title: Effects of time, temperature, and storage container on the growth of Fusarium species: implications for the worldwide Fusarium keratitis epidemic of 2004-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the effects of time, temperature, and container properties on the ability of ReNu with MoistureLoc (ReNuML; contains the antimicrobial agent alexidine) to inhibit growth of Fusarium species.
  
  
  METHODS
  ReNu with MoistureLoc was stored in its Bausch & Lomb (Rochester, New York) plastic or similarly sized glass containers for 1 and 4 weeks at room temperature, 42°C, and 56°C, and then tested for its ability to inhibit growth of 7 Fusarium isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ReNu with MoistureLoc stored in glass containers for 1 or 4 weeks at all 3 temperatures demonstrated no significant fungistatic deterioration. However, ReNuML stored at 56°C in its Bausch & Lomb plastic container demonstrated a statistically significant fungistatic deterioration compared with room temperature storage in its original plastic container or with glass container storage at any temperature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When exposed to elevated storage temperature, it appears that an interaction between ReNuML and its Bausch & Lomb plastic container adversely affects the fungistatic properties of ReNuML, which could have contributed to the Fusarium keratitis epidemic of 2004 through 2006.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health Systems, Management, and Policy, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, 3123 Research Blvd., Dayton, OH 45420-4006, USA. johndbullock@aol.com
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: B Laurel
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Harry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Khamis
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Warwar
mesh_terms: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005898:Glass; D014943:Global Health; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D010969:Plastics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D010969:Plastics