The survival of herpes simplex virus in multidose office ophthalmic solutions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the survival of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in several multidose ophthalmic solutions.


METHODS
In three separate trials, 10 aliquots of 5 ml each of three common multidose topical ophthalmic solutions, sodium fluorescein, proparacaine, and nonpreserved artificial tears, were inoculated with 10(5), 10(4), and 10(3) pfu per ml of HSV-1. All samples were titered on A549 cells at various time points for surviving HSV-1.


RESULTS
Herpes simplex virus type 1 was not recovered from the fluorescein and proparacaine solutions at 1 hour or any time thereafter, regardless of inoculation titer. Herpes simplex virus type 1 was recovered from the artificial tears up to 7 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike adenovirus, HSV-1 does not survive in preserved fluorescein and proparacaine multidose solutions; therefore, office transmission is highly unlikely.
Romanowski
E G
EG
Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA. ericr@vision.eei.upmc.edu
Barnhorst
D A
DA
Kowalski
R P
RP
Gordon
Y J
YJ
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002724:Chlorobutanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004340:Drug Contamination; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000494:pharmacology; D011430:Propoxycaine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; C005717:proxymetacaine; D011430:Propoxycaine; D002724:Chlorobutanol; D019793:Fluorescein