The antimicrobial activities of some commonly used disinfectants on Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans

The disinfectants; SavlonR, JikR, Methylated spirit and kerosene were observed for their inhibitory activities on Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. This was done bymeasuring the zone of inhibition of the disinfectants on the tested organisms. The results showed that Savlon was very effective at 100% concentration, as it inhibits the growth of P. aeruginosa and B.subtilis to the level of 47 and 58 mm, respectively. However, there was no inhibitory activity on C. albicans at this concentration. At 6.25% concentration, it had remarkable antimicrobial activity on theseorganisms with 10 and 16 mm levels of inhibition respectively. Jik at 100% concentration inhibits the growth of P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and C. albicans to a level of 17, 15 and 18 mm, respectively. Afterdilution to 50% concentration, its inhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis reduced to a level of 15 and 4 mm, respectively, and there was no inhibition on C. albicans. Methylated spirit showedinhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and C. albicans to a level of 20, 22 and 21 mm, respectively. Dilution of methylated spirit had no inhibition on the organisms. Kerosene was only effective on C. albicans with 69 mm zone of inhibition at 100% concentration. The study showed that Methylated spirit and Jik have inhibitory activities on both fungi and bacteria, while kerosene had only but better antifungal activity and Savlon had only antibacterial activity

The mutagenic potentials of potassium bromate and some commonly used food additives

Food additives are substances added to preserve flavour or improve the taste and appearance of food. The continuous consumption of these food additives could be hazardous to human health. Food additives including sodium bicarbonate, sodium benzoate, ammonium bicarbonate and potassium bromate were subjected to the Ames Spot Forward Mutation Assay using Escherichia coli. The mutant strains of the organism were examined in the presence or absence of rat liver metabolizing enzymes. The result showed that sodium bicarbonate, sodium benzoate and ammonium bicarbonate produced no mutant strain of the organism and no alteration in the phenotypic characteristics of the organism as compared with potassium bromate and the standard mutagen – ethidium bromide, which produced mutant strains of the organism and altered the phenotypic characteristics of the organism. This revealed that potassium bromate is mutagenic in bacteria and could be said to possess carcinogenic potentials

Plasmid profile of multi antibiotic resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from diabetic wounds from patients at Nsukka, South-eastern, Nigeria

Multi-drug resistant bacterial strains evolving worldwide has created a great public health problem that needs urgent attention; as such bacteria show resistance to the drug of choice for treatment as well as being resistant to newer and last line antibiotics. In this study, the antibiotic susceptibility, multi antibiotic resistance (MAR) index and plasmid profile of MDR Staphylococcus aureus isolated from diabetic wounds of patients presenting at Renaissance hospital Nsukka, Southeast, Nigeria were investigated. Using basic bacteriological and biochemical techniques, S. aureus was isolated from all 34 specimens and 19 of these showed multi-drug resistances to most of the commonly prescribed antibiotics in the region, with methicillin and vancomycin inclusive. The 19 MDR isolates were screened for the presence of plasmids as well as calculating the multi-antibiotic resistance (MAR) index. The results show the presence of plasmids in 18 (94.73%) of the specimens; while there was no plasmid in one. The plasmids varied in the range of their molecular sizes and nine different plasmid profile groups were identified ranging between 4946 (bp) to 12130 (bp). For the 19 MDR isolates, the calculated MAR index was greater than 0.2. The findings from this study show that 56% of the isolated S. aureus were not susceptible to current antibiotics. This could suggest an imminent change in resistant pattern as observed, particularly in an area already reported as high antibiotic use.  Keyword: Staphylococcus aureus, susceptibility, antibiotic resistance, plasmids, diabetic wound.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(43) 4148-415

Investigating the Idoho oil spillage into Lagos: Some confounding health factors

Study aim: As part of an ongoing study of the impact of the Mobil Oil spillage from the Idoho terminal, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria on the coastline dwellers of Lagos, another state of the country, we investigated the report of gastrointestinal symptoms and some peculiarities which may influence the outcome of such study. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted on 17,240 and 1706 residents from 3 exposed and 3 control communities respectively with the use of questionnaires containing demographic data and symptoms checklist. Visits to health facilities were noted. Further verification of results was by oral interview and medical examination for subjects who reported oil related symptoms in Local government areas that were initially classified as unexposed. Main result: The number of residents who reported vomiting was statistically greater in the exposed group (odds ratio 21.38, 95% CI:9.85-49,

Comparative efficacy of dihydroartemisinin, chloroquine and combination of dihydroartemisinin and chloroquine or mefloquine in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

Comparative efficacy of dihydroartemisinin alone, chloroquine alone, combination of dihydroartemisinin plus mefloquine and combination of dihydroartemisinin plus chloroquine was evaluated in mice. Parasite clearance time was very short in mice treated with dihydroartemisinin alone mean ± SD PCT was (1.64- ± 0.50 days). This was followed by combination of dihydroartemisinin with mefloquine (2.73 ± 0.47), Then combination of dihydroartemisinin with chloroquine (2.84 ± 0.50). The mice that were treated with chloroquine alone had PCT of 4.0 ± 2.32. There was significant difference between the dihydroartemisinin group and the chloroquine group (