DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Background: Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are a common type of bacterial infection that mostly affect children. Plasmid profiling is a molecular technique used to identify and characterize the types of plasmids carried by bacterial isolates. This technique has a wide range of applications in microbiology, including the study of bacterial epidemiology, antibiotic resistance, and gene transfer. It can provide valuable information about the genetic diversity of bacterial populations and the mechanisms by which bacteria acquire and transfer resistance genes. Methods: The study evaluated a hundred and twenty seven patients from the Ear, Nose and Throat department at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city. Patient’s data collected were age, gender, alcohol history, smoking history, medical history, Frequency of symptoms, ears affected, use of cotton bud, ear cleaning frequency among others. Isolates obtained were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and plasmid curing with 0.1mL and 0.4mL Ethidium bromide as the curing agent using standard agar disc diffusion method. Results: A total of 73.68% of our study participants were female, and 14.47% were male. Participants aged 21-25 had the highest occurrence (34.6%), linked to the patients ear cleaninghabits. The prevalence of Staphylococcus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from both aerobic and anaerobic Isolate was the highest (49.33% and 47.06%) in the bacterial isolates obtained from study participants after incubation.The most prevalent mult-idrug resistant isolate was Staphylococcus aureus (25%) for aerobic isolate and Pseudomonas spp for anaerobic Isolate. Fluoroqinolones was the most effective antibiotics used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Post
curing with 0.1mg/ml and 0.4mg/ml Ethidium bromide,33.33%,100% and 0% was cured after further antimicrobial susceptibility testing with Fluoroqinolones, Macrolides and Penicillin) respectively. Conclusion:The presence of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance genes in bacteria isolates from patients with ear infection underscores the need for antibiograms and responsible antibiotic usage in the management of ear infection.

Introduction: Ear infections, particularly otitis media, represent a common health concern globally, impacting individuals across diverse demographics. In developing countries like Nigeria, the prevalence and incidence of ear infections and demographics is not well documented. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, bacterial etiology, susceptibility patterns, and associated factors of ear infections among patients presenting with otitis symptoms thus contributing to the wealth of available knowledge on ear infections.
Methodology: This study evaluated 43 patients who visited the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for washing and check-up of their ear. Patient data and specimen were obtained at the study centre. Microbiology analysis as well as antimicrobial susceptibility and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration determination were carried out in the specimen at the Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology laboratory of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, using standard techniques.
Results: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa accounted for the most predominant isolates from the specimens obtained from participants with vary susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Furthermore, results obtained revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca and Enteriobacteria in the ear of respondents which is in contrast to what already exist in literature.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated the activity of specific antibiotics against bacteria isolates from ear infections both Gram-positive and Gram-negative present in the ear of patients in the study center.

Traditional medicine due to its antimicrobial and therapeutic qualities against various diseases such as ethno-veterinary, fever, rheumatism, headache, colic, dyspepsia, uterine disorders, and pneumonia. The objective of this study is to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides and determine the antimicrobial activity of Ageratum conyzoides, so as to justify its usage in Traditional Medicine Practice. The fresh plants were collected, washed, cut into small pieces, air dried and pulverized to powder using mechanical grinder. Extraction was done by cold maceration.The methanol
extract and aqueous extracts of the plant portion were subjected to phytochemical analysis using the standard method. The Aqueous and Methanol extracts of the ageratum conyzoides plant were tested for their antimicrobial activity using the cup plate method against
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia. The phytochemical investigation of the crude leaves extract of Ageratum conyzoides detected
the presence of bio-active substances like alkaloids, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, glycosides, and phenolics and carbohydrate. The Methanol extracts had a higher level of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus
aureus, with the zone diameter of inhibition measuring 14 mm and 18mm for Escherichia coli. The aqueous water extract's zones of inhibition against E. coli was 9.5mm and 13mm of Staphylococcus aureus. The zones of inhibition of both the aqueous and methanol extracts were compared to that of an Analytical grade Ciprofloxacin antibiotics. The result of this investigation suggests that Ageratum conyzoides methanol extracts may be useful in treating illnesses and infections caused by S. aureus, and E. coli. which may be due to the presence of the its chemical constituent such as alkaloids, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, glycosides and phenol, thus justifying its use by traditional medicine practitioners

Bacteria possess special features which help them attach to biotic and abiotic surfaces alike. Adhesion of bacteria to surfaces contribute to the spread of infections via contact with these surfaces, be it biotic or abiotic. On abiotic surfaces however, bacteria form biofilms, making them more difficult to eliminate. Solubilizing agents facilitate penetration of a substance into another in which it would be normally insoluble. They are used as cleaning agents, emulsifiers, vehicles, cosolvents, etc. Lactobacilli are a type of Gram-positive, nonsporulating bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of certain solubilizing agents to detach bacteria attached to an abiotic (glass) surface, by quantifying the bacterial cells grown from a solution of the solubilizing agent. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the solubilizing agents were first determined. A non-inhibitory concentration of the solubilizing agent was then used to detach lactobacilli attached to a glass surface and the resulting solution was diluted serially and plated out. Quantitative bacterial quantification was performed by determining colony forming units/ml. Spectrophotometric method was used to qualitatively quantify bacterial detachment. Results showed a higher cell count from the solubilizing agent than from the control, indicating that they are indeed well able to elicit bacterial detachment from abiotic surfaces.