Abstract:

Introduction: wound infections are among the leading the leading infections worldwide and the E.coli is among the most prevalent causative agent. With emergence of multidrug resistant, treatment of infections pose a great challenge worldwide there is a need to seek alternative source of effective antibiotic to overcome this challenge.
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Objectives: to determine the antibacterial activity of vernonia amygdalina on the Escherichia coli causing wound infection at Bugando medical Centre, Mwanza Tanzania.

Methodology: it was a laboratory experimental based study conducted through May, 2017 involved 30 E.coli isolated from wound infections at BMC from 2016 to 2017. Archived test isolates were sub- cultured onto MacConkey agar (MCA) and incubated at 37 degree Celsius. V.amygdalina flesh leaves were grind and sieved to obtain flesh juice extract which was sterilized by membrane filtration method using sterile what man filter paper. The extract was used for making antibiotic susceptibility discs and supplemented into MCA for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination.

Results: the minimum inhibitory concentration of v.amygdalina against test isolates was 50% v/v while mean zones of inhibitions for concentrations; 12.5% v/v, 25%v/v, 50% v/v and 75% v/v was 6.0±0.0mm, 7.85±0.9mm, 14.13±0.4mm and 19.2±0.7mm respectively.

Conclusion: V. amygdalina has proven to have antibacterial effect against E. coli causing wound infections at BMC.