Haemophilus influenzae adherent to contact lenses associated with production of acute ocular inflammation

Abstract

Ten episodes of adverse responses to contact lens wear, including contact lens-induced acute red eye (CLARE), in which Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from contact lenses and/or from one of the external ocular sites at the time of the event, are described. All episodes occurred in patients wearing disposable hydrogel lenses on a 6-night extended-wear schedule. Two of the patients had recurrent episodes. H. influenzae was usually isolated in large numbers, and other bacteria or fungi colonizing the contact lens or the external ocular surface were usually present in low numbers. Those patients who were colonized with H. influenzae were more than 100 times as likely to have had a CLARE or infiltrative response than those subjects who were not colonized with this bacterium. H. influenzae colonization of the contact lens and eye may be subsequent to colonization of the nasopharynx because four of the seven patients presented with fever at the time of the event, with concurrent upper respiratory tract infection. Contact lens wearers should be made aware of the potential risk of CLARE associated with the wearing of contact lenses for extended periods during and subsequent to upper respiratory tract infection.

Identification of unknown ocular pathogens in clinically suspected eye infections using ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis

“…Several species of the family Enterobacteriaceae have been identified in endophthalmitis and conjunctivitis [11,12]. A case of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Sphingomonas paucimobilis has been reported [13] as has an infection with H. influenzae associated with use of contact lenses [14]. A case of keratitis has been attributed to Chryseobacterium meningosepticum [15].…”

Biocidal efficacy of multipurpose solutions against Gram‐negative organisms associated with corneal infiltrative events

“…5,6 Symptomatic CIEs can result in substantial patient burden, including interruption of contact lens wear, visits to an optometrist, ophthalmologist and/or emergency department and loss of work time. 5 Several factors are associated with increased risk for CIEs, including male gender, 7,8 ametropia of 5.00 D or more, 3 poor hand hygiene, 9 prior corneal vascularisation, 10 smoking, 8,11 age up to 25 years or greater than 50 years, 3,10 overnight contact lens wear, 3,8,9,11,12 contact lens wear six days or more per week 9,12 and bacterial adhesion to contact lenses (lens bioburden). 8,[12][13][14][15] These risk factors have repeatedly been shown to have a high degree of correlation with CIEs.…”

Acute red eye (non‐ulcerative keratitis) associated with mini‐scleral contact lens wear for keratoconus

“…10 Both Gram-negative Haemophilus influenzae bacteria and Gram-positive Strepto-coccus pneumoniae organisms have been isolated from the lenses of patients with acute red eye in extended wear. 21,22 Other Gramnegative bacteria identified in lenses and solutions of patients with acute red eye are Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 17 The contact lens case is frequently contaminated and is also known to be associated with contamination of the lens itself.…”