[Correlation of 55 samples of contact lens fluid and direct swabbings of the eye surface of symptomatic wearers of contact lenses].
BACKGROUND
The microbiological examination of contact lens storage solutions may reveal the etiological organisms responsible for keratitis and additionally harbour environmental contaminants.


METHODS
From 1995 to 1998, conjunctival and corneal smears and scrapes, as well as the storage solutions of 55 soft contact lens wearers were examined microbiologically in a prospective non-randomised cohort study involving 53x unilateral and 2x bilateral cases of keraitis.


RESULTS
In 42 of the in-use contact lens storage solutions, the following organisms were found: 8x Bacillus sp., 7x P. aeruginosa and 8x other pseudomonads, 6x Alcaligenes xylosans, 4x Serratia liquefaciens, 4x Enterobacter sp., 4x coagulase negative staphylococci, 3x Serratia marcescens, 3x S. aureus, 2x Streptococcus faecalis, 1x Klebsiella oxytoca and 5x Acanthameba. A significant correlation of ocular cultures was found for Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Serratia, S. aureus, S. faecalis and Acanthameba, but not for Bacillus, Alcaligenes, and coagulase negative staphylococci. Fungi were not found. The more pronounced the clinical picture, the more Gram-negative bacteria were isolated.


CONCLUSIONS
The microbiological examination of soft contact lens storage solutions of 55 keratitis patients confirmed that the microbes responsible were to be found in the fluid, in addition to environmental contaminants.
Bialasiewicz
A A
AA
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik des Universitäts-Krankenhauses Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20251 Hamburg. bialasie@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Bischoff
G
G
Walter
A
A
Engelmann
K
K
Richard
G
G
D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000209:etiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000382:microbiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D018639:Contact Lens Solutions