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Wirkung von Mikrowellenbestrahlung auf Akanthamöben: eine geeignete Möglichkeit zur Kontaktlinsenbehältersterilisation?

Effect of microwave treatment to Acanthamoeba: a possibility of contact lens storage case sterilisation?

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

MitAkanthamöben kontaminierte Kontaktlinsenbehälter gelten als Hauptrisikofaktor für eine mögliche Infektion des Auges. Führt die Mikrowellenbestrahlung mit handelsüblichen Geräten zur Abtötung vonAkanthamöbenzysten und-trophozoiten, und kann sie vom Kontaktlinsenträger zur Behälterhygiene eingesetzt werden?

Material und Methode

Kontaktlinsenbehälter zur Aufbewahrung weicher und harter Kontaktlinsen wurden mit Zysten und Trophozoiten der SpeziesA. hatchetti, A. castellanii undA. comandoni beimpft. Eine der Testserien wurde mit dehydrierten Zysten durchgeführt. Die Bestrahlungsdauer betrug 3, 5 und 8 Minuten.

Ergebnisse

Bereits nach einer Bestrahlungsdauer von 3 Minuten im feuchten Milieu kam es zur vollständigen Abtötung der Zysten und Trophozoiten aller drei Spezies. Bei der Bestrahlung dehydrierter Zysten konnten die Zysten der SpeziesA. hatchetti undA. castellanii auch nach einer Bestrahlungsdauer von 8 Minuten nicht vollständig zerstört werden. Die verwendeten Kontaktlinsenbehälter zeigten keine Beeinträchtigung durch die Bestrahlung.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Mikrowellenbestrahlung von Kontaktlinsenaufbewahrungsbehältern im feuchten Milieu (Behälterbefüllung mit Leitungswasser) stellt für den Kontaktlinsenträger eine sichere und leicht zu bewerkstelligende Maßnahme in der Kontaktlinsenhygiene dar, um einer möglichenAkanthamöbeninfektion des Auges vorzubeugen.

Summary

Background

Microbially contaminated contact lens storage cases are considered to be a predisposing risk factor forAcanthamoeba keratitis. What kind of effect does microwave irradiation have on contact lens cases contaminated withAcanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites?

Material and methods

Different types of contact lens cases were contaminated with trophozoites and cysts of three differentAcanthamoeba species(A. hatchetti, A. castellanii, A. comandoni) and exposed to microwave irradiation for 3, 5 and 8 minutes respectively. One of the three test series was run with dehydrated cysts.

Results

After an irradiation period of 3 minutes under humid conditions cysts and trophozoites of all three strains were completely destroyed. Dehydrated cysts ofA. hatchetti andA. castellanii were not killed by irradiation. There were no negative effects of irradiation on the contact lens cases themselves.

Conclusion

Acanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites are effectively killed by microwave irradiation on condition that irradiation takes place in humid conditions. This can be easily achieved by filling the contact lens storage cases with tap water. We recommend microwave irradiation as a cheap and save method for the sterilization of contact lens cases in order to avoid a possibleAcanthamoeba infection of the eye.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ.-Augenklinik Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 4, 8036, Graz, Österreich

    K. Hiti, C. Faschinger & E. M. Haller-Schober

  2. Abteilung für Parasitologie, Klinisches Institut für Hygiene der Universität Wien, Österreich

    J. Walochnik & H. Aspöck

  3. FA für Augenheilkunde und Optometrie, Graz

    B. Hiti

Authors
  1. K. Hiti
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  2. J. Walochnik
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  3. C. Faschinger
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  4. E. M. Haller-Schober
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  5. B. Hiti
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  6. H. Aspöck
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Correspondence to K. Hiti.

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Hiti, K., Walochnik, J., Faschinger, C. et al. Wirkung von Mikrowellenbestrahlung auf Akanthamöben: eine geeignete Möglichkeit zur Kontaktlinsenbehältersterilisation?. Spektrum Augeheilkd 17, 111–114 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03163130

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