Eye-Catching Microbes-Polyphasic Analysis of the Microbiota on Microscope Oculars Verifies Their Role as Fomites.

ABSTRACT: Microscopes are used in virtually every biological and medical laboratory. Previous cultivation-based studies have suggested that direct contact with microscope eyepieces increases the risk of eye infections. To obtain a deeper insight into the microbiota on oculars, we analysed 10 recently used university microscopes. Their left oculars were used for a cultivation-based approach, while the right oculars served for massive gene sequencing. After cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, the oculars were re-sampled and analysed again. All oculars were found to be contaminated with bacteria, with a maximum load of 1.7 × 10³ CFU cm^-2. MALDI Biotyping revealed mainly Cutibacterium (68%), Staphylococcus (14%) and Brevibacterium (10%), with the most abundant spe

SUBMITTER: Fritz B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7290821 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature