Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern and Beta-lactamase Production in Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Recurrent Furunculosis in Southwestern; Nigeria

Furuculosis is a skin infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is characterised by honey crusted 'cropped' latent boil with potential to recur in a susceptible host. Isolates of S.aureus obtained from both hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients with furuncles in Southwest; Nigeria were characterised in relation to their resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents. Exudates of 'cropped-boils' from one hundred and forty (140) individuals consisting of forty (40) hospitalised and one hundred (100) non-hospitalised cases of recurrent furunculosis were screened for S. aureus. One hundred and two (102) were positive for the organism by conventional biochemical tests. Detection of ?-Iactamase was determined by cell-suspension iodometric method. Of the 102 isolates; 30(29.4) strains possessed ?-lactamase and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of selected antibiotics was in the range of 3.95- 250?g/ml. The multiple drug resistance as evident in high MICs of the antibiotics tested could probably be due to abuse/misuse of antibiotics resulting in recurrence of furuncles in the patients

Pharmaceutical Equivalence of Some Commercial Samples of Artesunate and Amodiaquine Tablets Sold in Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose: To study the physical properties and dissolution profiles of commercial samples of artesunate and amodiaquine tablets. Methods: Fifteen generic brands of artesunate and five generic brands of amodiaquine tablets were obtained from drug retail outlets in Oyo and Ogun States in southwestern Nigeria. The tablets were subjected to various compendial tests including identification; weight uniformity; uniformity of content; content of active ingredient and uniformity of diameter. Additional tests used as a basis for the assessment of the pharmaceutical equivalence of the products include hardness; disintegration time and dissolution rate. Data obtained were analysed by correlation analysis; Chi-square and ANOVA. Results: Thirteen generic brands of artesunate (87) and four amodiaquine brands (80) investigated were imported. Two brands of the imported artesunate brands were found to contain undetectable amount of artesunate while another 8 samples contained overages. All the amodiaquine brands passed the assay test as stipulated by United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) for amodiaquine tablets while tablet disintegration time of amodiaquine products ranged from 5.8 - 20.7 min. All but one artesunate sample passed the disintegration test too. A majority of the artesunate brands tested had significantly different dissolution profiles (p 0.05). Four (80) of the amodiaquine tablet brands tested had similar dissolution profiles and percent drug released within 30 min (p 0.05). One amodiaquine brand demonstrated poor dissolution profile as it did not meet minimum dissolution requirements within 30 min. Conclusion: The detection of substandard artesunate tablets and a poorly formulated amodiaquine tablet amongst the few sample brands studied highlights the need for increased drug surveillance and monitoring of the qualities of antimalarial medicines currently in use in order to prevent widespread treatment failure

Formulation of the Extract of the Stem Bark of Alstonia Boonei as Tablet Dosage Form

Purpose: To formulate the extracts of the stem bark of Alstonia boonei; an important antimalarial herb; into tablet dosage form. Methods: Tablets were formulated using direct compression and wet granulation methods. The mechanical properties of the tablets were assessed using crushing strength and friability and the crushing strength:friability ratio (CSFR) while drug release properties were evaluated using disintegration and dissolution times. Results: There were statistically significant (p0.01) differences in the CSFR values and drug release properties of A. boonei tablets prepared by both methods. The differences depended on the type and concentration of excipient and binder employed in the formulation. Conclusions: The method of preparation of the A. boonei tablets needs to be carefully selected to ensure the production of tablets with adequate bond strength to withstand the rigours of handling and at the same time release the active compound (s) for biological action

Comparative Analysis of Eight Brands of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Tablets

PURPOSE : The aim of the present study is to investigate the physicochemical equivalence of eight brands of tablets containing sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (antimalarial drug combination) sourced from different retail Pharmacy outlets in the Nigerian market. METHOD : The quality and physicochemical equivalence of eight different brands of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination tablets were assessed. The assessment included the evaluation of uniformity of weight; friability; crushing strength; disintegration and dissolution tests as well as chemical assay of the tablets. RESULTS : All the eight brands of the tablets passed the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) standards for uniformity of weight; disintegration and crushing strength. Three of the eight brands failed the friability test. One of the brands did not comply with the standard assay of content of active ingredients while another brand did not comply with the USP specifications for dissolution test for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets. There were no significant differences in the amounts of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine released from the different brands (P greater than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Only three brands (registered by NAFDAC) out of the eight brands of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets that were analysed passed all the BP quality specifications and were physically and chemically equivalent. This study highlights the need for constant market monitoring of new products to ascertain their equivalency to the innovator product