title: Identification of fungi growing within soft contact lenses: a report from the neotropics.
abstract: We isolated and identified 17 fungi within the matrix of 17 soft contact lenses (SCLs). This work was done in a neotropical location where climatic conditions favor year-round fungal growth. The fungi identified belong to eight genera, four of which have not previously been found contaminating the surface or the matrix of SCLs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Alergia Experimental, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Magran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alson
mesh_terms: D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D014329:Tropical Climate