Resumen de Estudio microbiológico y metalográfico de agujas de acupuntura

Miguel A. Saravia Rojas, Rocio Geng Vivanco, Lílian Cristiane Brunini Posseti Pulter

• español

  Objetivo Caracterizar biológica y morfológicamente agujas de acupuntura.

  Métodos Para determinar la presencia de bacterias y hongos se realizó la prueba de esterilidad. Se evaluaron 10 agujas de cada marca comercial (Dong Bang, Corea del Sur; Cloud & Dragon, China; Dong Bang DBC 108, Corea del Sur), colectadas aleatoriamente en condiciones asépticas. Se prepararon los medios de cultivo (caldo tioglicolato [THIO] y caldo soja tripticaseína [TSB]) y se obtuvieron controles positivos (10 μl de la cepa Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 1137 en THIO y 10 μl de la cepa Candida albicans ATCC1023 en TSB) y negativos (sin inóculo). Los envoltorios fueron desinfectados con alcohol al 70%. Cada aguja se extrajo de su envoltorio y se transfirió al medio de cultivo; se obtuvieron 10 muestras inoculadas por cada marca comercial (n = 5). Las muestras inoculadas en TSB se incubaron a 25 °C y las inoculadas en THIO a 37 °C; durante 14 días, con los controles. Para el análisis metalográfico, se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 30 agujas de cada marca, y se prepararon y observaron mediante un microscopio estereoscópico (40 ×, Zeiss Stemi, Oberkochen, Alemania); se obtuvieron fotos del área de las secciones transversales de las agujas.

  Resultados No se encontraron microorganismos en la prueba de esterilidad. La prueba metalográfica mostró que las agujas fueron confeccionadas de acero inoxidable martensítico revenido, sin irregularidades ni recubrimientos.

  Conclusiones Las agujas presentan esterilidad y morfología adecuadas para su uso.

• English

  Objective To biologically and morphologically characterize acupuncture needles.

  Methods To determine the presence of bacteria and fungi, a sterility test was performed. 10 needles of each commercial brand were evaluated (Dong Bang, South Korea; Cloud & Dragon, China; Dong Bang DBC 108, South Korea), randomly collected under aseptic conditions. Growth medias (fluid thioglycollate medium [THIO] and trypticase-soy medium [TSB]) were prepared and positive (10 μl of Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 1137 strain in THIO and 10 μl of Candida albicans ATCC1023 strain in TSB) and negative controls (without inoculum) were obtained. The packages were disinfected with 70% alcohol. Each needle was removed from its package and transferred into the growth mediums, until 10 inoculated samples for each commercial brand were obtained (n = 5). Inoculated samples in TSB were incubated at 25 °C and those in THIO at 37 °C; for 14 days with controls. For metallographic analysis, 30 needles from each brand were randomly selected, prepared and standardized to be observed under stereoscopic microscope (40 ×, Zeiss Stemi, Oberkochen, Germany), obtaining photos of the cross-sectional area of the needles.

  Results No microorganisms were found in the sterility test. The metallographic test showed that the needles were made from a martensitic stainless-steel alloy, without irregularities or coatings.

  Conclusions The needles have adequate sterility and morphology for their use.