Browsing by Author "Kiruki S."

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    Analysis of Microbial Quality of Drinking Water in Njoro Sub-county, Kenya
    (Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health,, 2017) Kirianki P.R; Othira J. O; Kiruki S.
    Drinking water should be free of microbial pathogens so as to be regarded as potable water and safe for drinking.However, water is prone to fecal contaminants which are the sources of gastrointestinal illnesses. In Njoro Sub- county, river Njoro and rain water are the primary sources of water which also reduces during dry seasons. Other water sources include boreholes, dams, springs and wells while in other cases, the residents store water in household storage containers for future uses. In this study, various water sources and water stored in different containers in Njoro Sub-County was analyzed for its microbial quality. Various microbial parameters such as total viable colony counts (TVCC), total coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) were evaluated by use of the culture methods. Most of the water sources were contaminated. TVCC ranged from 0.47 to 1.76 CFU/1mL in water sources and 0.48 to 2.04 CFU/1mL in domestic storage containers. TC was in the range of between 0.30 to 1.89 CFU/100mL in water sources and 0.59 to 2.47 CFU/100mL in domestic storage containers. The mean FC in water sources ranged from 0.10 to 1.68 CFU/100mL and from 0.81 CFU/100mL domestic storage containers. Therefore frequent water testing should be performed by water authorities as recommended by WHO. At households, the people should employ various water treatment methods and practice safe water handling so as to avoid gastrointestinal infections.
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    Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Actinomyces from River Tana and Lake Elementaita.
    (Chuka University, 2023) Shikuku B. O.; Kiruki S.; Kuria E.
    The aquatic environment has many Actinomyces such as Streptomyces species, that produces anti-tumors, enzymes, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. Actinomyces species have produced antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, streptomycin, gentamycin, among others. The increased prevalence of bacterial infections has been a major challenge to the human population with devastating high morbidity and mortality rates. This situation has been worsened by increasing antibiotic resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria, reduced effectiveness of antibiotics in the market, and the emergence of new bacterial infections. This study aimed at isolation and molecular identification of antibacterial Actinomyces species. The experiments for this study was laid out in Complete Randomized Design and replicated three times to determine the difference between the inhibition zones (mm) of isolates against the tests organisms. A total of six antibiotic producing Actinomyces species were isolated from river Tana and lake Elementaita and identified through morphological and molecular characterizations. There was significant (p<0.05) difference on antibacterial activity of Actinomyces isolates against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. The findings of this study can help in developing new or alternative antibiotics that can be used for treatment of pathogenic and resistant bacteria.