Evaluation of the in vitro ocular toxicity of the fortified antibiotic eye drops prepared at the Hospital Pharmacy Departments

Farm Hosp. 2016 Sep 1;40(5):352-70. doi: 10.7399/fh.2016.40.5.10416.

Abstract

The use of parenteral antibiotic eye drop formulations with non-marketed compositions or concentrations, commonly called fortified antibiotic eye drops, is a common practice in Ophthalmology in the hospital setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ocular toxicity of the main fortified antibiotic eye drops prepared in the Hospital Pharmacy Departments. We have conducted an in vitro experimental study in order to test the toxicity of gentamicin, amikacin, cefazolin, ceftazidime, vancomycin, colistimethate sodium and imipenem-cilastatin eye drops; their cytotoxicity and acute tissue irritation have been evaluated. Cell-based assays were performed on human stromal keratocytes, using a cell-based impedance biosensor system [xCELLigence Real-Time System Cell Analyzer (RTCA)], and the Hen's Egg Test for the ocular irritation tests. All the eye drops, except for vancomycin and imipenem, have shown a cytotoxic effect dependent on concentration and time; higher concentrations and longer exposure times will cause a steeper decline in the population of stromal keratocytes. Vancomycin showed a major initial cytotoxic effect, which was reverted over time; and imipenem appeared as a non-toxic compound for stromal cells. The eye drops with the highest irritating effect on the ocular surface were gentamicin and vancomycin. Those antibiotic eye drops prepared at the Hospital Pharmacy Departments included in this study were considered as compounds potentially cytotoxic for the ocular surface; this toxicity was dependent on the concentration used.

El uso de reformulaciones de antibioticos parenterales en forma de colirios de composicion o concentraciones no comercializadas, comunmente denominados colirios antibioticos reforzados, es una practica habitual en oftalmologia a nivel hospitalario. El objetivo del presente trabajo ha consistido en evaluar la toxicidad ocular in vitro de los principales colirios antibioticos reforzados elaborados en los Servicios de Farmacia Hospitalaria. Hemos realizado un estudio experimental in vitro para evaluar la toxicidad de los colirios de gentamicina, amikacina, cefazolina, ceftazidima, vancomicina, colistimetato de sodio e imipenem- cilastatina en el que se ha evaluado su citotoxicidad y la irritacion tisular aguda. Los ensayos celulares se realizan sobre queratocitos estromales humanos, mediante la utilizacion de un sistema biosensor de impedancia celular [(xCELLigence Real- Time System Cell Analyzer (RTCA)] y los ensayos de irritacion ocular mediante el ensayo Hen/s Egg Test. Todos los colirios, excepto vancomicina e imipenem, han mostrado un efecto citotoxico de concentracion y tiempo dependiente, siendo las concentraciones mas altas y los tiempos mas prolongados los que provocan un descenso mas pronunciado en la poblacion de queratocitos estromales. La vancomicina muestra un importante efecto citotoxico inicial que revierte con el transcurso del tiempo y el imipenem se muestra como un compuesto no toxico para las celulas estromales. Los compuestos con mayor efecto irritante para la superficie ocular son la gentamicina y la vancomicina. Los colirios antiinfecciosos elaborados en los Servicios de Farmacia Hospitalaria estudiados se muestran como compuestos potencialmente citotoxicos para la superficie ocular, siendo esta toxicidad dependiente de la concentracion utilizada.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Biological Assay
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chickens
  • Drug Compounding
  • Eye Injuries / chemically induced*
  • Eye Injuries / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Pharmacy Service, Hospital

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ophthalmic Solutions