Adherence of Aspergillus species to soft contact lenses and attempts to inhibit the adherence

The aim of this research was to assess the adherence of various Aspergillus species (A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus) to contact lenses with different water content and to attempt to inhibit the adherence of Aspergillus spp. to the contact lenses by a chitin derivative (CSE). Adherence of Aspergillus spp. to lenses with higher water content was greater. Differences were found between the adherence levels of various Aspergillus species to contact lenses with different water content. CSE significantly inhibits the adherence in vitro of A. niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus to soft contact lenses. These findings suggest a possibility for prevention of fungal ocular infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in wearers of contact lenses. Zusammenfassung. Ziel der Studie war, die Adha¨renz von Aspergillus‐Arten (A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus) an Kontaktlinsen unterschiedlichen Wassergehaltes und die Adha¨renzhemmung durch das Chitinderivat CSE zu pru¨fen. Die Adha¨renz nimmt mit dem Wassergehalt der Kontaktlinsen zu und ist abha¨ngig von der Aspergillus‐Spezies. CSE vermag die Aspergillus‐Adha¨renz an Kontaktlinsen signifikant zu hemmen. Das Ergebnis la¨sst die Mo¨glichkeit von Pra¨ventivmaßnahmen gegen Aspergillus‐Infektionen bei Kontaktlinsentra¨gern erhoffen.