In vitro antibacterial susceptibility of different brands of oral levofloxacin 250 mg tablet against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Antibiotics are not only used in morbidity but also help in prevention of infection. The irrational use of broad spectrum antibiotics is now increasing the resistance against pathogens. This present study has been carried out to evaluate the in-vitro antibacterial effect of levofloxacin against clinical isolates. According to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] guidelines, minimum inhibitory concentrations 90% [MIC90] of the levofloxacin tested were evaluated by an agar dilution method. Total 63 clinical isolates Staphylococcus aureus [n=34] and Escherichia coli [n=29] were collected from different hospitals at Karachi and were evaluated MIC90 of eleven different brands of levofloxacin tablet [250 mg]. Levofloxacin [Reference] was tested against E.coli standard [American Type Culture Collection] [ATCC=25922] with [MIC90; 0.03micro g/ml] and compared with different eleven brands of levofloxacin tablets 250mg [MIC90; 0.5micro g/ml -16.0micro g/ml]. Levofloxacin [Reference] sensitivity against S. aureus standard [ATCC=25923] is [MIC90; 0.12micro g/ml] and similarly when it was compared with same levofloxacin tablets [MIC90; 0.5-16.0micro g/ml]. It has been concluded by the present study, a large number of strains of bacteria have shown better bactericidal action of different brands of levofloxacin and nearly all commercialized drugs were appropriate for therapeutic use

Effect of solvent polarity on the extraction of components of pharmaceutical plastic containers

A study of the extraction of polymeric material and dyes from the pharmaceutical plastic containers using various organic solvents was conducted to evaluate the effect of polarity on the extraction process. The plastic containers used included semi-opaque, opaque, transparent and amber colored and the solvent used were acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, acetone, dichloroethane, chloroform and water. The determination of extractable material was carried out by gravimetric and spectrometric methods. The yield of extractable materials from containers in 60 h was 0.10-1.29% [w/w] and the first-order rate constant [kobs] for the extraction of polymeric material ranged from 0.52-1.50 × 10[-3]min[-1] and for the dyes 6.43- 6.74 x10[-3]min[-1]. The values of [kobs] were found to be an inverse function of solvent dielectric constant and decreased linearly with the solvent acceptor number. The extractable polymeric materials exhibited absorption in the 200-400 nm region and the dyes in the 300-500nm region. The rates of extraction of polymeric material and dyes from plastic containers were dependent on the solvent dielectric constant. The solvents of low polarity were more effective in the extraction of material indicating that the extracted material were of low polarity or have non-polar character. The dyes were soluble in acetone and chloroform. No plastic material was found to be extracted from the containers in aqueous solution

Analysis of amino acids by high performance liquid chromatography

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are considered as the key precursors for the formation of hormones and low molecular weight nitrogenous substances with biological importance. Since the analysis of amino acids has been carried out for both qualitative and quantitative purposes with an aim to study their levels in the plasma concentration, the quantitative determination, in particular, also helps in the diagnosis of different diseases associated with their deficiency. This review article deals with the determination of amino acids by chromatographic methods which include ion-exchange chromatography [IEC], high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography [RP-HPLC] and ultra-performance liquid chromatography [UPLC]. The review will also give an idea for the preparation of samples, derivatization methods for the analysis of amino acids [direct and indirect methods] and separation of amino acids by high performance liquid chromatographic technique

In vitro bactericidal activity of cefepime and cefpirome against clinical isolates at Karachi

Antibiotics not only support to alleviate the infections but also facilitate to avert the multiplication of microbes. Due to the irrational use of antibiotics, the resistance of antibiotics has been augmented which results may increase in morbidity and mortality with the span of time. World renowned regulatory bodies like Food and Drug Administration [FDA], Center of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], and World Health Organization [WHO] vigorously advocate the surveillance of the resistance of antibiotics. During the present study by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method 141 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus [n=47, 33.34%], Escherichia coli [n=54, 38.3%], Proteus species [n=26, 18.4%], and Klebsiella pneumoniae [n=14, 9.92%] are evaluated against cefepime and cefpirome which comes of fourth generation cephalosporin. It has been found that cefpirome has better bactericidal activity than cefepime against E. coli and K. pneumoniae while cefepime has been possessed better antibacterial activity against S. aureus and Proteus species which were isolated from respiratory tract infections, blood stream infection, intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Proteus species, and S. aureuswere 34.8%, 26.3%, 11.3%, and 37.7% resistance against cefepime respectively. S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Proteus species has shown 41.4%, 21.7%, 17.6%, and 8.9% resistance against cefpirome correspondingly.

Resistance pattern of clinical isolates involved in surgical site infections

Wound infections due to the incursion of microbes need to be averted or to heal the wounds by antibiotics. Antibiotics are not only aid in cure of infections but also help to prevent the flourishing and production of one or more species of microorganism, resultant in purulent discharge. This current study was carried out to evaluate the resistance pattern of clinical isolates from surgical site infections by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. A total of 257 clinical isolates were collected from different hospitals in Karachi and evaluated by using fifteen antibiotics belonging to different groups. Staphylococcus aureus [n=87], Escherichia coli [n=76], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [n=56], Proteus [n=21] and Klebsiella [n=17] species are the most common clinical isolates of surgical site infections. Among the semi-synthetic penicillins, ampicillin was found to be resistant to nearly all clinical isolates but amoxicillin was moderately sensitive to S. aureus. Combinations of semi-synthetic penicillins are more sensitive than the penicillin alone. Co-amoxiclave exhibits superior sensitivity to all the surgical infection isolates except Pseudomonas aeruginosa which showed 68.75% resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly resistant to cephalosporin except ceftraixone which showed 21.88% resistance. S. aureus was slightly responsive to cefazolin, cephradine, cefaclor, ceftizoxime, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone. E. coli, Gram-negative clinical isolate was showed 25% and 31.25% resistance to ceftriaxone and cefuroxime. In the Klebsiella species, 71.42% and 64.29% resistance to cefazolin and cefuroxime respectively, was observed. Aminoglycosides such as gentamycin and tobramycin were found to be more susceptible to all the clinical isolates. Quinolones like ofloxacin and enoxacin were showed good sensitivity to nearly all the clinical isolates. On the basis of the present study, it is recommended to adopt a rational use of antibiotics in prophylaxis and the utilization of a coordinated scheme of surgical wound inspections.

Prevalence and therapy of chronic obstructive disease in Karachi

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] has boon one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. The impact of COPD has been increasing socio-economically over time to make COPD an alarming condition for health associated professionals due to the severity of prevalence and its expensive treatment. Due to COPD, patients not only suffer from the illness as the financial costs associated with it

Objective: To determine the prevalence and the medication of COPD

Methods: The medical records of patients suffering from COPD were collected from different tertiary care hospitals in Karachi from June 2011 to May 2012 comprising of middle adulthood to mature aged patients

Results: Out of 1260 patients 174 [13.60 %] were suffered from COPD. Nearly all the patients of COPD were associated with co-morbidity like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, urinary tract infections, renal failure, pneumonia, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases. Ant-allergy, oxygen supply, intravenous and oral montilukast, atrovent and other nebulizers, cough syrups, inhalers, antibiotics, and other treatment were used for the treatment of COPD as directed by the world renowned guidelines for COPD

Conclusion: The prevalence of COPD is high and is detected through a standalone pulmonary function test [PFT] e.g Spirometry, or in conjugation with a clinical examination. In most oases the guidelines provide by the British Thoracic Society, Americans Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society are used to treat COPD

Levofloxacin: a broad spectrum potent antibiotic

Levofloxacin is a third generation· fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent with a broad spectrum activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and atypical pathogens. It shows its bactericidal activity by inhibiting topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. Levofloxacin has shown Strong antibacterial action against Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae. Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterobacter species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella species Klebsiella species Serratia species, Enterococcus species; Proteus. Species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus injluenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoea. Moreover, levofloxacin has shown antifungal activity against Chlamydia trachomatis it is also active against penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. It also possesses lethal effect on resistant mycobacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae causing tuberculosis and even Mycoplasma species of HIV infection. Levofloxacin is indicated in the treatment of urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection, biliary tract 'infection and other infection with clinical efficacy of 80-92%

Physicochemical, biochemical and antioxidant properties of ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid [Vitamin C] is an important micronutrient that plays as a redox cofactor and catalyst in biological system. It is particularly useful in the cure and prevention of scurvy. It was originally isolated from lemon, cabbage and peprica. Ascorbic acid is essential for collagen formation and metabolism of phenyl alanine, tyrosine and hydroxyphenyl alanine [dopa]. The minimum daily requirement of vitamin C in adult is 40-60 mg. In this review chemical structure, physicochemical characteristics, chemical stability, biochemical functions and antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid have been mentioned

Helicobacter pylori: a major causative organism for peptic ulcer and its eradication

Peptic ulcer is one of the most common diseases in the third world countries. This review illustrates the understanding of the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. The theories and concepts regarding the onset of peptic ulcer have changed by the discovery of Helicobacter pylori. The discovery of H pylori, which proved that it plays a major role in causing ulcer. It has also been reported that H pylori has a tendency to cause non-ulcer dyspepsia and gastric carcinoma. The unique features of H pylori play an important role in the diagnosis of this infection and the establishment of diagnostic procedures for its eradication. The ideal treatment for the peptic ulcer is to focus on the relief of the pain, healing of ulcer and delay in its reoccurrence. These treatments are targeted on the cytotoxic factors and also on the enhancement of the activity of cytoprotective factors

Influenza virus: infections and their treatment

Influenza virus is responsible for a number of pandemics. Its various subtypes have been identified such as HINI, H2N2, H3N2, H3N2v, etc. that is responsible for infections like swine and bird flu. WHO has confirmed the incidences of bird-human infections in people who had a record of close contact to poultry? Similarly, human to human transmission can also take place. Various drugs have been employed to guard against these infections but recently some drug resistant strains of influenza virus have also been identified. Therefore, vaccines are found to be the most reliable source for the prevention of such flu infections. However, the right use of antiviral medicines, vaccines and public health interventions can result in better progress against the viral disease

role of antiseptics in surgery

Surgical site infection [SSIs] are one of the most frequent causes of nosocomial infections which not only increase the stay in the hospitals but also burden the patient financially. Skin acts as a barrier in the invasion of microbes from environment but on injury, the major source of infections could be normal flora on the skin. Antiseptic agents [ASAs] are applied on the skin as well as on the mucous membrane of minimize the chances of infection. ASAs should have a prolonged action to be more beneficial. A number of factors are involved in the prevention of SSIs. It been established that the use of sterile antiseptics not only reduces the source of infections but also improves patient's condition. A number of ASAs alone or as admixtures are commercially available and provide complete or partial eradication of microbes. ASAs like alcohols, chlorohexadiene, iodine/iodophor, xylenol, triclosan and octenidine are still commonly used developed countries