Survival of Acanthamoeba in contact lens rinse solutions.
Acanthamoeba may cause a severe keratitis in contact lens wearers. Since most sterilization techniques require rinsing the lenses prior to insertion, contaminated solutions represent a potential vector for transmission of Acanthamoeba. The ability of rinse solutions to sustain an inoculum of Acanthamoeba polyphaga was investigated. A. polyphaga was exposed to 0.1% benzalkonium chloride, 0.001% thimerosal/0.1% edetate disodium, 0.1% edetate disodium, saline, tap water, and distilled water. The status of the organism was evaluated with direct microscopic counts and cultures to confirm viability. Incubation with 0.1% edetate disodium, saline, tap water, and distilled water resulted in the maintenance of reduced populations of viable organisms for 7 days. Benzalkonium chloride preserved saline and solutions containing thimerosal with edetate rendered the Acanthamoeba nonviable.
Nauheim
R C
RC
Eye & Ear Institute of Pittsburgh, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Brockman
R J
RJ
Stopak
S S
SS
Turgeon
P W
PW
Keleti
G
G
Roat
M I
MI
Thoft
R A
RA
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003261:Contact Lenses; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000494:pharmacology; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000494:pharmacology
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013849:Thimerosal; D004492:Edetic Acid