Authors : C.N. Ob and U. Nwannunu
Abstract: Six different types of drug tablets dispensed from containers in selected hospitals, community pharmacies and patent medicine stores were investigated for their microbial loads. Bacteria isolated include Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci sp. and Escherichia coli, while the fungal isolates include Microsporum, Asperigillus, Trichophyton, Epidermatophyton and Penicillum sp. Results showed that samples collected from hospitals had the lowest microbial load compared to samples collected from community pharmacies and patent medicine stores. Drug samples from Hospital A had the highest Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THBC) of 3.0x105 cfu mL-1, while Hospital B had the highest coliform count of 2.1x105 cfu mL-1. Pharmacy B had the highest THBC of 4.8x105 cfu mL-1, while Pharmacies B and C had the highest coliform count of 3.0x105 cfu mL-1, respectively. Patent Medicine Store D had the highest THBC of 5.7x105 cfu mL-1, while Patent Medicine Store B and D had the highest coliform counts of 3.0x105 cfu mL-1, respectively. The tablets analyses had high microbial loads, thus drug dispensers in hospitals, pharmacies and patent medicine stores should observe strict hygienic rules to reduce or eliminate contamination of the unsealed tablets given to the patients.
C.N. Ob and U. Nwannunu, 2010. Microbiological Analyses of Drug Tablets from SelectedOutlets in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Pharmacology, 4: 31-37.