Microbial growth in various perfluorocarbon liquids.

A prospective in vitro study was conducted to investigate the potential for various perfluorocarbon liquids to support the growth of microbes, which may be introduced into these liquids as contaminants during intraocular surgery. Perfluorodecaline, perfluoro-noctane, and perfluorophenanthrene were tested for the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans by using tryptone soy broth, pancreatic digest of casein, and Sabouraud broth as culture media for up to 10 days. No microbial growth was observed in any of these perfluorocarbon liquids. Perfluorocarbon liquids do not promote microbial growth. Thus, they do not increase the risk of endophthalmitis in vitreoretinal surgery.