Microbiological Quality Assessment of Repackaged Antibiotics in Peripheral Health Facilities in Jigawa State

Antibiotic repackaging from bulk stock into smaller consumer units is a common practice at peripheral health facilities and patent medicine stores in Nigeria, raising concerns about microbiological integrity during repackaging processes. This study assessed the microbiological quality of repackaged antibiotic tablets and capsules at 25 peripheral health facilities and patent medicine vendors in Jigawa State, North West Nigeria. Samples of commonly repackaged antibiotics including amoxicillin, tetracycline, and co-trimoxazole were collected at facility level. Microbiological testing included TAMC, TYMC, and specific pathogen detection per USP guidelines. Dissolution testing was additionally conducted to assess physicochemical integrity. Observations of repackaging environments, container cleanliness, and dispenser personal hygiene were recorded. Results showed that 36 percent of repackaged antibiotic samples failed microbiological specification. Predominant contaminants were Bacillus species (55%), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (28%), and Aspergillus species (17%). Dissolution profiles were substandard in 24 percent of repackaged samples, raising concerns about therapeutic efficacy. Repackaging in non-sterile environments, use of unwashed hands, and storage in non-pharmacopoeial containers were the primary contamination risk factors. These findings demonstrate that antibiotic repackaging at peripheral health facilities significantly compromises product quality and potentially contributes to treatment failure and resistance selection in Jigawa State. Regulatory enforcement against informal repackaging and community-level dispensing reforms are urgently required. Keywords: antibiotic repackaging, microbiological quality, peripheral health facilities, Jigawa State, GMP.