Effect of intranasal budesonide irrigations on intraocular pressure.

BACKGROUND: Intranasal and oral corticosteroids are widely used in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Higher-dose topical nasal steroids (HDTNS) such as budesonide irrigations are increasingly used for long-term maintenance in these patients. Oral steroids have the potential to cause increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma. It is unclear whether HDTNS have the same potential. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of intranasal budesonide irrigations on IOP. METHODS: Two groups of patients with CRSwNP treated with budesonide irrigations were prospectively enrolled. Patients with history of elevated IOP or glaucoma were excluded. Patients in group 1 had been using budesonide for at least 1 month and had IOP measured once at the time of enrollment. Group 2 consisted of patients who were placed on budesonide at the time of enrollment and had IOP measured both before and after at least 4 weeks of therapy. RESULTS: Ten patients in group 1 and 8 patients in group 2 completed the study. In group 1, the average duration of therapy at enrollment was 6.3 months (1-22 months). Only 1 patient had a single eye pressure above 21 mmHg. None of the patients in group 2 had a significant change in IOP or IOP over 21 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Intranasal budesonide irrigations given for a period of at least 1 month do not appear to increase IOP.

Disinfection of rigid nasal endoscopes following in vitro contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae.

IMPORTANCE: If not adequately cleaned, rigid nasal endoscopes (RNEs) have the potential to cause iatrogenic cross-contamination. OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of various disinfection methods in reducing bacterial load on RNEs in vitro. DESIGN AND SETTING: In vitro model. INTERVENTIONS: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae contamination was separately induced on RNEs in vitro. Two experimental sets were completed. The RNEs were disinfected using the following protocols: 30-second scrub with antimicrobial soap (ABS) and water, 30-second scrub with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IA), 30-second scrub with ABS followed by 30-second scrub with IA, 30-second scrub with germicidal cloth, isolated 5-minute soak in an enzymatic soap solution, 5- and 10-minute soaks in ortho-phthalaldehyde, 0.55%, solution (Cidex OPA), and isolated 30-second rinse with tap water, all with 30-second precleaning and postcleaning rinses with tap water. Two sets of experiments (experiment sets A and B) were carried out with a 30-second tap water rinse after inoculation of each RNE. This was followed by immediate cleaning in set A and a 1-hour air-dry delay in set B. Otherwise there were no differences in the disinfection protocols between sets for each method noted. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Effectiveness of various disinfection protocols in cleaning rigid nasal endoscopes experimentally inoculated with bacteria commonly found in the upper aerodigestive tract. Positive cultures following disinfection indicated ineffective or incomplete disinfection. RESULTS: Most cleaning methods were effective in eliminating S aureus, S pneumoniae, and H influenzae from the scopes following experimental contamination. Continued growth of P aeruginosa was found after all of the disinfection trials in experiment set A with the exception of a 10-minute immersion in Cidex OPA, and in set B except for the 10-minute Cidex OPA immersion and ABS plus IA trials. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Most cleaning methods used in our trials appear to properly disinfect RNEs after in vitro inoculation with S aureus, S pneumoniae, and H influenzae. However, it appears that disinfectants may be less effective in cleaning rigid scopes experimentally inoculated with P aeruginosa. There is a paucity of published data regarding cross-contamination during rigid nasal endoscopy, and these results should guide future studies and to some extent practice to avoid iatrogenic spread of contamination.