Research Articles

2022  |  Vol: 8(3)  |  Issue: 3 (May- June)  |  https://doi.org/10.31024/ajpp.2022.8.3.4

Microbial load and O157:H7, cp5, cp8 Serotypes assessment of some non-sterile pharmaceutical drug types sold at major outlets in Lafia, Nigeria

Joseph Fuh Nfongeh^{1 ⃰}, Dauda Anoh Hashimu¹, Dantani Dauda Odonye¹, Adamu Abisabo², Aminu Kazeem Fauzeeyah², Abdullahi Shuaibu  Kabiru¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria

²National Biosafety Management Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

⃰ Address for Corresponding author:

Joseph Fuh Nfongeh

Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, PMB 146, Lafia, Nigeria

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Abstract

Objective: Non-sterile pharmaceutical products are usually subjected to unrestricted handling and are therefore potentially susceptible to postproduction contamination by microorganisms from both handlers and the environment. This study was carried out to determine the microbial quality of some commonly administered non-sterile drug types from hawkers and pharmacy outlets within Lafia Metropolis, Nigeria. Material and methods: A total of 240 samples (80 samples each of tablets, syrups and ointments) were purchased from pharmacies and hawkers’ outlets and the microbial load determined using the W.H.O Pharmacopoeia and serological methods. Results and conclusion: From this study, the mean Total Aerobic Bacterial Counts (TABC) and the Mean Total Yeast and Mold Counts (TYMC) had values higher than the W.H.O recommended levels for some syrups and tablets from both pharmacy and hawkers’ outlets. The difference in the values among the various outlets and between the drug types were statistically significant at p<0.05. Results of immunoassay indicated that E. coli was isolated from 23/120 (19.17%) hawkers’ drugs among which 1/23 (4.35%) was the O157:H7serotype. Similarly, 17/120 (14.17%) hawkers’ drugs had Staphylococcus aureus among which 8/17(47.06%) and 6/17(35.27%) were cp5 and cp8 serotypes respectively while 3/17(17.65%) had no capsular antigen (cp-). These values were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those obtained from pharmacy outlets. The microbial qualities of most of the pharmacy products were in accordance with International Pharmacopoeia while some, especially the tablets and syrups from hawkers, exceeded the recommended acceptance limit and might be of health risks to consumers.  

Keywords: Microbial load, Non-sterile pharmaceuticals, hawkers, pharmacies, Nigeria