Paracetamol syrup is commonly used as a medication to relieve pain; however, microbial contamination is a concern for many consumers. Using conventional artificial culturing agar, microbial contamination was detected. The detected microorganisms were confirmed using biochemical tests and the Eosin Methyl Red test, identifying the contaminant as E. coli. Pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance tests were conducted on the E. coli strain. The coliform counts exceeded 10², indicating significant microbial contamination in the syrups. The identified E. coli was found to be highly pathogenic and exhibited high antimicrobial resistance.

Additionally, pH tests and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) were conducted to ascertain the active ingredients in the syrup.

In conclusion, this study provides a unique solution to the current contamination of paracetamol syrup sold in The Gambia, which could have a global impact in the fight against microbial contamination in medications.