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Quality of Co-Trimoxazole Tablets Used for Management of Opportunistic Infections in HIV/AIDS Patients
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| Author:
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UPLOADED BY-ADMIN, APPOLINARY A.R. KAMUHABWA, MARIYAH H. SAIFUDDIN, BETTY MAGANDA, ELIANGIRINGA KAALE
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| Abstract:
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This study was carried out to determine the quality of commercially available co-trimoxazole tablets that are used for
prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. Different batches and brands of co-trimoxazole tablets obtained from care and treatment clinics and private pharmacies
were assessed for weight uniformity, crushing strength, friability, disintegration time, thickness, dissolution and assay
for trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in the tablets. All of the products evaluated complied with pharmacopoeial
specifications for disintegration time, weight uniformity, friability and hardness. However, some brands failed content and
dissolution tests. The mean thickness of the tablets ranged from 3mm to 5mm. The mean disintegration times ranged from
0.26 ± 0.03min to 5.18 ± 5.51min. Fifteen out of the seventeen tested products gave an assay value within the specified limit
(93%-107%), while the other two gave an assay value below the specified limit. Fifteen of the tested products released more
than 70% (75.81%-112.77%) of trimethoprim, while one product released more than 70% (72.16% - 113.12%) of
sulphamethoxazole after one hour. The fact that some brands of co-trimoxazole did not meet the United States
Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia official requirements in terms of dissolution and content uniformity is an indication
of the existence of sub-standard products in the market. The use of such products, especially in PLWHA is likely to
cause microbial resistance to co-trimoxazole, thus leading to treatment failure.
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| Keyword:
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Co-trimoxazole, Quality, HIV/AIDS, Opportunistic Infections
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| DOI:
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