EVALUATION OF POSSIBLE MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN EYE DROP BOTTLES USED BY PATIENTS IN DAY TO DAY PRACTICE
Sangeetha J.* and Arvind Prasanth D.
ABSTRACT
The present study was planned to evaluate the spontaneous contamination of in-use ocular medications, and to estimate the frequency of medication contamination with Conjunctiva. Forty in-use medications from 34 patients with normal ocular surface diseases were studied by culturing the bottle caps, cover and nozzle sterilely. Sixty eight conjunctival smears from 34 patients were also examined for organisms. The comparison of the in-use medication with the conjunctiva of the patients using the medication showed the spectrum of microorganisms isolated from conjunctiva and the in-use ocular medications were similar indicating the same organisms is carried to the eye by the use of contaminated medication and gets lodged in the eye as the microbial flora replacing the normal flora of the eye. The most commonly isolated organism from both in-use medication and conjunctiva was Staphylococcus saprophyticus. We conclude that the ophthalmic drops used in outpatient department should not be extended more than 15 days. The use of single-dose eye drops for the patients with ocular surface diseases is recommended. It is important finding, thus replacement of normal flora is a significant ocular risk factor for several complications like Microbial Keratitis and Endophthalmitis.
Keywords: Bacteria, Isolation, Bacterial contamination, Ocular medications, conjunctival smear.
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