ESTUDIO IN VITRO DE LA CAPACIDAD DE GERMINACIÓN DE Aspergillus fumigatus EN LOS MATERIALES DE LENTES DE CONTACTO BLANDOS Y EFICACIA DE LAS SOLUCIONES MULTIPROPÓSITO CONTRA ESTE MICROORGANISMO

Abstract

Use of soft contact lenses medicated as well as cosmetic is routine. In spite of its comfort, they have a highprobability of being contaminated with microorganisms and must be regularly disinfected for itspreservation. Aspergillus fumigatus is a cosmopolitan fungus, and is frequently associated with micosislike keratitis. In this study capacity of A. fumigatus to proliferate in five materials of lenses: three ofhidrogel (Alphafilcon A, Omafilcon A, Polymacon) and two of hidrogel silicone (Lotrafilcon and BalafilconA), was evaluated. It was found that fungus can grow in Balafilcon A in greater proportion, and it wassmaller in Polymacon. In addition, disinfection capacity of five multipurpose solutions was evaluated,which differ from others because of antimicrobial component. Multipurpose solutions showed to have afungistatic effect, except solution with hydrogen peroxide that displayed a fungicidal effect. Solutionswith Trimetropim did not show any effect on the microorganism. Also, disinfectant capacity of materialspreviously infected with A. fumigatus was evaluated for each solution. In this case, solution with hydrogenperoxide showed to be the most effective.

Keywords

• Aspergillus fumigatus
• disinfection
• hydrophilic contact lenses
• multipurpose solutions