African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12476

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the efficacies, potencies and bacteriological qualities of some of the antibiotics sold in Calabar, Nigeria

A. O. Nkang1,2, I. O. Okonko1,2*, J. A. Lennox3, O. D. Eyarefe4, M. J. Abubakar5, M. O. Ojezele6 E. T. Babalola7, T. A. Ogunnusi8,B. I. Onajobi9 andT. A. Amusan10
1Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2WHO Regional Reference Polio Laboratory, WHO Collaborative Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research, WHO National Reference Centre for Influenza, National Reference Laboratory for HIV Research and Diagnosis. 3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria 4Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 5Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger, Nigeria. 6Department of Nursing Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 7Department of Microbiology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria. 8Department of Biological Sciences, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. 9Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 10Medical Laboratory Unit, Department of Health Services, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 April 2010
  •  Published: 11 October 2010

Abstract

In this study, an assessment of the efficacies, potencies and qualities of 11 brands of 5 different antibiotics including 3 brands of ampiclox and 2 brands each ofciprofolxacin, gentamicin, rifampicin and tetracylcine sold in Calabar, South-South region of Nigeria was carried out using the agar diffusion technique (sensitivity testing). The efficacies, potencies and qualities of these antibiotics were tested against some clinical isolates which include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus andStreptococcus pyogenes in vitro. The overall mean zones of inhibition for the test organisms ranged from 33.0 – 34.7 mm, with 33 mm for E. coli, 20.9 mm for K. pneumoniae, 34.7 mm for P. aeruginosa, 31.4 mm for S. aureus and 17.6 mm for S. pyogenes. The result showed that 3 (60%) of the antibiotics (alaclox, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin) tested showed lower potency against the test organisms compared with the standard controls. Alaclox produced significantly (P < 0.05) lower zones of inhibition compared to the other brands of ampiclox (superclox and vitaclox) on Saureus and Spyogenes. However, significant differences (P = 0.007, P = 0.026, P = 0.050, P = 0.012) were observed between the zones of inhibition of the test antibiotics and standard controls for the 3 brands of ampiclox tested on all the test organisms except for K. pneumoniae. There were also significant differences (P = 0.038, P = 0.038, P = 0.049, P = 0.025, P = 0.032) between the zones of inhibition observed for ciprofloxacin and their standard controls. Both brands of rifampicin (vitals and medifampi) produced significantly (P = 0.020, P = 0.038) lower zones of inhibition on E. coli and S. pyogenes compared to their standard controls. Our result also showed there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the observed zones of inhibition and standard controls of the brands of gentamicin (richem) and tetracycline. These overall and mean potencies of the test antibiotics showed differences in their efficacies, potencies and qualities. This confirmed that some brands of ampiclox, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin antibiotics sold in Nigeria do not contain the acclaimed quantity of active ingredients to exert bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic effect on common pathogens.

 

Key words: Antibiotics, assessment, bacteriological quality, efficacy, potency, zones of inhibition.

Abbreviation

ICU, Intensive care unit; HAIs, healthcare associated infections;ESBL, extended beta-lactamase; NA, nutrient agar, MCA, MacConkey agar; MSA,mannitol salt agar; MICs, minimal inhibitory concentrations; GNB, Gram-negative bacilli; MDR, multidrug resistant; UTIs, urinary tract infections; GMP, good manufacturing practices.