J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2001 Mar;42(3):495-500.

The Minimum Concentration and Preservation Time of Ethanol for Sterilization of Donor Sclera: In Vitro Study

• Lee JS
• Lim DW
• Oum BS
• Chang CH

Abstract

PURPOSE: We studied to investigate the minimum concentration and preservation time of ethanol for sterilization of donor sclera.
METHODS
Fresh sclera was inoculated with Staphylococcus epidermidis(ATCC 155), Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 28213), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(ATCC 27843), and transferred to preservative vials containing the concentration of ethanol(10, 30, 50, 70, and 90%) or trypticase soy broth(TSB, control) and stored at room temperature. The sclera was then homogenized, plated on blood agar, and incubated at 37 degreesC for 24 hours. Colonies were counted at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours.
RESULTS
Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were recovered from contaminated sclera plates preserved in 10% ethanol until 72 hours and in 30% ethanol until 12 hours, but no bacteria was recovered from the sclera preserved in more than 50% ethanol(P<0.05). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered in 10% ethanol until 72 hours but not recovered in more than 30% ethanol until 24 hours(P<0.05). However, all three species were recovered from the control sclera preserved in TSB until 72 hours.
CONCLUSIONS
From the above results it is concluded that the concentration of more than 50% ethanol for at least 6 hours is recommendable as human sclera disinfectants.

Keyword

Donor sclera; Ethanol; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

MeSH Terms

Agar
Bacteria
Disinfectants
Ethanol*
Humans
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Sclera*
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Sterilization*
Tissue Donors*
Agar
Disinfectants
Ethanol