Abstract

This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility profile of thirty two (32) bacteria isolated from thirteen (13) unspiced samples of zobo drink sold in six markets including a University campus all located in Makurdi the capital city of Benue State. Bacterial isolates were morphologically, culturally and biochemically characterized using standard bacteriological techniques. Susceptibility patterns to Ten (10) antibiotics each for Gram Positive and Gram negative bacteria were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Species belonging to nine genera from which Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp. were the most prevalent was recorded. All Gram positive isolates were resistant to Erythromycin (E) (100%) followed by both Ciprofloxacin (CPX) and Ampiclox (APX) (85.7%) but were all sensitive to Gentamicin (CN), Rifampicin (RD), Streptomycin (S) (100%), and Chloramphenicol (CH) (85.7%). For the Gram negative bacteria isolates; all identified organisms were resistant to Ceporex (CEP), Nalidixic (NA) (100%) followed by Septrin (SXT) (92.3%) but sensitive to Gentamicin (CN) (92.3%) and Streptomycin (S) (77%). This study has provided information for public health associated with antibiotic resistance to Erythromycin among others in zobo drink. It also calls for health concern as a wide array of bacteria including pathogenic types were isolated from zobo drink sold in Makurdi. Furthermore, the antibiotic susceptibility/resistance patterns in the study would inform the choice of suitable drugs for chemotherapy by health practitioners in Makurdi and its environs.