J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2009 Aug;50(8):1204-1206. 10.3341/jkos.2009.50.8.1204.

The Possibility of Fluid Contamination Within Syringes in Case of Experimental Needle Contamination

• Baik SH
• Shin BM
• Lee JH
• Kim JS

• KMID: 2212535
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.8.1204

Abstract

PURPOSE
The present study examined the risk of intraocular infection only in cases where the injection needle was replaced when the injection needle was contaminated before intraocular injection. METHODS: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were cultured and smeared on the end of 30 syringe needles containing 0.1 mL normal saline. After removing only the injection needle, the normal saline in the syringes was injected onto blood agar plates and cultured. RESULTS: The culture results were positive in 21 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus aureus, and in 25 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus epidermidis. CONCLUSIONS: When the injection needle is contaminated, the replacement of the needle does not eliminate the possibility of intraocular infection.

Keyword

Endophthalmitis; Needle contamination; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis

MeSH Terms

Agar
Endophthalmitis
Injections, Intraocular
Needles
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Syringes
Agar

Reference

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