Molecular Bioburden of the Lens Storage Case for Contact Lens–Related Keratitis. Issue 12 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsiao, Yu-Ting; Fang, Po-Chiung; Chen, Jiunn-Liang; Hsu, Shiuh-Liang; Chao, Tsai-Ling; Yu, Hun-Ju; Lai, Yu-Hsuan; Huang, Yu-Ting; Kuo, Ming-Tse
• Is Part Of: Cornea. Volume 37:Issue 12(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: contact lens -- keratitis -- lens care system -- dot hybridization assay -- bioburden; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornée -- Périodiques; 617.719
• DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001699
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3740

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To elucidate the bioburden of a lens care system in patients with contact lens (CL)-related keratitis. Methods: In this prospective case–control study, the CL storage case was used as the target of bioburden assessment. Participants were CL wearers with (n = 26) or without (n = 24) keratitis in southern Taiwan. The case fluid sample was consecutively collected and assessed using a dot hybridization assay (DHA) for bioburden assessment. The DHA was composed of 3 universal bacterial probes for detecting all bacteria, genus-specific probes for Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, and 1 probe for Acanthamoeba . The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the differentiating performance of a probe. Results: The storage case bioburden was significantly higher in those with CL-related keratitis than in control subjects; patients with CL-related keratitis had stronger standardized signals in all universal bacterial probes. Moreover, in the cases of these patients, the bioburden was significantly heavier in confirmed infectious keratitis than in presumed noninfectious keratitis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that stronger signals in all 3 universal bacterial probes and the Pseudomonas probe might suggest that the wearers have infectious keratitis. Only the storage case of the Acanthamoeba keratitis case showed positive detection by the Acanthamoeba probe. Conclusions: A heavier bioburden in the lens storage case was associated with a higher risk of CL-related keratitis and infectious keratitis. Inappropriate maintenance of the CL will lead to microbial contamination and transfer the pathogen onto the ocular surface causing keratitis accordingly. The DHA assessment for the lens storage case might provide an alternative way to differentiate infectious from noninfectious CL-related keratitis.