In microbiological terms, pharmaceutical products can be divided into two groups: sterile and non-sterile. Non-sterile drugs must satisfy the appropriate microbiological purity criteria which are included in pharmacopoeial monographs. Pharmacopoeial studies are prepared specifically with a view to ensuring that the medicinal product is therapeutically effective and safe for the patient. The analysis comprised the results of microbiological purity tests performed before the products are marketed. Total of 1285 samples of non-sterile drugs manufactured by different pharmaceutical plants in Polish were taken into study. The microbiological quality of drugs was assessed in accordance with the criteria included in the European Pharmacopoeia (EP). An analysis of test results demonstrated that the percentage of non-compliant samples was 1.87%. The groups of drugs, which the most often did not satisfy EPs' requirements, were drugs containing raw materials of natural origin (5.7%). The samples of studied drugs that did not meet the criteria contained in EP, exceed the maximum allowable microbiological count limits and contained microbes whose presence is prohibited. The most common non-compliance was the excessive levels of the maximum acceptable fungal count (n = 12) and the excessive the maximum acceptable aerobic microbial count (n = 10).

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S u m m a r yIntroduction: Due to increasing resistance against antibiotics and antifungal agents, crude plant extracts, fractions, and isolated pure compounds became a new interest as antimicrobial agents. Objectives: The antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts and fractions of Eryngium planum L., E. campestre L., and E. maritimum L. was evaluated against selected bacteria, yeast and mould, and compared in tested Eryngium species and in their organs. Methods: The antimicrobial activity was studied with use of broth microdilution method. The antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger) activity of selected extracts and fractions compared with the reference substance was expressed by Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC).The extract and fraction compounds were identified on the basis of TLC examination. Results: The saponin-phenolic acid fractions of E. maritimum and E. planum and a saponin fraction of E. planum showed the highest activity against S. aureus (MIC = 1-2.5 mg·ml -1). The growth of C. albicans was inhibited by methanolic extract of E. planum cell suspension culture (MIC = 7.8 mg·ml -1 ). Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity depends on the Eryngium species, tested biomass, and microorganism.

The article presents an investigation on the effectiveness of nanostructured titanium-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass-1 wt% Ag composite foams as a novel class of antibacterial materials for medical applications. The Ti-based composite foams were prepared by the combination of mechanical alloying and a “space-holder” sintering process. In the first step, the Ti-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass-1 wt% Ag powder synthesized by mechanical alloying and annealing mixed with 1.0 mm diameter of saccharose crystals was finally compacted in the form of pellets. In the next step, the saccharose crystals were dissolved in water, leaving open spaces surrounded by metallic-bioceramic scaffold. The sintering of the scaffold leads to foam formation. It was found that 1:1 Ti-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass-1 wt% Ag/sugar ratio leads to porosities of about 70% with pore diameter of about 0.3–1.1 mm. The microstructure, corrosion resistance in Ringer’s solution of the produced foams were investigated. The value of the compression strength for the Ti-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass-1 wt% Ag foam with 70% porosity was 1.5 MPa and the Young’s modulus was 34 MPa. Silver modified Ti-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass composites possess excellent antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus. Porous Ti-10 wt% 45S5 Bioglass-1 wt% foam could be a possible candidate for medical implants applications.