ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL QUALITY OF SOME ANTIBIOTIC AND NON-ANTIBIOTIC EYE DROPS MARKETED IN DIFFERENT REGISTERED PHARMACIES IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE
Ezenobi Nkechi O., Chinaka Chioma N.* and Obi Esther I.
ABSTRACT
Antibiotic eye drops are antibacterial compounds with some preservatives to strengthen their preservative efficiency, but non-antibiotics being non-infective require a good preservative system to maintain stability and sterility especially during in-use. We hereby undertake this research on the physicochemical properties, sterility, preservative efficiency, and pyrogen testing, of antibiotic and non-antibiotic eye drops used for different eye ailments. Method: Twelve different eye-drops products comprising antibiotics and non-antibiotic eye drops were randomly purchased from different registered Pharmacies in Port Harcourt in Rivers State. They were assessed for proper packaging (container and closure system), presence of particulate matter, physicochemical property (pH, clarity, and colour), microbiological analysis (sterility and preservative challenge test) and limit test for pyrogen (bacterial endotoxin). Result: All the eye drops had proper packaging and closure system. They all passed physicochemical assessment on clarity and particulate matter while the pH of the eye drops ranged from 5.40 – 7.26. The sterility testing showed that all the products were sterile on opening while only one product failed the preservative efficiency test. The pyrogen test showed that nine out of twelve eye drops had the endotoxin level above 0.25 EU/mL. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical industries should not only focus on sterility of eye drops in quality control but also on the endotoxin level which can also be regarded as the bane of the industry.
Keywords: Eye drops are topical applications to the eye for the treatment of eye diseases especially.
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