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Table 1 Microbiological contamination in counterfeit and unapproved drugs in the Austrian study

From: Microbiological contamination in counterfeit and unapproved drugs

Product

Microbial load

TAMC (CFU/g)

TYMC (CFU/g)

Pathogens

Approved PDE5 inhibitors

Sildenafil 50 mg

< 5

< 5

nd

Tadalafil 10 mg

< 5

< 5

nd

Vardenafil 10 mg

< 5

< 5

nd

Counterfeit PDE5 inhibitors

Sildenafil 100 mg #1

< 5

< 5

nd

Sildenafil 100 mg #2

< 5

10

negative

Sildenafil 100 mg #3

< 5

< 5

nd

Sildenafil 100 mg #4

< 5

< 5

nd

Sildenafil 100 mg #5

< 5

< 5

nd

Sildenafil 100 mg #6

170

< 5

negative

Tadalafil 80 mg #7

< 5

< 5

nd

Other unapproved products

Zinc gluconate #8

< 5

< 5

nd

Nicotic acid #9

< 5

< 5

nd

Methandienone #10

80

< 5

negative

Methandienone #11

11 000

< 5

negative

Mephedrone HCl #12

n/a

n/a

n/a

Butylone HCl #13

n/a

n/a

n/a

Methandienone #14

80

60

negative

Stanozolol #15

100

< 5

negative

Stanozolol #16

110

< 5

negative

Clenbuterole 0.02 mg #17

< 5

< 5

nd

Sibutramine, phenolphtalein #18

20

40

negative

Sildenafil 100 mg #19

< 5

< 5

nd

4-Methylethcathinone #20

< 5

< 5

nd

4-Methylcathinone/Coffein #21

< 5

< 5

n/a

4-Methylcathinone/Coffein #22

< 5

< 5

n/a

4-Methylcathinone/Coffein #23

< 5

< 5

nd

3-Fluoromethcathinone/Lidocaine/Coffein #24

< 5

< 5

nd

Coffein/Acetylsalicylic acid #25

< 5

< 5

nd

Slimming herb #26 (herbal product)

720 000

4 000

>104 bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria

  1. TAMC: Total aerobic microbial count; TYMC: Total yeast and mould count; nd: Not determined; n/a: Not applicable (interfering substance prevented successful completion of the test).
  2. Illegal medicines confiscated in Austria were analysed for microbiological contaminations by microbial enumeration tests and tests for specific pathogens.