title: Status of the effectiveness of contact lens solutions against keratitis-causing pathogens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effects of marketed contact lens disinfecting solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using ISO 14729 Stand-Alone Test for disinfecting solutions, bactericidal, fungicidal and amoebicidal assays of eight different contact lens solutions including: ReNu MultiPlus, DuraPlus, Ultimate Plus, OptiFree Express, Kontex Clean, Kontex Normal, Kontex Multisol extra(+), Kontex Soak were performed. The efficacy of contact lens solutions was determined against keratitis-causing microbes, namely: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium solani and Acanthamoeba castellanii.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that ReNu MultiPlus, DuraPlus and OptiFree Express were effective in killing bacterial and fungal pathogens as per manufacturer's minimum recommended disinfection time. Ultimate Plus was effective against F. solani and MRSA but ineffective against P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens and S. aureus. Of concern however, is that none of the locally formulated contact lens disinfecting solutions from Pakistan, i.e., Kontex Clean, Kontex Normal, Kontex Multisol extra(+) and Kontex Soak were effective against any of the keratitis-causing organisms tested. All eight contact lens disinfecting solutions were unable to destroy Acanthamoeba cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because such ineffective contact lens disinfection solutions present a major risk to public health, these findings are of great concern to the health officials and to the manufacturers of the contact lens disinfection solutions and effective solutions are needed, along with emphasis on proper hygiene for contact lens care and special guidelines for developing countries regarding the manufacture and storage of contact lens disinfecting solutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sahreena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakhundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: naveed5438@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions
keywords: Cleaning solution; Contact lens; Microbial keratitis