Isolation of Contaminating Bacteria from Aqueous Solution of Contact Eye Lenses

Background: Contact lenses have been widely used as an alternative to spectacles both in developed and non-developing countries. However, under certain circumstances, adverse responses can occur during contact lens wear and several microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and free living amoebae—can cause several eye infections. This study was aimed to isolate contaminating bacteria from eye lenses solution.

Methods: The samples were collected from solution bottles of eye lenses with the help of sterile cotton tipped swabs that were pre- moistened with sterile normal saline, then sample directly cultured on solid media. All samples were inoculated on to blood agar, MacConkey’s agar were incubated at 37oC for 24-48 h, Cultures were considered negative if no growth was detected within 48 hours of incubation. Bacterial culture obtained was identified using Gram’s staining, on the basis of culture diagnosis by growing on media and performing biochemical test.

Results: A total of 150 samples from aqueous solution of contact eye lenses were used to isolate bacteria from it. Out of these samples 84 bacteria were isolated from aqueous solution while 66 were without growth. The most frequent isolated bacteria were P.aeurogenosa 39(46%) followed by S. epidermidis 27 (32%) then S. aureus 12 (14%) and E. coli 6(7%) respectively which is significant result (P-Value of 0.005).

Conclusion: The study revealed that contact lenses solution under investigation contains different types of bacteria and pseudomonas is more frequent bacteria. Furthermore the contact lenses with multiple use and users which not have difference types of bacteria growth.