BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION OF THE PRESSURE RECEIVER OF A VITRECTOMY MACHINE

On a routine sterility check, the authors found bacteria in their vitr ectomy machine. Serratia marcescens was detected in the pressure recei ver of a roller pump vitrectomy machine. The authors improved the mach ine by installing a millipore filter in front of the receiver that pre vents bacteria from entering it without interfering with the pressure measurements. The origin of Serratia was probably a patient with endop hthalmitis who was operated on long before the routine check. Although this appears to be the first report of a bacterial contamination of a vitrectomy machine, the results of testing show that this situation i s indeed possible. The authors strongly recommend routine checks of th e equipment and suggest mounting an antibacterial filter.