Antimicrobial Activity of Carica Papaya (Pawpaw Leaf) on Some Pathogenic Organisms of Clinical Origin from South-Western Nigeria

The bioactive compound of leaf and root extracts of Carica papaya was extracted, using water and organic solvents, and were investigated for antibacterial activity against some human pathogenic bacteria using the agar diffusion method. The aqueous extracts of the root extracts did not show significant activity, but the organic extracts had significant activity with the methanol extracts demonstrating the highest activity against the test bacteria. The root extracts demonstrated higher activities against all the gram-positive bacteria than the gram-negative bacteria tested, with the highest activity (14 mm zone of inhibition) demonstrated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa while the aqueous leaf extract showed pronounced inhibition demonstrating higher activities against the test bacteria than the organic solvents. The extracts demonstrated higher activities against all the gram-positive bacteria than the gram-negative bacteria tested, with the highest activity (4.2 mm zone of inhibition) demonstrated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Increase in temperature enhanced the activity of the extracts, while alkaline pH decreased the activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the root extracts ranged between 50-200 mg/ml. Preliminary phytochemical analyses showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and phenols. Carica papaya may be used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, uretritis, otitis media and wound infections

Antibacterial activity of Jatropha curcas against Isolates of Clinical Origin

The antibacterial activities of ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of Jatropha curcas leaves were observed in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was analyzed using agar well diffusion method. The pattern of zone of inhibition varied with different plant extract, the solvent used, and the organism tested.  The antibacterial activities of the methanolic extract were significantly higher (p<0.05) and the most susceptible organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the lowest concentration. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) exhibited by Pseudomonasaeruginosa in the ethanolic extract and aqueous extract was 5mg/ml and 75mg/ml respectively. Jatropha curcas proved to be effective over the use of antibiotics by inhibiting the activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which was resistant when tested with standard antibiotics. The antibacterial activity of the extract could be enhanced if the components are purified. This plant therefore holds a promise as a potential source of new drug for treating infections caused by these clinical pathogens

Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae among In-Patients of Tertiary Hospitals in Southwest, Nigeria

The study assessed the incidence and risk factor associated with the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) among hospitalized patients at three tertiary hospitals in Southwest, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was performed over a six-month surveillance period in the locations with a total of 300 blood and urine samples. A structured close-ended questionnaire was also administered to all subjects for review of demographics and potential risk factors. Fifty-nine isolates belonging to genera Escherichia (52.5%), Enterobacter (23.8%), Klebsiella (10.2%) and Proteus (13.6%) were isolated. All the isolates were multi-drug resistant with a notable resistance (100%) to cephalosporins and significant sensitivity to nitrofurantoin. A total of 23 isolates including Escherichia coli (n = 8), Enterobacter aerogenes (n = 9), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1) and Proteus mirabilis (n = 5) exhibited resistance to one or both of imipenem and meropenem. The overall incidence of CRE in the three locations at the time of study was 7.7%. Age (p = 0.01) and exposure to invasive devices were significant risk factors for CRE colonization. Although at low incidence, the occurrence of CRE among this group calls for active monitoring because of its implication fatality of infections as well as the propensity to spread

Prevalence of Hospital Acquired Infections in The Intensive Care Unit of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin Nigeria

Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are defined as infections whichdevelop 48 hours after hospital admission or within 48 hours after being discharged. This study investigates the prevalence rate of HAIs and the risk factors involved in Ilorin Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 adult patients andenvironmental swabs were collected from ICU. Socio-Demographic characteristics of the subjects were obtained using closed ended structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 package.Results: The study revealed 12% prevalence of HAI in the ICU. Risk factors were found to be statistically significant for the patients that used central vein cannula (p=0.000). The use of other devices such as peripheral vein cannula (p=0.594), mechanical ventilation (p=0.756), endotracheal intubation (p=0.378) in this study was found to be statistically not significant. Length of hospital stay (p=0.266), surgical operation (p=0.510) and associated medical diseases (p=0.314) were also considered not significant in association with HAIs.Conclusions: The use of invasive devices contributes to the development of HAIs in ICU patients and adequate preventive measures should be employed in the ICU to reduce the problem caused by HAIs.Keywords: Central vein cannula, ICU and HAI

Bioactivity of leaf and bark extractives of Prosopis africana (Guill., Perrott. and Rich.) Taub. against some multidrug-resistant microbes

470-481The aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic and n-Hexane leaf and bark of P. africana extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against five clinical pathogens: Acinetobacter baumanii, Escherichia coli 25922, Escherichia coli ESBL, Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans ELI. Antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out using the agar well diffusion method at a stock and varying concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/mL. Results indicated that n-hexane leaf and bark extracts could not inhibit the organisms. Aqueous leaf extracts inhibited A. baumanii, MRSA, E. coli ESBL and E. coli 25922, while aqueous bark extract inhibited A. baumanii, MRSA, E. coli 25922, C. albicans ELI. Methanolic leaf extracts inhibited A. baumanii, MRSA, E. coli ESBL, while Methanolic bark extracts inhibited A. baumanii, MRSA, E. coli ESBL, E. coli 25922, C. albicans ELI. Ethanolic bark extracts inhibited A. baumanii, MRSA, E. coli ESBL, E. coli 25922, C. albicans ELI. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the extracts for leaf and bark ranged from 1500 mg/mL – 23.43 mg/mL. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration was observed in aqueous leaf extracts against E. coli 25922 at 1500 concentration. Antibiotics susceptibility test indicated multidrug resistance by the test organisms with only Ofloxacin, Gentamycin, Ceftazidime and Nitrofurantoin eliciting inhibitory activity against A. baumanii, E. coli ESBL and E. coli 25922, respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that P. africana leaf and bark extractives contained beneficial phytochemicals responsible for their high bioactivity against the selected clinical isolates

Antibacterial activity of Jatropha curcas against Isolates of Clinical Origin

The antibacterial activities of ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of Jatropha curcas leaves were observed in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was analyzed using agar well diffusion method. The pattern of zone of inhibition varied with different plant extract, the solvent used, and the organism tested.  The antibacterial activities of the methanolic extract were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) and the most susceptible organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the lowest concentration. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) exhibited by Pseudomonasaeruginosa in the ethanolic extract and aqueous extract was 5mg/ml and 75mg/ml respectively. Jatropha curcas proved to be effective over the use of antibiotics by inhibiting the activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which was resistant when tested with standard antibiotics. The antibacterial activity of the extract could be enhanced if the components are purified. This plant therefore holds a promise as a potential source of new drug for treating infections caused by these clinical pathogens

Antimicrobial Activity of Some Synthetic Compounds on Fungi Associated with Post Harvest Rot of Red Pepper (Capsicum annum)

Rhizopus sp, Mucor sp, Collectotrichum capsici and Geotrichum candidum were isolated but pathogenic test revealed that Collectotrichum capsici and Geotrichum candidum were the most pathogenic of all the isolates. Ni2+ + Azo has the highest inhibitory effect, closely followed by Ni2+ + PAN while Copper (II) complex of Thiourea has the lowest inhibitory effect. However, 10mg/ml concentration proved to be the most effective when radial mycelial growth of the test fungi was measured. The inhibitory effects of each complex on the isolates increases with increase in incubation period. There is the feasibility of using synthetic &#13; associated with the symptoms. The three synthetic compounds, Copper (II) complex of Thiourea, Ni2+ + compounds as preservatives for harvested red pepper

Antimicrobial Activities of Bryophyllum pinnatum on Some Selected Clinical Isolates.

Ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum obtained through cold maceration, were screened for their antibacterial activities against selected multi-drug resistant bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar well diffusion method. Broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts at concentrations ranging from 100mg/ml to 25mg/ml. The ethanol extract was the most reactive while the aqueous extract showed lesser antibacterial activity. Ofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic in the antibiotic susceptibility profiling of the test organisms. It was however evident that the ethanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum has higher antibacterial efficacy on the test organisms than Ofloxacin. Bacteriostatic and -cidal activities were exhibited by the plant extracts against the organisms ranging from 25 – 100 × 103 μg/ml. Succinctly, Bryophyllum pinnatum possesses biologically active constituents with explorable pharmacological potentials. Keywords: Antimicrobial, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Extraction solvents, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentratio