Non-steroidal anti inflammatory agents decrease bacterial colonisation of contact lenses and prevent adhesion to...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bacterial contamination of contact lenses (CL) poses a significant risk for eye infections.
• Developing effective strategies to prevent microbial adhesion to CLs and ocular surfaces is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), including salicylic acid, sodium diclofenac, and ketorolac, in preventing bacterial colonization of CLs.
• To assess the inhibitory effect of these NSAIDs on bacterial adhesion to human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells.
• To determine the cytotoxicity of these agents to HCE cells.

Main Methods:

• Contact lenses pre-colonized with common ocular pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae) were treated with NSAIDs.
• Bacterial viability on CLs and adhesion to HCE cells were quantified.
• Cytotoxicity of NSAIDs to HCE cells was assessed using the MTT assay.

Main Results:

• All tested NSAIDs demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in bacterial colonization on CLs.
• Salicylic acid completely inhibited colonization by all tested bacterial species at 100 mM and exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity.
• Salicylic acid significantly inhibited the adhesion of P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis to HCE cells.

Conclusions:

• Salicylic acid shows potential for integration into anti-bacterial strategies to prevent contact lens contamination.
• NSAIDs represent a promising class of compounds for developing novel anti-bacterial agents for ocular applications.