pachydermatis were used. Based on the standards of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) were determined. In addition, microbial inactivation time was determined for both pathogens. The MICs against S. pseudintermedius and M. pachydermatis were 0.23% and 0.63%, while the MBC/MFCs were 7.5% and 5%, respectively. In assessments of the microbial inactivation time, after 12 h of incubation with the cream, the growth of both pathogens was completely inhibited. These results suggest that the skin cream tested here can be used as a substitute for generally used antibiotic/antifungal agents.