scholarly journals Microbiological quality in Finnish public swimming pools and whirlpools with special reference to free living amoebae: a risk factor for contact lens wearers?

1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Vesaluoma ◽  
S Kalso ◽  
L Jokipii ◽  
D Warhurst ◽  
A Ponka ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000476
Author(s):  
Anna Stellwagen ◽  
Cheryl MacGregor ◽  
Roger Kung ◽  
Aristides Konstantopoulos ◽  
Parwez Hossain

ObjectiveMicrobial keratitis is a sight-threatening complication of contact lens wear, which affects thousands of patients and causes a significant burden on healthcare services. This study aims to identify compliance with contact lens care recommendations and identify personal hygiene risk factors in patients who develop contact lens-related microbial keratitis.Methods and analysisA case–control study was conducted at the University Hospital Southampton Eye Casualty from October to December 2015. Two participant groups were recruited: cases were contact lens wearers presenting with microbial keratitis and controls were contact lens wearers without infection. Participants underwent face-to-face interviews to identify lens wear practices, including lens type, hours of wear, personal hygiene and sleeping and showering in lenses. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to compare groups.Results37 cases and 41 controls were identified. Showering in contact lenses was identified as the greatest risk factor (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 8.5; p=0.03), with showering daily in lenses compared with never, increasing the risk of microbial keratitis by over seven times (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 2.1 to 24.6; p=0.002). Other risks included sleeping in lenses (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 8.6; p=0.026), and being aged 25–39 (OR, 6.38; 95% CI, 1.56 to 26.10; p=0.010) and 40–54 (OR, 4.00; 95% CI 0.96 to 16.61; p=0.056).ConclusionThe greatest personal hygiene risk factor for contact lens-related microbial keratitis was showering while wearing lenses, with an OR of 3.1, which increased to 7.1 if patients showered daily in lenses. The OR for sleeping in lenses was 3.1, and the most at-risk age group was 25–54.


2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 2563-2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reanne Hughes ◽  
Peter W. Andrew ◽  
Simon Kilvington

ABSTRACT The activity of H2O2 against the resistant cyst stage of the pathogenic free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba was enhanced by the addition of KI and either horseradish peroxidase or soybean peroxidase or, to a lesser degree, lactoperoxidase. This resulted in an increase in the cysticidal activity of 3% (wt/vol) H2O2, and there was >3-log killing in 2 h, compared with the 6 h required for comparable results with the peroxide solution alone (P < 0.05). With 2% H2O2, enhancement was observed at all time points (P < 0.05), and total killing of the cyst inoculum occurred at 4 h, compared with 6 h for the peroxide alone. The activity of sublethal 1% H2O2 was enhanced to give 3-log killing after 8 h of exposure (P < 0.05). No enhancement was obtained when KCl or catalase was used as a substitute in the reaction mixtures. The H2O2 was not neutralized in the enhanced system during the experiments. However, in the presence of a platinum disk used to neutralize H2O2 in contact lens care systems, the enhanced 2% H2O2 system gave 2.8-log killing after 6 h or total cyst killing by 8 h, and total neutralization of the H2O2 occurred by 4 h. In contrast, 2% H2O2 alone resulted in <0.8-log killing of cysts in the presence of the platinum disk due to rapid (<1 h) neutralization of the peroxide. Our observations could result in significant improvement in the efficacy of H2O2 contact lens disinfection systems against Acanthamoeba cysts and prevention of acanthamoeba keratitis.


Investigation of the development of Haliotis tuberculata , Linnaeus, was undertaken as a natural sequel to an examination of the bionomics and anatomy of Haliotis (Crofts 1929, p. 159). It is an attempt to elucidate the organogenesis during the changing larval habits, in the hope of adding to the scanty ontogenetical evidence available towards solving the problems of gastropod evolution. Excellent accounts of the embryonic phase, including patiently worked out details of the cleavage and of gastrulation, have been published for Crepidula (Conklin 1897), Patella (Patten 1886; Wilson 1904; and Smith 1935), Trochus (Robert 1902), Physa (Wierzejski 1905), Dentalium (Wilson 1904). The only comprehensive accounts of gastropod larval development already published are of Paludina (Erlanger 1891; Tonniges 1896; Drummond 1902; Andersen 1924) and of Patella (Patten 1886; Smith I935). The accounts of Paludina elucidate the details of development of the coelom and its derivatives. The viviparous habit and consequent loss of free larval life in Paludina , however, make it a very unsuitable example of gastropod development. Evolutionary stages are more likely to be traced from the development of less specialized gastropods, an adequate selection of whose free-living larval stages can be obtained. The larval development of Patel, Acmaea, Trochus and Haliotis has been described, in varying completeness for the different genera. Patten’s work on Patella coerulea (1886) gives a description only of the beginning of organogenesis. After a lapse of fifty years a more detailed account of the development of P. vulgata has been given by Smith (1935). This work gives a new interpretation of the development of the mesoderm, of the muscles and of the nervous system. The dorsal retractor muscle of the larva, which Patten indicated for P. coerula , is shown in P. vulgata to be placed asymmetrically and torsion takes place “ under the action” of this muscle.


1995 ◽  
Vol 72 (SUPPLEMENT) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Roseman ◽  
Robin L. Chalmers ◽  
Gary R. Cutter
Keyword(s):  

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