Contamination of contact lens storage cases of asymptomatic refractive surgery candidates.

PURPOSE To examine the rates of contamination of contact lens storage cases of refractive surgery candidates and compare the growth yields of the traditional method of culturing and a broth-based method. METHODS Thirty contact lens storage cases of 16 asymptomatic refractive surgery candidates were studied. Samples from the lens storage case fluid were inoculated into Bactec Peds Plus F broth (Becton Dickinson) and also directly onto blood agar, chocolate agar, and Sabouraud dextrose agar ("traditional method"). Another sample was processed for amoebal contamination. The rate of contamination of cases and the types of pathogens were evaluated for the broth-based and traditional culturing methods. Correlation between right and left storage cases of the same patient was defined as contamination of the two compartments with the same pathogen or pathogens. To avoid statistical bias, only one compartment was included in the study for these patients. RESULTS Four storage cases were omitted due to growth correlation between right and left storage cases. Of the remaining 26 storage cases, 16 (61.5%) were found to be contaminated using the broth-based method and 10 (38.5%) using the traditional method (P=.011). High contamination rates were observed regardless of the type of disinfecting solution or type of contact lens used. CONCLUSIONS The broth-based method had significantly greater culture yield than the traditional method. The high rates of contamination of contact lens storage cases of refractive surgery patients may put this cohort at greater risk than non-contact lens wearing candidates for developing postoperative infections.

[1]  B. Holden,et al.  Contact Lens Case Contamination During Daily Wear of Silicone Hydrogels , 2010, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[2]  Mahmoud Ghannoum,et al.  Microbial Contamination of Contact Lenses, Lens Care Solutions, and Their Accessories: A Literature Review , 2010, Eye & contact lens.

[3]  F. Stapleton,et al.  Profile and Frequency of Microbial Contamination of Contact Lens Cases , 2010, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[4]  K. Y. Seo,et al.  Antibiotic susceptibility of conjunctival bacterial isolates from refractive surgery patients. , 2009, Ophthalmology.

[5]  K. Caumo,et al.  Acanthamoeba spp. and bacterial contamination in contact lens storage cases and the relationship to user profiles , 2008, Parasitology Research.

[6]  H. Hashemi,et al.  Corneal stability after discontinued soft contact lens wear. , 2008, Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.

[7]  P. Cho,et al.  Microbial contamination of contact lenses and lens care accessories of soft contact lens wearers (university students) in Hong Kong , 2007, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[8]  A. Kratz,et al.  Broth culture yield vs traditional approach in the work-up of endophthalmitis. , 2006, American journal of ophthalmology.

[9]  S. Naroo,et al.  Factors influencing patient choice of refractive surgery or contact lenses and choice of centre. , 2006, Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.

[10]  T. Lifshitz,et al.  Broth cultures yield vs traditional approach in the workup of infectious keratitis , 2006, Eye.

[11]  A. Naseri,et al.  Predicting time to refractive stability after discontinuation of rigid contact lens wear before refractive surgery. , 2005, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[12]  D. Azar,et al.  Infections following laser in situ keratomileusis: an integration of the published literature. , 2004, Survey of ophthalmology.

[13]  C. McGhee,et al.  Defining the content of patient questionnaires: reasons for seeking laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia , 2002, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[14]  L. Willes,et al.  A prospective, randomized comparison of the use versus non-use of topical corticosteroids after laser in situ keratomileusis. , 2001, Ophthalmology.

[15]  W. Pirzada,et al.  Laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia of -1 to -3.50 diopters. , 1997, Journal of refractive surgery.

[16]  Javier Bermúdez,et al.  Comparative study of the microbial flora on contact lenses, in lens cases, and in maintenance liquids , 1996 .

[17]  L. Wilson,et al.  Resistance of adhered bacteria to rigid gas permeable contact lens solutions. , 1995, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[18]  T. Gray,et al.  Acanthamoeba, bacterial, and fungal contamination of contact lens storage cases. , 1995, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[19]  S. Kwitko,et al.  Bacterial contamination in soft contact lens wearers. , 1995, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[20]  J. Stein,et al.  A comparative study of the microbiologic effectiveness of chemical disinfectants and peroxide-neutralizer systems. , 1995, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[21]  B. J. Clark,et al.  Microbial contamination of cases used for storing contact lenses. , 1994, The Journal of infection.

[22]  B. J. Clark,et al.  Microbial contamination of contact lens cases in the west of Scotland. , 1993, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[23]  N. Efron,et al.  Microbial flora in eyes of current and former contact lens wearers , 1992, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[24]  L. Wilson,et al.  Microbial contamination of contact lens storage cases and solutions. , 1990, American journal of ophthalmology.

[25]  D. Easty,et al.  Contamination of contact lens storage cases by Acanthamoeba and bacteria. , 1990, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[26]  D. Bruckner,et al.  Microbial contamination of contact lens care systems. , 1987, American journal of ophthalmology.

[27]  M. Callender,et al.  Bacterial Flora of the Eye and Contact Lens Cases during Hydrogel Lens Wear , 1986, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[28]  N. Singh,et al.  Bacteriological evaluation of conjunctiva, contact lens storage cases and solutions during contact lens wear. , 2007, Indian journal of pathology & microbiology.

[29]  L. Bevanger,et al.  Microbial contamination of contact lens cases among medical students. , 1996, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.