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Effect of delayed sterilization on the production of intravenous fluids (parenterals)


MO Salawu
OB Oloyede
AT Oladiji
MT Yakubu
RF Atata

Abstract

The effect of delayed sterilization on the production of intravenous fluids using 5% (w/v) dextrose solution was studied. The 5% (w/v) dextrose was prepared with distilled water. The solution was inoculated with a  laboratory isolate of Escherichia coli and thereafter divided into two: Solutions A and B. Sample A was  sterilized within 1 h of innoculation, while B was incubated at 37‹C for 48 h and sterilized after. The microbial  load was determined before sterilization. Both samples were then tested for pyrogenicity using rabbit test of  pyrogen. The results revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in E. coli count in solution B from 8 } 2 to 99 } 5 cfu/ml after 48 h. Sample A became pyrogen-free after sterilization (sum of response (SR) of 3 rabbits,  0.75‹C), while sample B contained 40 EU/ml (limit: . 0.5 EU/ml for large volume parenteral). A 10 times dilution of sample B with pyrogen-free 0.9% w/v sodium chloride produced a response of 2.80‹C and SR of 3 rabbits (failed limit . 2.65‹C). From this study, a delay of up to 48 h before sterilizing solutions intended for parenteral use could produce high pyrogenicity.


Key words: Parenterals, pyrogen, Escherichia coli, sterilization, microbial load.


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eISSN: 1684-5315