Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll.Arg. Leaves Extracts Against Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacterial Isolates from Post-Operative Wound Infections (Published)
The treatment of post-operative wound infections has been exacerbated by frequent evolvement of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Consequently, this study evaluated the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of methanol, ethanol, and aqueous crude extracts of Alchornea cordifolia leaves for their efficacy against selected MDR bacterial isolates from patients with surgical site infection (SSI). Bacterial isolates obtained within 12 months from patients clinically diagnosed of SSI in five specialist hospitals in Calabar-Nigeria were analyzed and identified using standard techniques. Among the MDR-isolates, eight highly resistant bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were selected for further evaluation. The susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed against crude extracts of Alchornea cordifolia leaves. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and phytochemical properties of the extracts were determined to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. The ethanol crude extract of A. cordifolia leaves demonstrated superior broad-spectrum activity against the MDR-SSI isolates compared to the aqueous and methanol extracts, even at the lowest tested concentration of 62.5 mg/mL, and also exhibited an MBC/MIC ratio of ≤4 mg/mL, indicating bactericidal properties. Further qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of bioactive compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, phenolics, and anthraquinones in varying concentrations. A. cordifolia leaves possesses potent antimicrobial properties and various phytochemical constituents and is therefore recommended for further studies towards potential drug development in order to enhance therapeutic options against MDR bacterial pathogens associated with SSI.
Keywords: Alchornea cordifolia, Antibiotics, Bacteria, infections, multi-drug resistance, phytochemicals, post-operative wounds
Evaluation of antibiotic use patterns among farmers and antibiogram from livestock wastes and fish pond effluents in selected animal farms in Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
The extensive and misuse of antibiotics in animal production has become a public health threat. The evaluation of antibiotic use pattern among farmers and antibiogram from livestock wastes and effluent from animal farms was conducted in Cross River State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken with 379 animal production farmers and multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of farms and respondents. Bacteriological analysis of animal wastes samples and antibiotics susceptibility testing was also conducted. Results revealed that 66.8% of farmers had a good knowledge on the use of antibiotics and its resistance. Majority (91.0%) of the farmers used antibiotics in their animal farms and for purposes of growth promotion, treatment of disease and prevention. Tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, cotrimoxazole, gentamycin and vancomycin were the most frequently used groups of antibiotics. A total of 240 bacteria were isolated and the percentage occurrence of bacterial isolates were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.2%), Escherichia coli (12.5%), Staphylococus aureus (10.8%), while Staphylococcus hominis (2.1%) had the least prevalence of occurrence. All the isolates showed multi-drugs resistance, Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest resistance to several antibiotics commonly used by farmers (80.8% to chloramphenicol, 80.8% to vancomycin and 73.1% of resistance to tetracycline). Statistical analysis of sociodemographic variables with farmers’ knowledge and antibiotics use showed that respondents’ level of education, years of farming experience, and farm type, were statistically significant (p<0.05). There is a need to improve farmers’ knowledge of antibiotics use and the possible consequences of their inappropriate use of antibiotics in farms.
Keywords: Bacteria, Knowledge, animal farm wastes, antibiogram, antibiotics use, multi-drug resistance