There is an increasing concern that syrups may contain pathogenic or non-pathogenic microbes that can pose as public health risk to patients. This research was to investigate the bacterial contamination of retailed syrups sold in Wukari. Eighteen (18) different brands of syrups were collected from different medicine stores in Wukari, North East Nigeria. These various brands of syrups were taken to the Microbiology Laboratory, Federal University Wukari for analysis using standard bacteriological techniques. The results show that syrups samples with contaminants included the M & B paracetamol, Emzor paracetamol, M & B flagyl (Loxagyl), Emzor Chloroquin, M & B Antimalarial preparation (Artelumex), Emzor cough syrup (Emzolyn), Emzor digestion syrup (Emtrisil), Jawa digestion syrup (Jawasil), Emzor multivitamin (Emvite), Tuyil pharmacy multivitamin (Vami-vite), Emzor blood tonic, and Jawa blood tonic while those that contained no contaminants included the Emzor flagyl(Emgyl), M & B chloroquin(Vinaquin), Emzor antimalarial preparation (Lokmal), Jawa cough syrup(D-Koff), Emzor vitamin c and Tuyil pharmacy vitamin C. The researched revealed that twelve (12) of the syrups were contaminated with bacteria isolates of Bacillus spp 9 (45%), Lactobacillus spp 5 (25%), Proteus spp 2 (10%), Staphylococcus aureus 2 (10%), Pseudomonas spp 1 (5%) and Klebsiella spp 1 (5%). The presence of the isolates could possibly be as a result of the production process and improper handling and protection of the containers containing the products. It is therefore recommended that monitoring agencies should ensure that these syrups do not present health hazards to the public during production and retail of products.

Hepatitis B virus and plasmodium co-infection is of an increase in developing countries as a result of lack of proper diagnosis leading to increased morbidity. This study was to determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Plasmodium co-infection profile among patients in Wukari and environs. Seventy (70) subjects’ with the age range of between 0 to 80 years participated and standard microbiological techniques were observed in this study. The results obtained showed 34 (48.6%) were males and 36 (51.4%) were females. Four (5.7%) participants were sero-positive for HBsAg. HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAg and HBeAb while 66 were not detected positive. The Male with 5.9% participants were sero-positive while 5.6% of the female participants were sero-positive. 20 (28.6%) of the participants were sero-positive for malaria. This comprises of 7 males and 13 females. 20.6% of the males were sero-positive while 36.1% of the females were sero-positive. The distribution of parasitaemia by gender across the participants showed that 24 (34.3%) had plasmodium parasitaemia, out of which 9 were males and 15 were females. 26.5% of the males and 41.7% of the females had plasmodium parasitaemia. There was no co-infection of Hepatitis B virus and malaria, despite both having prevalence of 5.7% and 34.3% respectively. The research on its own has shown that in order to reduce HBV and plasmodium co-infection, mass immunization of adults and antiviral drugs should be provided for those that are infected, while HBV and plasmodium co-infections screening programs should be instituted in all levels of institutions in the country to reduce the prevalence rate and level of transmission of the hepatitis virus. This study also has added to the puddle of knowledge already available in this area of research.