ABSTRACT

Three brands of locally manufactured Antibiotic sensitivity discs (Optadisk, Brodisk, and Brodisk) were evaluated for their quality in comparison with a foreign brand (Abtek) in an Agar Diffusion Antibiotic Testing assay. Three clinical isolates of bacterial species, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherkhia coil were employed, in the study.. The bacterial isolates were obtained from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State. Diameter of Zones of Inhibition measured in millimeter (mni) was used as a parameter to evaluate the activity of the antibiotic discs. Optudisks and Jirehdisks produced the most uninterpretahie results against Psedomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The three local brands also showed no inhibitory zones against L coli. Out of the three local brands, Optudisks produced the greatest number of uninterpretable results, followed by Jirehdisk. Only Brodisks performed closest to the Abtek. The significant results of these locally made brands to the test organisms, have a course for the greater attention of the clinical evaluation of sensitivity discs.