Abstract
The effect of chloroquine phosphate on the pharmacodyanmic activity of ampicillin trihydrate against Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 was investigated using physicochemical and microbiological assay techniques. The physicochemical method was thin layer chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry in a condition simulating normal body temperature and pH. The microbiological assay compared the zones of inhibition of S. aureus NCTC 6571 by ampicillin trihydrate alone and in combination with chloroquine phosphate using the agar diffusion method. The kill kinetics was determined to give a dynamic assessment of the bactericidal activity of ampicilin trihydrate alone and in combination with chloroquine phosphate at various concentrations. The results showed that the zone of inhibition of S. aureus NCTC 6571 by ampicillin trihydrate in the presence of chloroquine was smaller than that produced by ampicillin alone. The kill kinetics revealed a significant increase in the percentage survivor of the organisms in the presence of chloroquine than with ampicillin alone. The results of the study suggest that there is no chemical interaction between the two drugs in vitro however, an antagonistic pharmacodynamic interaction exists between ampicilin trihydrate and chloroquine phosphate in vitro on S. aureus NCTC 6571. Key words: Ampicillin trihydrate, chloroquine phosphate, drug-drug interaction, antagonism, antimalarial, antibiotic.
Highlights
Malaria amongst other protozoa infections is a major parasitic disease in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Breman, 2001)
Chloroquine phosphate powder, a white, odourless, hygroscopic crystalline powder was obtained from Bond Chemical Industry, Aawe, Oyo State, Nigeria while Ampicillin trihydrate powder, a white, odourless, crystalline powder was purchased from Sigma Aldrich
The result of the thin layer chromatography of each of the drug samples is presented in Table 1 while the ultraviolet spectra are presented in Figures 1 and 2, respectively
Summary
Malaria amongst other protozoa infections is a major parasitic disease in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Breman, 2001) It constitutes a major health hazard causing a high mortality and morbidity among children and pregnant women in the region (Snow et al, 2005). An important symptom of these infections is fever and in some cases they are found co-occurring together (Akpede and Sykes, 1993; Berkley et al, 1999; Ayoola et al, 2005; Okunlola et al, 2012) This probable co-occurrence and presentation of fever as symptom in both cases makes physicians to treat malaria and bacterial infections in patients presenting with fever with or without diarrhoea or respiratory tract infections. A common feature in the prescription from most physicians’ desk is antimalarials with antimicrobials for the treatment of per-
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
