This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Botulinum toxin type A injection without alcohol antisepsis yields low complication rate
Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;25(3):178-179.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Injection of botulinum toxin type A without isopropyl alcohol antisepsis was associated with a low infection rate, according to a study.
"Isopropyl alcohol 70% solution has been used for routine skin preparation prior to botulinum toxin injection for decades," the study authors said. "However, alcohol antisepsis does not routinely sterilize the skin, and it may not reduce the injection site infection rate."
The retrospective study included 142 patients who underwent injections of Botox (botulinum toxin type A, Allergan) without isopropyl alcohol antisepsis from October 1999 to December 2004. Investigators reviewed patient age, gender, clinical indication, number of visits, number of needles, number of injections and complications stemming from infection.
Patients underwent a total of 11,627 injections, and they averaged six visits (range, one to 25 visits). The average follow-up interval was 707 days.
"No patient receiving botulinum toxin type A injection without isopropyl alcohol antisepsis sustained a local complication consistent with infection," the authors said. "Injection of botulinum toxin type A reconstituted with preserved saline results in an extremely low rate of infection."