Through the diffusion techniques in culture media with paper disc and stainless steel cylinders the antimicrobial activity in 123 pharmaceutical preparations was evaluated: nystatin (43 samples of vaginal cream), erythromycin (14 samples of tablets and 9 of oral suspension), gentamicin (33 samples of injectable liquid) and neomycin (24 samples of cream of topic use), against the microorganisms: Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2601 to nystatin; Staphylococcus epidermidis12228 to gentamicin and neomycin, and Micrococcus luteusATCC 9341 to erythromycin. The preparation of the test organisms, standard solution, test solutions and culture media in both methods followed the recomendations of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia IV (1988) and United States Pharmacopoeia 24 (2000). The results was statically analysed by tests of Fisher (p=0,05) and Student (p=0,05). Among the 43 samples of vaginal cream nystatin analysed, checked out by the Student's test, differences of antimicrobial activity between methods of disc and cylinder were observed. However, the Fisher's test does not presented difference. The samples of erythromycin, gentamicin and neomycin did not show any difference when submitted to Fisher and Student tests in conclusion, to the erythromycin, gentamicin, neomycin and nystatin, the analysis of antimicrobial activity by the technique of paper discs can substitute the technique of the cylinders of stainless steel.
Antimicrobial activity; Nystatin; Erythromycin; Neomicyn; Gentamicin
