ABSTRACT
Recently, antibiotic resistance has increased the development of various multidrug-resistant strains resulting in more morbidity and mortality. Alternative approaches can be used to continue treating antibiotic-resistant infections. One of the alternative approaches that has been explored recently is the use of phytochemicals to improve the potential of main-course antibiotics. Essential oils have been reported for their additive, synergistic, and antagonistic interactions with antibiotics. Thus, careful selection is required to prepare a safe and effective blend against microbial infection. The interaction of essential oils, mainly their chemical components, with respective antibiotics must be understood before use in clinical applications. This chapter emphasizes the antibacterial activity of EOs and their interactions with antibiotics, respective mechanisms of action of EOs, and antibiotics against pathogenic microorganisms.
