Bacterial contamination of hydrophilic contact lens solutions marketed in Spain

Bacterial contamination of hydrophilic contact lens solutions may play an important role in contact lens-associated ocular infections. This study investigated bacterial contamination in 52 different hydrophilic contact lens solutions marketed in Spain by 12 different companies. We filtered the entire contents of 5 new, factory-sealed bottles from each of the 52 brands and cultured the fitter on a neutralizing broth plate. Bacteria were cultured, isolated, and identified from 29 of the 260 bottles tested (11.15%). Eight of the 52 brands had at least 1 of the 5 bottles contaminated (15.38%). Contaminated solutions originated from four different companies. One manufacturer contributed most of the positive cases due, presumably, to an industrial contamination by Pseudomonas fluorescens. The rest of the culture-positive bottles were contaminated by Bacillus spp. and Oerskovia spp.