title: In vitro compatibility study of cephalosporin with intraocular irrigating solutions and intracameral medications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the compatibility of cephalosporins with intraocular irrigating solutions and intracameral medications commonly used in cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The was an in vitro experiment conducted in the Research Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cephalosporins--cefazolin, cefuroxime and ceftazidime--were separately diluted and mixed with irrigating solutions and intracameral medications to form 192 samples and 12 control solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cephalosporins were dissolved in normal saline and further diluted to the concentration of 1 mg in 0.1 mL with normal saline, Ringer's solution, balanced salt solution and fortified balanced salt solutions. These were mixed with balanced salt solutions or fortified balanced salt solutions, with adrenaline, acetylcholine or carbachol and kept at 37°C for 2 h. The concentrations of free cephalosporins were measured with rapid high-performance liquid chromatography at baseline (0 h) and at 2 h.
  
  
  METHODS
  Free concentrations of cephalosporins at 2 h were compared with mean baseline (0 h) value. A difference of 3 standard deviations or more was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 2 h there was a significant drop in the cefuroxime concentration in preparations in which cefuroxime was diluted with normal saline (P < 0.01). In all preparations, the final concentrations of cephalosporins were higher than the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC(90)) for microbials commonly isolated from the external eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cefazolin, cefuroxime and ceftazidime were compatible with irrigating solutions and intracameral medications commonly used in cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Mamie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Philip T H
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Siu-Wai
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Chi-Pui
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Chiu-Yeung
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Dennis S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001682:Biological Availability; D002217:Carbachol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C030660:BSS solution; D002511:Cephalosporins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002217:Carbachol; D002442:Ceftazidime; D002437:Cefazolin; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002444:Cefuroxime; D004837:Epinephrine