Laboratory Study
Eye (2007) 21, 995–997; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702465; published online 2 June 2006
Microbial growth in vials of Botulinum toxin following use in clinic
1Department of Ophthalmology, Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Birmingham, UK
Correspondence: J Menon, 51 Field Avenue, Northfield, Birmingham B31 1PD, UK. Tel: +44 0121 4777557; Fax: +44 0121 5076791. E-mail: jayshreemenon@aol.com
Received 25 October 2005; Accepted 21 April 2006; Published online 2 June 2006.
Abstract
Purpose
Botulinum toxin has various applications in ophthalmology and is used in the outpatient department, where it is often exposed to room temperatures for 3–4 h. The manufacturer's recommendations are that the reconstituted toxin be stored in a refrigerator when not in use and discarded 4 h after reconstitution. The aim of our study was to examine such used bottles of Botulinum toxin for microbial growth after 4 h at room temperature.
Methods and Results
Eleven consecutive bottles of Botulinum toxin used with aseptic precautions in the Ophthalmology outpatient clinics were exposed to room temperatures for 4 h. These were subsequently analysed for microbial growth. No growth was directly obtained from any of the Botulinum toxin bottles during our study.
Conclusions
This pilot study suggests that if aseptic precautions are followed during the use of Botulinum toxin, the contents of the bottle remain sterile despite being exposed to room temperatures for up to 4 h. This has implications on the use of the reconstituted toxin after the recommended 4 h.
Keywords:
Botulinum, reconstituted, microbiological assay
