Abstract
Purpose:
To determine if a hydrogel dendrimer liquid ocular bandage (OcuSeal®, Beaver-Visitec International, Waltham, MA) can block penetration of bacterial species that can potentially traverse corneal incisions to cause acute endophthalmitis.
Methods:
An in vitro simulation of fluid passing through an incision was conducted utilizing a test cell and collection chamber with a 0.22 μm cellulose filter interposed. A 2.75 mm incision in the filter was covered with a single application of OcuSeal® (OS). The test cell was then inoculated with either Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a bacterial concentration of 105cfu/ml (n = 60 for each bacterial species). The fluid was allowed to flow continuously through the OS into the collection cell and was sampled at 24, 48 and 72 hours, cultured and observed for bacterial growth. Positive and negative control tests (n = 30 each) were also conducted.
Results:
OS blocked penetration of S. aureus for 24 hours in 60 of 60 tests (p = 0.046) and for 48 and 72 hours in 59 of 60 tests (p = 0.192). Similarly, P. aeruginosa was blocked for 24 and 48 hours in 60 of 60 tests (p = 0.039) and for 72 hours in 59 of 60 tests (p = 0.199).
Conclusions:
OcuSeal® liquid ocular bandage effectively prohibits passage of the two bacterial species tested for at least 24 hours, as its retention, despite increasing porosity, was still adequate to block bacterial penetration. As OS is CE-marked for application to corneal and scleral tissue, these findings support its potential to prevent bacterial contamination of corneo-scleral incisions.
Keywords: 765 wound healing •
445 cataract •
421 anterior segment