MRSA Notes

From Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There is a risk of microbial contamination of preservative-free eye drops in multiple application containers, warn doctors in a report in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

“Contamination of eye drops may be related to the design of multiple application containers,” Dr. M. Q. Rahman, of Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Glasgow, UK, and colleagues offer. A pipette attached to the cap of the bottle comes completely out of the container during administration, exposing the open contents of the bottle directly.

Content spillage may also increase the risk of contamination, according to the investigators. Another risk factor is poor technique in administering the eye drops.

Most eye drops used in the UK contain preservatives and are bottled in plastic containers. However, in certain individuals, preservative-free drops are used to avoid ocular irritation and allergies.

Of 95 eye drop bottles Rahman and colleagues tested, significant bacterial growth was observed in eight, for an overall incidence of 8.4 percent.

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