Yesuf Abdela, Wondimeneh Yitayih, Gebrecherkos Teklay, Moges Feleke
Department of Medical Laboratory, Debark Hospital, P.O. Box 196, Debark, Ethiopia.
School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Int J Bacteriol. 2016;2016:1959418. doi: 10.1155/2016/1959418. Epub 2016 May 19.
Background. The World Health Organization estimates that about 80% of the world's population uses herbal medicine to treat various illnesses as means of primary healthcare. However, during preparation, herbal plants may be exposed to contamination by potential pathogens, and this may lead to infections. The aim of this study was to determine bacterial contamination of herbal medicinal products and to assess the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolated bacteria. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to May 25, 2013, at Gondar Town. A total of 55 samples used as oral, local, and intranasal routes of administration were collected from the herbalists. Results. In the present study the total aerobic bacterial count ranges from zero to 2.41 × 10(9) CFU/g with mean count of 1.99 × 10(8) CFU/g or mL while the total coliform count showed an average of 1.05 × 10(8) CFU/g or mL with a range of zero to 2.1 × 10(9) CFU/g. The most common bacteria isolated were Bacillus spp. followed by Enterobacter spp., Shigella dysenteriae, and Salmonella spp. Multiple drug resistance was not uncommon and it was found that 125 (83.4%) of the isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics. Conclusion. Herbal medicinal preparations were highly contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms with high microbial load. Most of the isolates have multiple drug resistance. Using those contaminated herbal medicines may lead to infection of other health related risks. Therefore, this warrants urgent training of herbalists and management scale-up for quality and safety of medicinal plants.
背景。世界卫生组织估计，全球约80%的人口使用草药治疗各种疾病，作为初级医疗保健手段。然而，在制备过程中，草药植物可能会受到潜在病原体的污染，这可能导致感染。本研究的目的是确定草药产品的细菌污染情况，并评估分离细菌的抗生素敏感性模式。方法。2013年1月1日至5月25日在贡德尔镇进行了一项横断面研究。从草药医生处共收集了55份用于口服、局部和鼻内给药途径的样本。结果。在本研究中，需氧菌总数范围为零至2.41×10⁹CFU/g，平均计数为1.99×10⁸CFU/g或mL，而总大肠菌群计数平均为1.05×10⁸CFU/g或mL，范围为零至2.1×10⁹CFU/g。分离出的最常见细菌是芽孢杆菌属，其次是肠杆菌属、痢疾志贺菌和沙门氏菌属。多重耐药并不罕见，发现125株（83.4%）分离菌对两种或更多种抗生素耐药。结论。草药制剂被致病微生物高度污染，微生物负荷高。大多数分离菌具有多重耐药性。使用那些受污染的草药可能会导致其他健康相关风险的感染。因此，这需要对草药医生进行紧急培训，并扩大管理规模以确保药用植物的质量和安全。
