目的：
戴隐形眼镜需要了解可能的污染物，这是多种并发症的致病因素。本研究的重点是识别隐形眼镜相关细菌中潜在的病原体和毒力相关标记的存在。

方法：
从隐形眼镜或从大学学生收集的清洁溶液中分离出细菌污染物。使用常规方法鉴定分离物，然后进行16S rRNA基因测序，并筛选毒力因子的存在，所述毒力因子包括荚膜存在，粘附，血清抗性，铁螯合，血细胞凝集和溶血。此外，还监测抗生素抗性谱。

结果：
在79％（57个中的45个）镜片中观察到污染。基于16S rRNA测序Bacillus sp。被发现最丰富（26％）。在75.8％分离物中记录至少三种致病特征的存在。在致病特征中，发现胶囊存在是最普遍的特征（73％），其次是溶血素产生（65％），血清抗性（61％），血细胞凝集（56％），铁螯合（50％）和聚苯乙烯粘附。 （42％）。在66.13％的分离株中记录了多种抗生素抗性。基于毒力标记的聚类分析将所有分离株分成两组。发现潜在的病原体和非病原体在隐形眼镜病例的污染物中同样频繁。

结论：
目前的工作提供了证据表明病原菌可以在隐形眼镜或晶状体溶液中粘附和存活。它强调了开发保护隐形眼镜和镜片护理配件的新方法的必要性。针对胶囊形成的药物可以提供用于治疗或用于清洁溶液的良好选择。

PURPOSE:
Wearing contact lens requires awareness about possible contaminants, the causative agents of multiple complications. The present study focused on identification of potential pathogens and presence of virulence associated markers in contact lens associated bacteria.

METHODS:
Bacterial contaminants were isolated from contact lenses or cleaning solutions collected from University students. Isolates were identified using conventional methods followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and screened for the presence of virulence factors which included capsular presence, adhesion, serum resistance, iron chelation, haemagglutination and hemolysis. Moreover, antibiotic resistance profile was also monitored.

RESULTS:
Contamination was observed in 79% (45 of 57) of lenses. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing Bacillus sp. was found to be most abundant (26%). The presence of at least three pathogenic characteristics was recorded in 75.8% isolates. Among the pathogenic characteristics, capsule presence was found to be the most prevalent character (73%) followed by hemolysin production (65%), serum resistance (61%), haemagglutination (56%), iron chelation (50%) and polystyrene adherence (42%). Multiple antibiotic resistance was recorded in 66.13% isolates. Cluster analysis on the basis of virulence markers separated all isolates in two groups. Potential pathogens and non-pathogens were found to be equally frequent among contaminants of contact lens cases.

CONCLUSION:
The present work provides evidence that pathogenic bacteria can adhere and survive in contact lens or lens solution. It highlights the need for the development of new methods to protect contact lenses and lens care accessories. Drugs targeting capsule formation may offer a good option for treatment or use in cleaning solution.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30337140