biostudies-literatureGomes Tdos SInstituto de Salud Carlos IIICoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deportee0154246https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4841564biostudies-literatureUnknown11(4)<h4>Purpose</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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 aPloS oneAcanthamoeba spp. in Contact Lenses from Healthy Individuals from Madrid, Spain.PMC4841564BEX 9132/13-9PI12/02725AP2009-0415Izquierdo FAngulo SSanchez MLBueno SDel Aguila CHurtado CRedondo FGomes Tdos SVaccaro LMagnet AFenoy SfalseAcanthamoeba spp. in Contact Lenses from Healthy Individuals from Madrid, Spain.<h4>Purpose</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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 a2016-01-01T00:00:00Z20162025-04-26T08:14:21.367Z2019-03-26T22:53:50ZS-EPMC48415642710518310.1371/journal.pone.0154246