Acanthamoeba spp. in Contact Lenses from Healthy Individuals from Madrid, Spain.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a painful and potentially blinding corneal infection caused by Acanthamoeba spp. In Madrid, environmental studies have demonstrated a high presence of these free-living amoebae in tap water. Since most of AK cases occur in contact lenses (CL) wearers with inadequate hygiene habits, the presence of Acanthamoeba in discarded CL has been studied and compared with other common etiological agents of keratitis, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods

One hundred and seventy-seven healthy individuals from Madrid contributed their discarded CL and answered a questionnaire on hygiene habits. DNA was extracted from the CL solution and analyzed by real-time PCR for Acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus a

SUBMITTER: Gomes Tdos S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4841564 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature