ABSTRACT Infectious disease represents a major cause of death accounting for approximately one half of all deaths in tropical countries (Iwu et al., 1999). In particular, gastrointestinal disease is the most frequent cause of childhood morbidity and adult mortality in many parts of the developing world. The presence of enterobacteria in foodstuffs and water is a common cause of diarrhoea and dysentery among the infant population (Viera et al.,2001). The increase in antibiotic resistance causi...