Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1995 Apr;79(4):376-9.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.79.4.376.

Microbial contamination of medications used to treat glaucoma

O Geyer  1 , E J Bottone, S M Podos, R A Schumer, P A Asbell
Affiliations

Microbial contamination of medications used to treat glaucoma

O Geyer et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 1995 Apr.

Abstract

Aims: A study was conducted to estimate the frequency of contamination of topical antiglaucoma medications used by asymptomatic patients.

Methods: The drops and the bottle tips of 194 in use topical medications and the conjunctiva from 109 treated glaucoma patients were cultured.

Results: Bacteria were recovered from 55 (28%) medications. The bottle tip was more frequently contaminated than the drops (p = 0.008). Gram positive organisms were cultured from 50 (91%) of 55 contaminated medications. Thirteen patients (12%) had the same microorganism recovered from the conjunctiva and from the contaminated medication. The frequency of contamination of medications increased with increasing duration of use. Bacterial contamination occurred in 19% of eyedrops less than 8 weeks old in contrast with 40% of bottles used for more than 8 weeks.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that ocular medications to treat glaucoma frequently become contaminated with bacteria and that contamination is related to duration of use. We therefore recommend that opened topical antiglaucoma eyedrops should be replaced on a regular basis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • "In use" expiry date for eyedrops.
    Rauz S, Moate BJ, Jacks AS, Cumberland N, Govan JA. Rauz S, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 1996 Mar;80(3):270. doi: 10.1136/bjo.80.3.270. Br J Ophthalmol. 1996. PMID: 8703869 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. Am J Ophthalmol. 1988 Apr 15;105(4):361-5 - PubMed
    1. J Clin Microbiol. 1975 Feb;1(2):147-9 - PubMed
    1. Arch Ophthalmol. 1978 Aug;96(8):1448-50 - PubMed
    1. Acta Pharm Suec. 1978;15(5):389-94 - PubMed
    1. Am J Ophthalmol. 1982 Jun;93(6):723-6 - PubMed

Publication types

Substances