Antimicrobial properties of Vernonia amygdalina on Escherichia coli and Proteus species isolated from urine samples: Potential antimicrobial alternative for urinary tract infection

Vernonia amygdalina is a member of the Asteraceae family and a shrub of 2-3m tall with a petiole leaf of about 6mm wide and naturally distributed in many parts of West Africa. It is reported to have several health benefits including antimicrobial efficacy. The study assessed the antimicrobial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. Of the 41 urine samples collected included in this research, 21 clinical samples (urine) were collected from Kwararafa Hospital Wukari while the remaining 20 samples were taken from students of Federal University Wukari. Standard microbiological techniques were employed in this investigation. Extracts of the leaves were made using Ethanol and aqueous procedures. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested using pathogenic isolates of Proteus species and Escherichia coli. It was observed that Escherichia coli were susceptible to both extracts of the leaf in high concentrations. The aqueous extract of the leaf shows moderate growth on the Proteus species but the ethanolic extract of the leaf presented significant antimicrobial activity on Proteus spp. This study has revealed greatly that extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in high concentration possess strong antimicrobial activities against the tested clinical isolates Proteus species and Escherichia coli with ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibiting greater antimicrobial significance against the tested clinical isolates compared to aqueous extracts of the leaves.

SEMEN BACTERIA FLORA OF RHODE ISLAND BREEDER COCKS IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

The semen used in this was collected from 77 Island Breeder cocks reared in battery cages under intensive management fro a farm in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria using back message procedure, 27 of 77 semen sample (35.1%) contained bacteria isolates.None of the sample grew fungi. Bac teria isolates obtained from the semen include:Escherichia, coli, staphylococcus, aureus, streplococcus faecalis, Proteus species and Klebsiella species. Seventy of the semen sample were negative for brucellosis but sevrn sample exhibited Brucella specie agglutinins using tube agglutination test and level of antibody titres are 61.5, 82.0 and 102.5 iu/ml respectively. The presence of agglutinin detected in this study is significant since brucellosis is of public health and significance. In addition, the presence of bateria contaminantsin semen should be viewed with seriouness. As a consequence, routine control of bateria in collected semen desirable. This study sought to identify the bateria flora and pathogens in semen collected from cocks and see how they be effectively reduced or destroyed in the interest of the efficient collection, preservation and delivery of highly fertile semen artificially. Areas for further investigation were highlighted.

Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern in Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Objectives: To identify the common bacterial pathogens responsible for infection in diabetic foot ulcer and their sensitivity pattern to different antibiotics. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from 24th June 2019 to 27th December 2019 at Services Institute of Medical Sciences Lahore. Specimens of discharge from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) were received from Diabetes Management Centre (DMC). Cultures were put up and bacteria isolated were identified by standard methods. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Samples from DFU of 50 patients were processed. Thirty-six (72%) samples were from males and 14(28%) were from females; mean age of patients was 53±9.5 years. Forty-nine (98%) patients had unsatisfactory glycemic control. Forty three (86%) samples were growth positive while 07(14%) were bacteriologically sterile. Monomicrobial infection was observed in 38 (76%) cases while polymicrobial infection was seen in 12 cases (24%). The most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus 14(28%), Pseudomonas species 11 (22%) and Proteus species 10 (20%). Forty three percent of Staphylococcus aureus, were methicillin resistant (MRSA). All MRSA remained sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. In Pseudomonas species, resistance to third generation cephalosporins, ceftazidime , was 27%, while resistance to imipenem was seen in 3 (9%) of isolates. In Proteus species, resistance to third generation cephalosporins was 90% while to imipenem resistance was 60%. Resistance to commonly prescribed quinolones was more than 70% among all the bacterial isolates. Conclusions: Common Gram positive and Gram negative organisms responsible for infection in DFU were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas species and Proteus species. The isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR). Resistance to antibiotics used as empiric therapy was high. Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcer, antibiotic resistance, empiric therapy