title: Adherence of viable and nonviable bacteria to soft contact lenses.
abstract: Bacterial viability in bacterial adherence to new soft contact lenses (SCLs) was studied by exposing polymacon and lidofilcon A lenses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: L, live, untreated bacteria; H, bacteria heated for 1 h at 100 degrees C; and P, bacteria treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide for 1 h. Cultures of groups L, H, and P showed heavy, no, and minimal bacterial growth, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed significantly less bacteria on new SCLs in groups H and P. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that bacterial shape was mostly preserved in all groups, with marked intracellular and cell membrane changes and breaks (groups H and P), margination of intracellular electron-dense material (group H), and central and peripheral vacuolation (group P). Adherence to new SCLs appears to be an active process, as killed or altered bacteria adhere less.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Refojo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanninen
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kenyon
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure