Eight drugs on sale in five community pharmacies in parts of Lagos State were evaluated for microbial quality using standard procedures. A total of 40 samples were screened and 24 bacteria isolates, comprising 12 cocci and 12 bacilli were isolated. The cocci comprise 9 staphylococci and 3 micrococci while the bacilli constitute of 10 Bacillus species and 2 clostidia. Fungal isolates included Saccahromyces species, filamentous fungi; Aspergillus,Penicillium, and Microspora mostly from tablets in the multidose pack. Total bacterial counts for tablets in multidose and blister packs ranged from 1.0 × 10² to 9.0 × 10² CFU/g and 0 to 2 CFU/g respectively. Total yeast counts for tablets in multidose packs ranged from 1.4 × 10² to 9.0 ×10² while those of blister packs were between 0 to 6 CFU/g. Higher values of both the bacterial and fungal counts were obtained from drugs in multidose packs including ascorbic acid, paracetamol, gelucil, folic acid and multivitamin. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that the Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole but resistant to other antibiotics tested, indicating a common source contamination.

Key words: Microbial quality, non-sterile, pharmaceutical products.