Association of Acinetobacter Species With Contact Lens–induced Adverse Responses

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Abstract
To determine the levels of Acinetobacter species associated with normal soft contact lens wear and to determine whether Acinetobacter species are involved in adverse reactions that occur during contact lens wear. Patients wore soft contact lenses on an extended-wear basis. The bacteria on lenses and ocular swabs during asymptomatic and symptomatic lens wear were identified using standard microbiologic methods. Acinetobacter species were isolated and identified from 16 (13%) of 126 patient samples. Greater numbers of Acinetobacter species were isolated from lenses of patients experiencing adverse responses than from asymptomatic patients. Acinetobacter species were isolated from patients experiencing symptomatic adverse responses in 4 (13%) of 32 cases. It appeared that Acinetobacter species colonized the eye of extended contact lens wearers at a time when the normal functioning of the eye was compromised by contact lens wear. When Acinetobacter species were in high numbers on a contact lens, an adverse response occurred. This may implicate Acinetobacter species as a contributing factor to adverse responses associated with contact lens wear.