title: Air contamination in the sclerosing foam for the treatment of varicose veins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluids and drugs formulated for intravenous infusion may potentially promote the growth of microorganisms that can cause infections. The aim of this study is to test the sterility of sclerosing foam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polidocanol was used for the production of the foam. The Tessari method was used in order to generate the foam. The preparation was carried out both in the operating theater and in an outpatient room. A validation test with microorganisms was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurements showed no evident growth of microorganisms and in the validation tests the foam appeared to even display bacteriostatic and/or bactericide properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerosing foam seems to be safe from a microbiological point of view.
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Franciscis
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Cga
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), International Research and Educational Program in Clinical and Experimental Biotechnology, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy rserra@unicz.it.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000391:Air Microbiology; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Chronic venous disease; foam sclerotherapy; infectious disease; sclerotherapy; varicose veins