Abstract
Purpose::
To assess the microbiological efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin (500µg/ml) as an additive to Optisol GS® to reduce bacterial corneal donor rim contamination.
Methods::
342 donor rims were studied. One half of each donor rim was placed in standard Optisol GS® and the other half rim in Optisol GS® fortified with moxifloxacin (500µg/ml). All rims were refrigerated for 24 hours at 3º C and placed in thioglycolate broth and incubated at 37º C for 7 days. One pair of donor buttons not used in transplantation stored in each solution was examined for endothelial changes using electron microscopy (EM). A second pair of cornea buttons was examined for toxicity by endothelial staining with 0.3% trypan blue and 0.2% alizarin red.
Results::
The percentage of culture positive donor rims in the Optisol GS® group was 6.1% (21/342) and in the moxifloxacin-fortified Optisol GS® media was 0.6% (2/342). The difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001; Chi-square test). Nineteen bacteria grew in standard Optisol GS® media (S. epidermidis 10, P.acnes 8, S. aureus 1). No bacteria grew in the moxifloxacin-fortified Optisol GS®. Two cultured rims grew C. albicans in both media. No difference in toxicity was found on EM or in the bioassay.
Conclusions::
The addition of 500 µg/ml of moxifloxacin significantly reduces the rate of bacterial growth in corneal rims stored in Optisol GS® without causing endothelial toxicity.
Keywords: antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • cornea: storage • bacterial disease