In vitro antimicrobial activity of the leaves of KAT-SE-NAE Plant (Urena lobata Linn) against some strains of micro-organisms causing skin infections.

The objective of the study was to evaluate scientifi cally the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of leaves of Kat-Se-Nae plant (Urena lobata Linn). Dried powder of the leaves of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) was obtained by extracting with water, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. Screening for antimicrobial activity of all the extracts were done by Agar Disc Diffusion Technique on seven control strains: Escherichia coli (0157) and American Type Culture Collections (ATCC): Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans which are common causal agents for skin infections. Ciprofl oxacin and Norfl oxacin were used as control antibiotics. Petroleum ether extract showed small zone of inhibition on Escherichia coli (0157) (11 ± 1.000 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (13 ± 1.732 mm) but no signifi cant activity on other tested organisms. Ethyl acetate extract showed signifi cant zone of inhibition (20 ± 2.000mm) against Staphylococcus aureus comparable to that of control drug (Ciprofl oxacin) (15 mm) but had no activity on other tested organisms. Watery extract had no antimicrobial activity on any of the tested organisms. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the active extracts already shown to have antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli (0157) was done by Tube Dilution Method. MIC of petroleum ether extract on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was more than 5 mg/mL and that of ethyl acetate extract on Staphylococcus aureus was more than 1.25 mg/mL. Acute toxicity studies of the watery extracts were performed by using the albino mice. The results indicated that there was no lethality up to 8 g/kg body weight. The phytochemical analysis of watery extracts and dried leaves powder of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) showed that they have alkaloid, steroid, saponin, tannin, carbohydrate, glycoside, reducing sugar, fl avonoid and amino acid, but lack of cyanogenic glycoside and polyphenol. Based on the above fi ndings, it can be concluded that ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Kat-Se-Nae (Urena lobata Linn) may have useful antimicrobial activity in skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Survival of Vibrio Cholerae 01 and 0139 strains in some foods of Yangon

The purpose of this study was to determine the survival of Vibrio cholerae 01 and 0139 in foods which are usually offered by street vendors in Yangon. Survival was tested at room temperature (28 degree C-34 degree C) and 4 degree C in melon, mohinga, lethoke and sugar cane juice samples by artifical contamination of food samples. Both Vibrio cholerae 01 and 0139 could survive up to 4 hours at room temperature and up to 24 hours at 4 degree C. The growth was obvious in lethoke and sugar cane juice samples and static in melon and Mohinga samples.

Survival of salmonella typhi in some cold drinks of Yangon

The study was carried out to obtain information about the survival of S. typhi in drinking waters and some cold drinks if it is contaminated. It was carried out from August 1997 to July 1998 in Bacteriology Research Division, Department of Medical Research. The samples were collected from South Okkalapa Township, Yangon. A total of 152 samples were studied. pH was measured in all samples by pH meter. One hundred ml or water and cold drink sample was contaminated with S. typhi to a final concentration of 10 to the power 5 colony forming unit per mI. Viable counts of S. typhi were determined by drop plate method as once daily until the viable counts were negative. S. typhi did riot survive in tested cold drinks, which have pH between 1.35 and 2.48. The contaminant survived up to 10,32 and 38 days in some cold drinks (pH between 2.52 and 3.55), sugar cane juice (pH 5.25), Jelly juice (pH 5.94) and drinking waters (pH between 6.6 and 7.1) respectively at 4 degree centigrade. In this study it was found that S. typhi survives in acidic cold drinks and also survives in cold drinking waters for a long period.

Salting and temperature effect on the occurrence of salmonella spp.in hen's and duck's eggs

The study was carried out for obtaining information on the isolation of Salmonella spp. from eggs in our community. We also investigated whether the changing of salting and temperature on eggs would alter the isolation rate of Salmonella spp. The study was conducted in Yangon from May to October, 1996. The eggs were collected from small markets, street vendors and farms and totally 210 eggs were tested in this study. The Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified by standard procedures. They were more isolated from hens' and ducks' egg samples which were bought from farms. They were isolated from samples which were stored for 7 days at room temperature (24degree C) and at 4C. They were not isolated from half-boiled egg and salted egg samples. From this study it was observed that it was safe to eat the eggs after cooking well.

Effect of various cleansing materials on decontamination of hands

In Myanmar, many people routinely use bar soaps such as Shwe-war and carbolic for hand washing. In this study the effectiveness of hand decontamination by using the natural products such as kin-mun-thee, neem leaves, ashes and locally available soap such as sand soap powder, kin-mun-thee soap, neem-seed-oil soap, Myingyan wooden soap and thet-thar detergent was observed. The study was carried out in the Bacteriology laboratory on 66 subjects from June to November 1996. The hand swabs were collected before and after hand washing with different cleansing materials and faecal coliform count was tested by using multiple tube method. Faecal coliform count was reduced in using carbolic, kin-mun-thee, neem-seed-oil and Myingyan wooden bar soap. It was also reduced when using the natural products such as sand soap powder, ashes from kitchen, liquid of boiled neem leaves and liquid of boiled kin-mun-thee.

Enteric bacterial contamination and chemical composition of Oral Rehydration salts packets in Yangon

In acute diarrhoea except bacillary dysentery and cholera WHO recommends fluid therapy other than antibiotics to replace dehydration. there is no information on the enteric bacterial contamination and chemical composition of ORS (oral rehydration salts) packets which are available in Yangon and thus this study was carried out. It was conducted in Yangon from December 1996 to July 1997. The packets were bought from markets, drug shops and general practitioner clinics. Each packet was dissolved in water which was first boiled and then cooled. Faecal coliform count (FCC) was determined on those solution by multiple tube method at 0,6 and 24 hour. Isolation of enteric bacterial pathogen was done by standard procedures. pH values, glucose, sodium and potassium concentrations were determined by standard methods. FCC was increased with longer duration of storage time. the enteric bacterial pathogens were not isolated from all types. pH value was acidic in solutions of "Royal D" and "Servidrat". Glucose concentration was higher and potassium concentration was lower in "Royal D" than ORS packets from Myanmar Pharmaceutical factory.

Giardia lamblia infection in children attending diarrhoeal unit of Yangon Children Hospital

A hospital-based study was conducted in Yangon from June to November 1994 to examine the importance of a protozoal pathogen Giardia lamblia as one of the causal organismsin acute diarrhoeal disease in children. This study was also carried out to observe the effectiveness of metronidazole on them. The stool samples were collected from diarrhoeal unit of Yangon Children Hospital. A total of 308 stool samples were examined. Giardia lamblia cysts (or) trophozoites were examined under ordinary microscope. If they were present in the stool, the patient was treated with metronidazole and the stool was rechecked again. The results were discussed in this study.

Vibrios from fishes and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern

The people of our community eat fishes and prawns as cooked ones. But, sometimes, we eat preserved fishes (ie: after saltling, souring or dryint). There are no reports on the types of vibrios that are prevalent inthe fishes and prawns of our food. The study was conducted in Yangon between September 1993 and June 1994. The fish samples including raw and preserved ones were bought from Pazundaung market in Yangon Division. A total of 144 samples were studied. Vibrio species were isolated from 24 percent (35 of 144 samples) of all fish samples. They were isolated more from sea than river fishes and also from raw than preserved samples of all fishes. V. cholerae non-01 were isolated more than V. fluvialis from all fish samples. All of the isolates were sensitive to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ampicillin and septrin.

Case-control study of risk factors for cholera in Yangon

A case-control study was conducted on 100 culture-confirmed cholera cases who were admitted to Yangon Infectious Diseases Hospital during 12 July to 11 October 1993 and their age-matched controls from their neighbourhood to determine the risk factors for cholera. V. cholerae 01, El Tor Ogawa, was isolated from the drinking water sample of one case-patient. A number of factors, including poultry farming, consumption of food and iced drinks from street vendors, drinking unboiled water and lack of hygenic habits were found to be significantly associated with cholera transmission.

Survival of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in natural waters of Yangon

Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the survival of V. cholerae and V. Parahaemolyticus in untreated and autoclaved samples of natural waters collected from different sources. Physico-chemical parameters of the natural waters were also examined as the turbidity, pH, hardness, dissolved solids, oxidizable organic matter, the chloride content, etc. The survival rates were found to very from 2 to 7 days for V. cholerae and from 30 minutes to 9 days for V. parahaemolyticus in raw natural waters. Both organisms survived for prolonged period in rever water that had been autoclaved.

Disinfectants efficacy on bacteria with the contaminants

The study was carried out to determine the effect of contaminants on the efficacy of routinely used disinfectants on bacteria and call on attention of hospital staff and medical care personnel for correct usage of disinfectants. Disinfectant efficacy of Hibitane, Osban, Ethanol, Isodine and Tego 51 on organisms such as P. aeruginosa, E. Cole, S. aureus and B. subtilis contaminated with organic substances such as human blood, egg white and animal oil were investigated. The disinfectant efficacy was also determined on clinical specimens. 70

Ethanol was totally ineffective on B. subtilis. Osban and Ethanol did not effect on P. aeruginosa, and B. subtilis when they were contaminated with the organic substances. Tego 51 was weak in the efficacy on sputum and urine specimens. Hibitane and Isodine were effective on tested organisms even when contaminated with organic substances and also on the clinical specimens.

Decontamination of vegetables by washing with natural water

In Myanmar raw vegetables are usually consumed after washing with water. The purpose of this is to determine the degree of decontamination of these vegetables after washing with different types of natural water. The samples of the vegetalbes from a local market in Yangon were collected and faecal coliforms (FC) were isolated from them using standard methods. FC counts ranged from 2.1 x 10 to 1.1 x 10(5)/gm of vegetables. The FC isolation rate was reduced by 1 log only after they were washed once with uncontaminated tap water (FCC = 0 MPN/100 ml). But, FC isolation rate of the coriander increased after washing with the contaminated pond and rever water. However, a significant reduction could be achieved after washing 3 times with uncontaminated tap water without washing hands and utensils with soap and reapective water. But after hands and utensils were washed properly, the isolation rate from vegetables was significantly reduced after washing twice. The use of contaminated water was not effective in decontaminating them.

Non-01 Vibrio cholerae isolation from flies, cooked children foods drinking water, currency notes and vegetables in Yangon

Non-01 V. cholerae isolation was done from flies, cooked children's food, drinking water, currency notes and vegetables in Yangon during 1984 to 1989. They were found in 45.7

of flies samples, 3.5

of cooked children's foods, 4.4

of drinking water samples, 5

of currency notes and 0.6

of vegetables samples. The strains of non-01 V. cholerae isolated from these sources shared identical biochemical reactions. They all were grown at both 37C and 42C and they were resistant to polymyxin B sulphate.