Nonprescription fish antibiotics:Why Is This Important?
Background: Patients at a dental school were observed to self-medicate for dental pain and presumed infection with nonprescribed ornamental fish antibiotics, thereby circumventing professional health care. This study determined if the human-approved antibiotics, amoxicillin and cephalexin, were pres...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | JADA Foundational Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772414X22000111 |
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| Summary: | Background: Patients at a dental school were observed to self-medicate for dental pain and presumed infection with nonprescribed ornamental fish antibiotics, thereby circumventing professional health care. This study determined if the human-approved antibiotics, amoxicillin and cephalexin, were present in the nonprescribed, over-the-counter fish antibiotics. Methods: Human-grade prescribed and over-the-counter commercially-available fish antimicrobials (amoxicillin, cephalexin) were analyzed by using high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet-visible detection following US Pharmacopeia (USP) protocols. The contents of 20 capsules of each type were combined and dissolved in a carrier fluid to a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min using isocratic mobile phase conditions. Results: All products contained the equivalent of not less than 90.0% and not more than 120.0% of their labeled contents, within the USP standards. Although no major impurities were identified, there was evidence of several as-yet unidentified excipient ingredients. Results confirm that the human-grade prescribed and nonprescribed over-the-counter fish antibiotics tested match USP standards and are pharmacologically indistinguishable. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the major component of the amoxicillin and cephalexin capsules marketed for fish contain their purported levels of antibiotics. |
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| ISSN: | 2772-414X |