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ABSTRACT
Background: Anti-Allergic and Anti-inflammatory eye drops are the mainstay ophthalmic agent usually employed in the management of ocular allergy and inflammation. Studies supports that eye drops get contaminated with use due to poor hygiene and other environmental factors but the prevalence of contamination in eye drops differs largely from different studies. The continuous usage of contaminated eye drops may pose a risk for secondary bacterial infections amongst which bacterial keratitis and endophthalmitis have been reported. Purpose.: The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial contamination of Anti-Allergic and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Materials and method: A total of forty (40) eye drops samples collected from forty out patients after an average use of seven days were cultured for bacteria. A simple questionnaire was used to obtain patients demographics and samples were obtained from the tip of the selected eye drops using sterile swab stick and were transported under aseptic conditions to the laboratory for analysis within 6-8hrs of collection. MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar and Nutrient agar were used to inoculate the samples while isolated microbes were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed to ascertain the resistant status of the isolates. Results: 32 (80%) of the sampled eye drops were contaminated with different bacteria which includes; Escherichia coli(27%), Corynebacterium (20%), Proteus vulgaris (18%), Staphylococcus aureus (15%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%) and Serratia marcenscens (10%). Chi square and multivariate analysis test results showed a significant association (P<0.05) between bacteria contamination and educational background (P=0.046), instillation method (P=0.008), storage location (P=0.014), name of eye drops (P=0.025) as well as instillation hygiene (P=0.020). Data analysis: Data acquired from this study was statistically represented using tables, bar chart and pie chart. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and multivariate analysis according to the software statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 24.0). Contribution to Optometry: This study has aided the understanding of the pattern of bacterial contamination of therapeutic eye drops (Anti-Allergic and anti-inflammatory drops) and in turn helped Optometrists in educating their patients on the need for proper hygiene.
