[01] Okafor Ugochukwu Chukwuma, Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [02] Umeh Sophina Ogonna, Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. [03] Nwozor Chinazor Anasthasia, Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Antibiotics are the drugs that either halt bacterial growth (bacteristatic) or kills the bacteria entirely. The comparative analyses of the three most common antibiotics used in Awka (Amoxycillin, Ciprofloxacin and Erythromycin) was carried out using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as the test organisms. Susceptibility/Sensitivity test is used to determine the antimicrobial activity of an antibacterial against an organism. Many methods can be used to carry out this test; broth dilution, antimicrobial gradient, disc diffusion and automated instrument method. In the course of this project work, Disc diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial strengths of the various antibiotics at different concentrations of the on the test organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). The antibacterial activity of the antibiotics procured from the pharmacy in Awka were tested in-vitro using the Antibiotics Disc Diffusion Method (Kirby-Bauer’s method). The result showed that Ciprofloxacin had the highest antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with zones of inhibition, 32mm and 40mm respectively. Amoxycillin is also highly effective on Staphyloccocus aureus and a little bit effective on Escherichia coli with zones of inhibition 30mm and 29mm respectively. Erythromycin was effective on Staphyloccocus aureus with 22mm zone of inhibition and totally resistant to Escherichia coli with no zone of inhibition. Ciprofloxacin is the best antibiotic amongst the three analysed for the treatment of bacterial infections implicating Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Amoxycillin is also effective on Staphylococcus aureus but not effective on Escherichia coli and finally Erythromycin has a little antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus but showed no effect on Escherichia coli. From the research, it can be recommended that whenever people are diagnosed of bacterial infections as a result of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, the medical personnels are advised to prescribe Ciprofloxacin as it has the highest antimicrobial effect on the organisms than the other antibiotics it was compared with.

Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Strength, Sensitivity, Resistance, Awka

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