Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of problem: Based on the fact that most conventional Laboratory media are usually very expensive and sometimes unaffordable in some developing countries like Nigeria, Faco�s medium was formulated as an alternative medium to argument the very expensive ones. Faco�s medium is an extract of Acha (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua) and pooled human urine which was formulated to facilitate the isolation and identification of some important bacterial isolates from clinical samples. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The microbiological performance and efficacy of Faco�s medium was compared to that of blood and MacConkey agar for the isolation and identification of bacteria responsible for gastrointestinal tract infections. This study included consecutively collected freshly voided stool samples obtained from patients. All stool samples were inoculated on Blood agar, MacConkey agar, and Faco�s medium and incubated overnight aerobically at 37 OC for 18-24 hrs and then examined for the presence of pathogenic bacteria using standard bacteriological analyses and biochemical tests. Findings: Of the 2700 stool samples tested, 69.3% produced significant growth on the test media and about 14 potentially identified organisms were recovered on at least one of the three media. 743 (95.8%) of the organisms identified were uni-microbial, while 32 (4.12%) were poly microbial. Conclusion & Significance: The newly developed medium can serve as an alternative medium for the isolation of some bacterial species from clinical samples, as it compared favorably with conventional laboratory media

Biography

Onwuliri F C has completed his PhD from University of Jos. He has completed his BSc, MSc and AIMLS from the University of Nigeria NSUKKA, University of Jos and Medical Laboratory College Vom Nigeria respectively. He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2009. He was the Head of Department of Plant Science and Technology, University of Jos and the Director of Victory Medical Laboratory Jos, Nigeria. He has published about 70 papers in both national and international journals. He has several memberships including Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria, Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Nigerian Mycological Society, Botanical Society of Nigeria, Society for Parasitology and Public health, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, International Biotechnology and International Virology