Assessment of the Quality of Sodium Hypochlorite and Hydrogen Peroxide Products in Nairobi City County

Abstract

Introduction The growing resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents due to antimicrobial resistance calls for strategies geared on prevention of infection rather than treatment. It is for these reasons that antiseptics and disinfectants continue to play an important role in prevention, against pathogenic microbes. However, they are also central to assuring on their effectiveness. Locally, no quality surveillance has been reported in literature. Study objective The general objective of this study was to assess the quality of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide products available in Nairobi City County, Kenya using physico-chemical methods. Methodology Thirty six samples of sodium hypochlorite were evaluated for general characteristics such as adequacy of label information and pH and assay of active chlorine. Similarly, thirty three samples of hydrogen peroxide were analyzed for identity, adequacy of labeling, acidity and content of hydrogen peroxide. Analytical methods prescribed by the British Pharmacopoeia and the Kenya Bureau of Standards were used. Triplicate analyses were done. Results Samples of sodium hypochlorite used as bleaching agents (26), for treatment of water (5) and as hospital disinfectants (5) were collected from Nairobi County. The content of active chlorine was as follows bleaching agent (2-4 w/v %), treatment of water (0.9-1.1 w/v %) and disinfectant (4-6 w/v %) respectively. Twenty out of the twenty six samples (77 %) analyzed complied with the KEBS requirement of a minimum ≤ 2 % w/v) of active chlorine for bleaching agents. All 5 (100 %) samples of sodium xiii hypochlorite used for water treatment met label claim for BP 2017 of 0.9 % w/v and 1.1 % w/v of active chlorine. The values ranged between 1.0 % w/v and 1.3 % w/v corresponding to 92.5 % and 105 .8 % of the label claim (1.2 % w/v). All the samples (n=5) used as disinfectants did not comply with specifications for content (4-6 % w/v). One sample out of the five samples (20 %) did not comply with KEBS requirement (minimum ≤ 2 % w/v) for content of active chlorine. Fifty five percent (n=11) of detergent hydrogen peroxide (3 % w/v H2O2) samples met BP (2017) specification of 2.5-3.5 % w/v of H2O2. All the samples (n=21) antiseptic hydrogen peroxide (6 % w/v H2O2) did not meet the BP (2017) specification of 5 %-7 % w/v of H2O2. The content of hydrogen peroxide samples ranged between 3.0 % w/v and 4.7 % w/v. The hydrogen peroxide laboratory reagent was found to contain 13.6 % w/v and this was out of BP specification of 29-31 % w/v of H2O2. Conclusion About 45 % of detergent hydrogen peroxide samples, all the samples (n=21) of antiseptic hydrogen peroxide and laboratory reagent 30 % w/v hydrogen peroxide did not comply with BP 2017 specifications for assay. While 23 % of the bleaching agent analyzed did not meet KEBS requirements of active chlorine. Five samples of sodium hypochlorite used for treatment of water complied with BP 2017 specifications for the assay while all the samples (n=5) of sodium hypochlorite used as disinfectants did not comply with BP 2017 specifications for content of active chlorine. There is need for continued post market surveillance and enforcement of labeling and packaging specifications by manufacturers for compliance with pharmacopoeial and Kenya bureau of standards specification.