Abstract

COMPARATIVE ANTIBACTERIAL STRENGTH ANALYSIS OF THREE COMMONLY USED ANTIBIOTICS IN AUCHI

Oleghe P. O., Agholor K.*, Lucy F. O., Oboh J. E. and Orhewere V.

Abstract

The sustainability and effectiveness of antibiotics commonly used for medication is endangered by the development of resistant pathogens. The main goal of this present study was to compare the antimicrobial strength of three commonly administered antibiotics in Auchi (singly and combined). The antibiotics tested for antibacterial activites were Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin and Ampiclox against four (4) clinical isolates: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni. Agar well diffusion method was used for the susceptibility testing as described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The Results obtained revealed very significant zones of inhibition for all the tested antibiotics against the bacterial isolates. The combination of ciprofloxacin-amoxicillin gave the highest inhibition zone diameter (IZD) against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Campylobacter jejuni, while Ciprofloxacin-ampiclox combination had the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Amoxicillin-ampiclox combination had the least activity against all the test isolates used in this study. The antibiotic combinations of ciprofloxacin-amoxicillin showed synergy, ciprofloxacin-ampiclox was antagonistic, while Amoxicillin-ampiclox combination was indifferent against the test organisms. Although the antibiotics tested alone in this study were found to be effective, the use of combined therapy in the treatment of confirmed or suspected mixed infections should only be used when necessary. Therefore, before the prescription of any antibiotic, a culture and sensitivity test must be conducted to determine the right antibiotics required for the treatment.

Keywords: Antibacterial, antibiotics, comparative, resistance, inhibition zone diameter.