ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the microbiological quality of expired and non-expired multivitamin and Vitamin C syrup sold in Umuahia. A total number of twenty (20) samples of both expired and non-expired Vitamin C and Multivitamin Syrup were collected from different pharmaceutical shops within Umuahia metropolis. The samples were cultured on MacConkey Agar (MCA) (Accumedia), Nutrient Agar (NA) (Oxoid), Sabouraud dextrose Agar (SAB) using pour plate techniques. The bacterial and fungal species isolated and identified using cultural characteristics, pigmentation on media, morphological and biochemical characterization included; Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus spp, Mucor spp and Rhizopus spp. The microbial counts in this study showed that the Multivitamin products as obtained in product I had the highest bacterial count as (8.0x104) and V (7.0x104) while non-expired products recorded highest as obtained in product II (6.0x103) and IV (5.5x104). The total fungal plate count in expired and non-expired multivitamin syrups was highest in product 11(6.0 x103), V (2.5 x103) and III (6.0x 104) and V (4.0x104). The microbial counts on vitamin C (expired and non-expired) sample recorded highest for products I (7.0x104), III (6.0xl0) and I (7.0x103). The contamination rate and percentage accessed on the expired and non-expired multivitamin and Vitamin C syrup revealed that Staphylococcus aureus 10(33.3%) had the highest percentage occurrence while among the fungal isolates, Aspergillus spp 4(13.3) had the highest percentage occurrence. Expired and non-expired Multivitamin and Vitamin C Syrup are not intended to permanently alter the physiology of the target organ, although some "health care products may contain an active substance or make medicinal claims. Conclusively, the amount of microorganisms present in non-expired multivitamin and Vitamin C syrups are very low as compared to expired multivitamin and Vitamin C syrups and this is as a result of the conditions in which they were prepared, packaged and the preservatives introduced during their production. However the result showed clearly that more microorganisms were isolated from the expired Multivitamin and Vitamin C syrups. Therefore, Manufacturers should be advised to keep to the production guidelines for the production of syrups and other drugs to ensure safety on consumption.