COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TWO SELECTED MEDICATED SOAPS AND ONE LOCAL BLACK SOAP ON BACTERIA PATHOGEN FROM WOUND INFECTION

A wound infection occurs when pathogenic microorganisms invade the tissues of the wound, leading to an inflammatory response. This can impede the normal healing process and result in symptoms such as increased pain, redness, swelling, heat, and pus formation. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the antibacterial activity of medicated soap (Dettol and Tetmosol) and local black soap against bacterial pathogens isolated from wound infections. Aseptic techniques were employed for sample collection, media preparation, inoculation, incubation, and isolation of pure cultures. Further identification involved sub-culturing on chocolate agar and CLED agar, peptone water, and biochemical tests for confirmation. The antibacterial effectiveness of African Black Soap, Tetmosol, and Dettol was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using zones of inhibition at varying concentrations. African Black Soap exhibited the most consistent antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones for Staphylococcus aureus measuring 22 ± 1.5 mm at 0.6 g/mL, decreasing with lower concentrations (20 ± 1.2 mm at 0.3 g/mL, 18 ± 1.0 mm at 0.15 g/mL, and 16 ± 1.0 mm at 0.075 g/mL). However, it showed no activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the tested concentrations. Tetmosol demonstrated variable effectiveness, with inhibition zones for Staphylococcus aureus reaching 16 ± 2.0 mm at 2 g/mL, and for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showing activity only at higher concentrations (10 ± 1.5 mm and 8 ± 1.5 mm, respectively, at 1 g/mL). Its antibacterial activity decreased at lower concentrations. Dettol's effectiveness was limited, showing minimal inhibition with zones of 6 ± 1.0 mm and 4 ± 1.0 mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, at 3 g/mL, and further diminishing at lower concentrations, with no significant activity at concentrations below 0.75 g/mL. These findings highlight African Black Soap as the most consistently effective against Staphylococcus aureus, while Tetmosol and Dettol show limited and concentration-dependent activit