The Microbial Quality of in-use Multidose Chloroquine Vials

D A S Mloka; P G R Anthony; M Justin-Temu

D A S Mloka Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Muhimbili University, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
P G R Anthony `Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences,Muhimbili University, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
M Justin-Temu `Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences,Muhimbili University, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

An evaluation of the microbial quality of 301 partially used chloroquine vials from non medical wards of Muhimbili Medical Centre, a referral and teaching hospital in Dar es Salaam Tanzania was done. Findings obtained revealed that 26.5% and 76.4% had their contents and septa contaminated respectively, in spite of the fact that the preservative 1% benzoic acid passed the challenge test. Some of these microbial contaminants were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Kiebsiella spp and Proteus spp. The presence of these bacteria in the contents of these vials indicates that the in-use chloroquine vials may act as a source for acquisition of nosocomial infections by inpatients.