Abstract
Since the occurence of infections related to the use of propofol has been suggested in previous reports, the growth of different micro-organisms (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Burkholderia cepacia and Candida albicans) in two propofol products in the presence or absence of a bacteriostatic agent, disodium edetate (EDTA) , was investigated at room temperature (20-25°C) . These preparations were inoculated with each micro-organism and samples were plated onto soybean or Sabouraud's agar 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hrs or 0 and 12 hrs after inoculation. The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) on the plates was then determined after incubation for 12 hrs. None of the micro-organisms exhibited growth following plating 6 hrs after inoculation in either propofol product, and S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans did not grow for up to 12 hrs. E. coli and B. cepacia grew in propofol without EDTA, and S. marcescens grew in both propofol products. Scrupulous aseptic techniques should be recommended when preparing or administering these anesthetics of propofol products because EDTA was not able to prevent some bacteria from growing.
