점안약제에 사용된 여과 장치의 세균여과 효과

목적: 점안액에 포함된 보존제의 합병증을 줄이기 위해 세균을 직접 여과하는 세균여과장치(ABAK system, Thea(R), France)가 개발되어 사용되고 있다. 그러나 실제 이 장치에 의한 세균여과효과에 대해서는 알려진 것이 없어 이를 실험적으로 검증해 보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 표피포도상구균(Staphylococcus epidermidis)을 배양하여 107, 105 CFU (Colony-Forming-Unit)/ml로 희석하였다. 외부에서 약병내부로의 여과효과(역방향)를 확인하기 위하여 각 농도의 균액 0.5 ml를 점적기와 여과장치를 통하여 빨아들인 후 약병에서 직접 뽑은 용액을 배양하였으며 약병을 짜서 점적기를 통해 나온 대조군과 비교하였다. 약병 내부에서 외부로의 여과효과(정방향)를 보기 위하여 각 농도의 균액 1 ml를 주사기로 약병 안에 넣어 오염시킨 후 약병을 짜서 여과장치를 거쳐 나온 용액을 배양하고 오염된 약병에서 직접 뽑은 대조군과 비교하였다. 실험은 5회 반복되었다. 결과: 여과장치를 통과하지 않은 대조군에서는 농도에 따른 일관된 수의 표피포도상구균이 배양되었으나 여과장치를 통과한 후 배양된 실험군에서는 양방향 모두에서 배양되지 않았다. 결론: 세균여과장치는 표피포도상구균이 약병 안으로 유입되는 것을 억제하였으며 약병의 내용물이 표피포도상구균으로 이미 오염된 경우에도 점안 시 여과기를 통해 완전히 여과할 수 있었다. 이러한 여과효과는 고농도의 오염에도 유의하였다. Purpose: A filtering system (ABAK system, Thea(R), France) was developed and has been used to prevent the abuse of preservatives and to decrease the complications that may result from them. However, the bacteria filtering effect of the system has not been reported yet. In this study, we attempt to verify its efficacy. Methods: Staphylococcus epidermidis was diluted to two different concentrations, 107 and 105 CFU (Colony-Forming-Unit)/ml. To determine the inward-filtering effect of the system (reverse direction), 0.5 ml of each bacterial concentration was aspirated through the ABAK system, and the solutions that filtered through were cultivated. The results were compared with the controls in which the same amounts of bacterial solutions were dropped from a dropper by squeezing the bottle. For the outward-effect (forward direction), 1ml of bacterial solution from each concentration was put into the bottle with a syringe. Solutions were re-collected by filtering them out through the ABAK system by squeezing the bottle and also by aspirating them from the bottle with a syringe. Both solutions were cultivated, and the results were compared. Each test was repeated 5 times. Results: In control solutions that did not pass through the filter, bacteria were cultivated consistently in repeated tests. However, bacteria were not cultivated in solutions that had passed the filter in both concentrations and in both directions. Conclusions: Filtering systems prevent solutions from contamination, and even if the bottles are polluted with Staphylococcus epidermidis initially, the bacteria would be filtered out. The effectiveness of the filtering systems was also demonstrated in high bacterial concentrations. J Korean Ophth