Antifungal efficacy of soft contact lens disinfecting solutions against Fusarium solani and Candida albicans

Abstract

Purpose:  The aim was to evaluate the disinfection properties of six multi‐purpose contact lens disinfection solutions (MPDS) available in Iran against Fusarium solani and Candida albicans, based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14729 guidelines.

Methods:  Three lots each of six multi‐purpose solutions, namely, Renu MultiPlus, Solo Care Aqua, All‐Clean soft, Contact All In One Advanced, Hippia, Ginza Multi‐Purpose Solution and 0.9% normal saline solution were inoculated with standard strains of Fusarium solani (ATCC 36031) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). Surviving fungi were determined by counting colony‐forming units on recovery plates at specified times. The mean log reduction in fungal numbers at the manufacturer's minimum recommended disinfection time was determined and compared with the criteria for stand‐alone disinfection products for each MPDS against each fungal strain.

Results:  Renu MultiPlus, Contact All In One Advanced and All‐Clean Soft were effective in achieving the mean 1.0 log reduction in fungal numbers, based on ISO 14729 stand‐alone primary acceptance criteria. Solo Care Aqua failed to achieve the ISO 14729 stand‐alone primary acceptance criteria for Candida albicans. The other solutions were not effective against test microorganisms after the specified times.

Conclusions:  There were differences in the rates of disinfection efficacy. Generally, Renu MultiPlus, Contact All In One Advanced and All‐Clean Soft exceeded the primary acceptance criteria of the ISO 14729 guidelines for stand‐alone contact lens solutions.

Key words:

• candida
• contact lenses
• disinfecting solution
• fusarium
• ISO stand alone test

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr Hosein Vatanpour and Dr Mehdi Tabatabaie for their technical support during the research.