Antibiogram of microbial pathogens isolated from drugs sold within Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Contamination of drugs by microorganisms may arise during manufacturing, storage or use by the consumers, and can ultimately result in several undesirable consequences. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of microbial contaminants from commonly administered drugs sold in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) drug samples comprising 80 samples each from tablets, syrups and ointments were sourced from various outlets and analyzed using aseptic standard culture, and serological methods. The result indicates that 13.75% of the samples were contaminated. The prevalence of microorganisms isolated among the drugs types include 17(21.25%), 11(13.58%), and 5(6.25%) for tablets, syrups and ointments respectively. The prevalence of bacterial species isolated from the drugs samples include Escherichia coli (4.58%), Staphylococcus aureus (3.33%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.08%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.25%), while fungal species include Aspergilus flavus (1.66%) and Aspergilus niger (0.83%).  Escherichia coli isolated showed resistance to gentamycin 5(45.50%) and septrin 3(27.30%), while Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed resistance to septrin 2(25.00%) and erythromycin 2(25.00%). The pathogenic and opportunistic pathogens isolated in this study pose a threat to drugs users especially immuno-compromised individuals and public health management because the source may not be suspected. Some of the isolates demonstrate multi-drugs resistance to the antibiotics tested. Periodical examination of drugs and antibiogram should be carried out in other to reduce the risk of infections associated with drugs contamination.