Abstract
Contamination of drugs by microorganisms may arise during manufacturing, storage or use by the consumers, and can ultimately result in several undesirable consequences. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of microbial contaminants from commonly administered drugs sold in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) drug samples comprising 80 samples each from tablets, syrups and ointments were sourced from various outlets and analyzed using aseptic standard culture, and serological methods. The result indicates that 13.75% of the samples were contaminated. The prevalence of microorganisms isolated among the drugs types include 17(21.25%), 11(13.58%), and 5(6.25%) for tablets, syrups and ointments respectively. The prevalence of bacterial species isolated from the drugs samples include Escherichia coli (4.58%), Staphylococcus aureus (3.33%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.08%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.25%), while fungal species include Aspergilus flavus (1.66%) and Aspergilus niger (0.83%). Escherichia coli isolated showed resistance to gentamycin 5(45.50%) and septrin 3(27.30%), while Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed resistance to septrin 2(25.00%) and erythromycin 2(25.00%). The pathogenic and opportunistic pathogens isolated in this study pose a threat to drugs users especially immuno-compromised individuals and public health management because the source may not be suspected. Some of the isolates demonstrate multi-drugs resistance to the antibiotics tested. Periodical examination of drugs and antibiogram should be carried out in other to reduce the risk of infections associated with drugs contamination.
Highlights
Drugs are used in different ways in the prevention and treatment of diseases and contamination of pharmaceuticals by microorganisms
Samples collection A total of 240 drug samples comprising of tablets (80), syrups (80) and ointments (80) were collected from hawkers (120) and pharmacy stores (120) in Lafia Metropolis in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The prevalence of microorganisms isolated from various types is presented in figure 1 below, E. coli 6.25%, and S. aureus 6.25%, have the highest level of occurrence in tablets and syrups respectively
Summary
Drugs are used in different ways in the prevention and treatment of diseases and contamination of pharmaceuticals by microorganisms. Irrespective whether they are harmful or non-pathogenic, they can bring about changes in physicochemical characteristics of the drugs [1]. The presence of microorganisms in drugs may lead to undesirable bacterial infections and the presence of microbial metabolites/toxins may cause serious infections even if they are present in minute amounts. Some of these toxin – related diseases include diarrhea, acute gastroenteritis or abdominal pain [1, 5]. Several hospitals acquired and some outpatient acquired infections, pneumonia, are assigned to Corresponding author: Joseph Fuh Nfongeh
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