'Severely infectious' bacterial strain can survive in contact lens solution

Scientists have found a bacterial strain that is associated with more severe infections and survives longer in contact lens disinfectant solution.

The study found that this different strain of the keratitis-causing bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed enhanced resistance to the disinfectant.

According to the researchers from University of Liverpool and Royal Liverpool University NHS Trust, the majority of clinical strains were killed within 10 minutes of being immersed in the contact lens solution, comparable with the standard reference strain.

However, the researchers found that there was one clinical isolate, P. aeruginosa strain 39016, which is associated with a more severe case of keratitis with a prolonged healing time, was able to survive for over four hours, much longer than the reference strain.

Lead researcher Craig Winstanley, said that microbial keratitis can be devastating for a patient and it is important that the risk of developing this condition is reduced in contact lens wearers by improving contact lens disinfectant solutions.

The study was presented at Society for General Microbiology Annual conference in Liverpool.