Emma:
You can follow USP 23, p 1681, <51> Antimicrobial Preservatives
Effectiveness and the Supplement 8, p 4293 for testing the antimicrobial
activity.  Also, you can follow <61> Microbial Limit Tests to test the
contamination level.  I hope you can find this reference in the library.
You can also found the information in British Pharmacopoeia (Appendix XVI)
or European Pharmacopoeia.  Good luck.

Katherine Shih
Oread

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Emma Ceresa [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 10:43 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      [PMFLIST] Evaluation of microbiological growth in eye
> ointments
>
> I am a final year pharmacy student at the University of Strathclyde. My
> project involves the formulation of an antimicrobial eye ointment
> containing
> benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient. I have formulated a
> variety
> of bases, and would be most obliged if someone could suggest an
> appropriate
> method for the evaluation of its inherent antimicrobial activity, and how
> to
> test for bacterial contamination, given that the ointment is immiscible
> with
> water, and may be subject to partitioning. Highlighting of any obvious
> pitfalls would also be of use.
>
> Yours sincerely, Emma Ceresa
>
>
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