Despite progress in the development of antibacterial agents, there are still special needs to find new antibacterial agents due to the development of multidrug resistance by bacteria and fungi. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum and Diospyros monbuttensis. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaves were prepared using cold extraction method. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was carried out using agar-well diffusion method against the following test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp., Escherichia coli (Enteropathogenic), Klebsiella sp., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaves was determined using broth dilution method. S. aureus, Streptococcus sp., E. coli and Klebsiella sp. were sensitive to ethanolic leaf extract of C. albidum at 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml respectively. Streptococcus sp., E. coli (Enteropathogenic), Klebsiella sp. And C. albicans were sensitive to C. albidum at 25 and 50 mg/ml. A. niger showed resistance to both extracts at the different concentrations used. The MIC of the methanol and ethanol leaf extracts of D. monbuttensis and C. albidum against the test microorganisms ranged between 3.125 and 100mg/ml. This is indicative that D. monbuttensis and C. albidum leaf extracts can be used in the treatment of infections.

The results therefore indicated that the isolates were Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci species. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be avoided to prevent the development of resistant strains of the Staphylococci genera and other pathogenic organisms.

In this study, Pentaclethra macrophylla and Syzygium samarangense leaves was tested for their antibacterial activities against selected opportunistic bacterial strains. The crude extracts of the plants were extracted using methanol and fractionated into hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. The antibacterial activity of the leaves against B. subtilis (ATCC® 6633™), S. aureus (ATCC® 25923™), E. coli (ATCC® 25922™), P. aeruginosa (ATCC® 9027™) was performed using the agar well diffusion technique at 20mg/ml extracts fractions. All plants extracts extract exhibited some antibacterial activity against at least one bacterial strain. P. macrophylla exhibited the highest inhibition against E. coli (25mm) compared to B. subtilis, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Similar observation was noted for S. samarangense where the highest inhibition was against E. coli (22mm). In conclusion, P. macrophylla and S. samaragense exhibited antibacterial activities against the selected bacteria. The ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of both plants had the highest antibacterial activities. This indicates that P. macrophylla and S. samrangense leaves could be a source of antibacterial agent in overcoming antibacterial drug resistance.

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Staphylococcal foodborne illness, caused by the ingestion of contaminated foods by induced Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins, is one of the most recurrent foodborne diseases worldwide. Food handlers working in food-service establishments who carry enterotoxigenic isolates represent a reservoir for potential contamination leading to staphylococcal food intoxication. The aim of this research was to investigate the prevalence of nasal transmission of S. aureus among food handlers in a University community. A total of 100 nasal swab specimens were obtained from the food handlers and analyzed by standard laboratory techniques for isolation and identification. Questionnaires were administered to ascertain the risk determinants associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was done by disk diffusion method. Thirty-two food handlers were found to be carriers of S. aureus. Majority were females (63%), and 30% had been certified for food safety and handling. There were however no significant association between the nasal distribution of S. aureus together with established risk factors. Among the isolates, 93.75% were found to be resistant to penicillin, 50% to gentamicin and 50% to oxacillin. These findings indicate the need for training of food handlers on food safety, as well as the knowledge of antibiotic resistance.