Efficacy of penicillin G, cefazolin, and gentamicin in M-K medium at 4 degrees C
J. Baum, M. Barza and A. Kane
Corneal-scleral shells are routinely stored in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium
at 4 degrees C. Antibiotics are added to the medium to suppress bacterial
growth. We examined the antibacterial activity of penicillin G potassium,
100 microgram/ml, cefazolin sodium, 100 microgram/ml, and gentamicin
sulfate, 20 microgram/ml against test organisms in M-K medium at 4 degrees,
23 degrees, and 37 degrees C for periods up to 18 hours. Within the limits
of the experimental conditions, none of the antibiotics used could be
relied on to sterilize an inoculum of sensitive bacteria in M-K medium at 4
degrees C, the recommended storage temperature.
