A note on the contamination of eye-drops following use by hospital out-patients.
Examination of 273 eye-drops, returned to a hospital pharmacy by out-patients showed that 27% were contaminated. Common contaminants included Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus albus and Sarcina spp. Those eye-drops containing the preservatives chlorbutol or thiomersal showed above average levels of contamination, thus questioning the suitability of these preservatives for ophthalmic preparations.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004349:Drug Packaging; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000032:analysis*; D010045:Outpatients; D010663:Phenylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000032:analysis
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010663:Phenylmercury Compounds; D013849:Thimerosal; C008860:phenylmercuric nitrate, basic