BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF SOME VEGETABLES SOLD IN MAJOR MARKETS IN ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA

Consumption of vegetables contaminated with pathogens is a common source of infections. This study investigated bacterial contamination of vegetables sold in major markets in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Sixty samples comprising of 20 samples each of Brassica oleracea, Cochorus olitorius, andAmaranthus hybriduswere examined.Bacteriological procedures were followed in the isolation and identification of bacteria from culture media. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was done using the disk diffusion method.Sixty six bacteria were isolatedfrom 60 vegetable samples. Of these isolates, Salmonella spprecorded 43.3%, followed by Citrobacter freundii18.3%, Klebsiella spp15.0%, Enterobacter spp11.7%, Proteus sppand Alcaligenes spp5.0% each, Escherichiacoliand Providencia spp3.3% each and Vibrio spp1.7%. The prevalence of the isolates on 20 samples of Brassica oleraceadecreased in the order of Salmonella species55.0%, Citrobacter species20.0%, Alkaligenes species10%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus species, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilisand Providentia species5% each. The most frequent bacteria isolated on 20 samples of Cochorus olitoriuswas Salmonella species50.0%, followed by Citrobacter species15.0%. Vibro speciesand Alkaligenes speciesrecorded 5.0% each. Enterobacter speciesrecorded the highest frequency 30.0% on the 20 samples of Amaranthus hybridus, followed by Salmonella speciesand Klebsiella species25.0% each, Citrobacter species20.0%, Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Escherichia coli5.0% each. All isolates weresensitive to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin but resistant to augmentin, ampicillin and cefuroxime. It is essential to control the sources of vegetable contamination to minimize risk of infections especially in vegetables consumed ra

Zingiber officinale AND Andrographis paniculata INHIBITS SELECTED PATHOGENIC BACTERIA GROWTH

Background: The emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria in general practice has necessitated the search for other alternative and newer antibacterial agents that are mainly of natural sources. Previous studies have shown that Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Andrographis paniculata (king bitters) have several beneficial properties against pathogenic bacteria and other microbes and are being used locally.Aim: The antibacterial properties of Zingiber officinale and Andrographis paniculata extracts against selected clinical bacteria were evaluated in comparison to previous routine antibiotics.Materials and Methods: Different graded concentrations of solvents were used to extract the active components from the plant parts (0.05 g/ml, 0.1 g/ml and 0.2 g/ml and 0.4 g/ml) and subjected to antibacterial sensitivity test against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Results: The methanol and ethanol extracts of the two plants showed greater antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 0.4 g/ml with varying sensitivities and resistance of other bacteria recorded against the extracts and other antibiotics, while the aqueous extracts of both plants generally had no significant inhibitory activity against the tested bacteria.Conclusion: The methanol and ethanol extracts of ginger and king of bitters plants may therefore be a promising and safe bioactive antimicrobial alternative against the multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in wounds and skin infections

Bacterial contamination of some vegetables sold in major markets in Adoekiti, Nigeria

Consumption of vegetables contaminated with pathogens is a common source of infections. This study investigated bacterial contamination of vegetables sold in major markets in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Sixty samples comprising of 20 samples each of Brassica oleracea, Cochorus olitorius, and Amaranthus hybridus were examined. Bacteriological procedures were followed in the isolation and identification of bacteria from culture media. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was done using the disk diffusion method. Sixty six bacteria were isolated from 60 vegetable samples. Of these isolates, Salmonella spp recorded 43.3%, followed by Citrobacter freundii 18.3%, Klebsiella spp 15.0%, Enterobacter spp 11.7%, Proteus spp and Alcaligenes spp 5.0% each, Escherichia coli and Providencia spp 3.3% each and Vibrio spp 1.7%. The prevalence of the isolates on 20 samples of Brassica oleracea decreased in the order of Salmonella species 55.0%, Citrobacter species 20.0%, Alkaligenes species 10%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ..