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In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver Lens Cases Used With a Multipurpose Disinfecting Solution
Ananya Datta1, Mark Willcox1, Fiona Stapleton1
1School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia.
Purpose:
We evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of silver-copolymerized barrel cases compared to nonsilver barrel cases in combination with a multipurpose disinfecting solution (MPDS).
Methods:
The ability of silver and nonsilver cases to reduce the number of adherent Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was assessed. Additionally, the efficacy of silver cases along with MPDS was investigated in the presence of organic soil and contact lenses. Contact lens cases were challenged with 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of five bacterial species. Adherent bacteria were dislodged from lens cases and surviving organisms enumerated.
Results:
Significantly lower numbers of microbes were recovered from silver cases compared to controls, for all bacterial strains (P < 0.005). The combination of silver case along with MPDS showed added efficacy against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria with a maximum reduction of 3.00 ± 0.5 Log10 CFU/mL, compared to the efficacy of silver cases alone (1.97 ± 0.4 Log10 CFU/mL). The addition of organic soil and a contact lens resulted in a significant (P < 0.005) decrease (a maximum of 1.68 ± 0.2 log10 CFU/mL) in disinfection efficacy when MPDS and either silver or control cases were used.
Conclusions:
Silver-copolymerized barrel cases work on conjunction with a hypochlorite producing MPDS in the presence of contact lenses and organic soil to reduce microbial contamination of lens cases.
Transitional Relevance:
Silver-copolymerized barrel contact lens cases show promising in vitro antibacterial activity against bacterial types commonly implicated in contact lens-related corneal infections. This intervention may limit storage case contamination during use and reduce the frequency of contact lens-related microbial disease.
Insights
Silver-copolymerized contact lens cases significantly reduce bacterial contamination compared to standard cases. Their combination with multipurpose disinfecting solution (MPDS) enhances antibacterial activity, potentially lowering infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Microbiology
- Biomaterials and Nanotechnology
Background:
- Contact lens wear is associated with microbial keratitis, often linked to contaminated lens storage cases.
- Standard contact lens cases may harbor bacteria, contributing to ocular infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of silver-copolymerized contact lens cases versus non-silver cases.
- To assess the combined effect of silver cases and a multipurpose disinfecting solution (MPDS) on bacterial reduction.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial adherence and survival assays using Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on silver and non-silver cases.
- Testing the efficacy of silver cases with MPDS in the presence of organic soil and contact lenses.
- Enumeration of surviving bacteria after disinfection challenges.
Main Results:
- Silver cases demonstrated significantly lower microbial recovery across all tested bacterial strains (P < 0.005).
- The combination of silver cases and MPDS achieved a maximum 3.00 ± 0.5 Log10 CFU/mL reduction, superior to silver cases alone (1.97 ± 0.4 Log10 CFU/mL).
- Organic soil and contact lenses reduced disinfection efficacy by a maximum of 1.68 ± 0.2 Log10 CFU/mL for both MPDS and case types.
Conclusions:
- Silver-copolymerized cases, in conjunction with hypochlorite-producing MPDS, effectively reduce microbial contamination in contact lens cases.
- This technology shows promise for limiting case contamination and decreasing the incidence of contact lens-related microbial diseases.
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