No abstract

Water storage tanks promote colonization of domestic water with FLA, including Acanthamoeba, and hence increase the risk of AK. This accounts for the significantly greater incidence of AK in the UK and supports advice to avoid using tap water in contact lens care routines.

Bacterial biofilm formation on contact lenses (CLs), and CL storage cases may be a risk factor for CL-associated corneal infection and may explain the persistence of organisms in CL storage cases. This study evaluated biofilm formation on, and microbial contamination of, CLs and CL storage cases from patients with microbial keratitis. Contact lenses and CL storage cases from 20 wearers with microbial keratitis were sampled microbiologically and visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Culture results from the cornea were also noted. Bacterial biofilm was present more frequently (P < 0.05) on CL storage case surfaces (17/20) compared with CL surfaces (11/20) and biofilm density was significantly greater on case surfaces (P < 0.05). There was no association between poor compliance and microbial contamination of the CL storage case, nor between poor compliance and biofilm formation or density on the CL or CL storage case. Biofilm formation occurred equally frequently with hydrogen peroxide and chlorine release care systems. Microbial keratitis in CL wearers is frequently associated with bacterial biofilm in the CL storage case. Despite the use of current CL disinfection systems, the CL storage case is a favourable environment for proliferation of certain organisms. Biofilm on CLs may prolong the retention time of organisms at the ocular surface and increase their potential pathogenicity.

No abstract

Background/aims-Although adjunctive use of antiproliferative agents improves the success rate of glaucoma filtration surgery it profoundly alters the morphology of the filtering bleb. In view of these structural changes, which have been suggested to predispose to bleb infection, the relative importance of potential risk factors in the development of posttrabeculectomy endophthalmitis was investigated. (Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:1349-1353 Late endophthalmitis is an infrequent and potentially devastating complication of glaucoma filtering surgery. Not only may it occur in the unsuspecting patient many years after the procedure and progress with great rapidity, but the organisms responsible are often more virulent than those associated with post-cataract endophthalmitis. Methods-