title: Contamination risk of 100% autologous serum eye drops in management of ocular surface diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sterility and safety of 100% nonpreserved, autologous, serum eye drop treatment in patients with ocular surface diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 147 autologous serum bottles (294 samples) from 21 patients with ocular surface diseases were included. Seven bottles with autologous serum were prepared for each patient, and each bottle was used for only 1 day, then discarded. Two samples from each bottle were taken (before use and after 24 hours of use) and then cultured in standard media. The culture plates were held for at least 6 weeks or until no growth could be confirmed. To monitor safety, all patients were admitted and evaluated for the occurrence of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the pretreatment group, 4 samples from 4 patients (1.36%) were positive for bacteria and 7 samples from 7 patients (2.38%) were positive for fungi. In the 24-hour-after-treatment group, 1 culture (0.34%) was positive for bacteria, and 6 samples (2.04%) from 6 patients were positive for fungi. Aspergillus spp and Fonsecaea spp were the most common organisms identified in any of the cultures. Neither clinical nor microbiological evidence of infection was demonstrated in any patient during the treatment or follow-up periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no ocular surface infection was observed, the patients under 100% autologous serum eye drops therapy should be closely monitored for clinical evidence of fungal and bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Onsiri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thanathanee
authors.forename: Warachaya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Phanphruk
authors.forename: Orapin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Anutarapongpan
authors.forename: Amornrat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romphruk
authors.forename: Olan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suwan-Apichon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions