title: In-use study of potential bacterial contamination of ophthalmic moxifloxacin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the contamination rate of topical moxifloxacin 0.5% (Vigamox) after clinical use for preoperative and postoperative prophylaxis for cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 61 bottles of moxifloxacin were collected in a 2-month time period after use preoperatively by patients (n = 21, mean 2.2 days), postoperatively by patients (n = 16, mean 7.2 days), or by nurses in the operating room (n = 24). For each bottle, cultures of the cap, tip, external thread, and solution were inoculated onto chocolate agar plates and incubated at 35 degrees for 7 days. A total of 13 bottles of benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-preserved gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution (Zymar) were also cultured in a similar manner for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No organisms were found by cultures of the cap, tip, or solution from any bottle in the study. One colony of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was recovered from the thread of 1 Vigamox bottle. This bottle had negative cultures from its cap, tip, and solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only contaminant found in this study was cultured from the bottle thread. This is a location with a high rate of skin contact and minimal solution contact. The remaining cultures from this bottle were negative, showing the solution's ability to self-preserve. These data demonstrate that BAC-free Vigamox can be treated no differently than BAC-preserved solutions by patients and medical staff, without concern for solution contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33141, USA.
authors.forename: Ben L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Eduardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001372:Aza Compounds; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004349:Drug Packaging; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D011804:Quinolines; D000077266:Moxifloxacin