Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques
Preservative-free artificial tears eliminate the side effects of preservatives but are prone to microbial contamination. This study evaluates the incidence of microbial contaminations in single-use vials of preservative-free 0.1% hyaluronate artificial tears. Based on what touched the vial tip durin...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/5/592 |
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| author | Jee-Hye Lee Min-Ji Kang Ha-Eun Sim Je-Hyung Hwang |
| author_facet | Jee-Hye Lee Min-Ji Kang Ha-Eun Sim Je-Hyung Hwang |
| author_sort | Jee-Hye Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Preservative-free artificial tears eliminate the side effects of preservatives but are prone to microbial contamination. This study evaluates the incidence of microbial contaminations in single-use vials of preservative-free 0.1% hyaluronate artificial tears. Based on what touched the vial tip during its first use, 60 unit-dose vials (0.5 mL) were divided into groups A (no touch, n = 20), B (fingertip, n = 20), and C (lid margin, n = 20). The vials were recapped after the first use, and the residual solution was cultured 24 h later. The solution from 20 aseptically opened and unused vials was also cultured (group D). Microbial contamination rates were compared between the groups using the Fisher’s exact test. Groups B and C contained 45% (9/20) and 10% (2/20) contaminations while groups A and D contained undetected microbial growth. The culture positivity rates were significantly different between groups A and B (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and groups B and C (<i>p</i> = 0.013) but not between groups A and C (<i>p</i> = 0.487). We demonstrate a significantly higher risk of contamination when fingertips touch the vial mouth. Therefore, users should avoid the vial tip touching the fingers or eyelid during instillation to prevent contamination of the eye drops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:11:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d0832bc595d47db84a15a2167904d3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:11:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d0832bc595d47db84a15a2167904d3d2023-11-23T12:33:07ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-05-0111559210.3390/pathogens11050592Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation TechniquesJee-Hye Lee0Min-Ji Kang1Ha-Eun Sim2Je-Hyung Hwang3Department of Ophthalmology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 01757, KoreaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 01757, KoreaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 01757, KoreaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul 01757, KoreaPreservative-free artificial tears eliminate the side effects of preservatives but are prone to microbial contamination. This study evaluates the incidence of microbial contaminations in single-use vials of preservative-free 0.1% hyaluronate artificial tears. Based on what touched the vial tip during its first use, 60 unit-dose vials (0.5 mL) were divided into groups A (no touch, n = 20), B (fingertip, n = 20), and C (lid margin, n = 20). The vials were recapped after the first use, and the residual solution was cultured 24 h later. The solution from 20 aseptically opened and unused vials was also cultured (group D). Microbial contamination rates were compared between the groups using the Fisher’s exact test. Groups B and C contained 45% (9/20) and 10% (2/20) contaminations while groups A and D contained undetected microbial growth. The culture positivity rates were significantly different between groups A and B (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and groups B and C (<i>p</i> = 0.013) but not between groups A and C (<i>p</i> = 0.487). We demonstrate a significantly higher risk of contamination when fingertips touch the vial mouth. Therefore, users should avoid the vial tip touching the fingers or eyelid during instillation to prevent contamination of the eye drops.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/5/592preservative-free artificial tearscontaminationeye drop instillation technique |
| spellingShingle | Jee-Hye Lee Min-Ji Kang Ha-Eun Sim Je-Hyung Hwang Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques Pathogens preservative-free artificial tears contamination eye drop instillation technique |
| title | Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques |
| title_full | Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques |
| title_short | Microbial Contamination of Preservative-Free Artificial Tears Based on Instillation Techniques |
| title_sort | microbial contamination of preservative free artificial tears based on instillation techniques |
| topic | preservative-free artificial tears contamination eye drop instillation technique |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/5/592 |
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