Survival of Acanthamoeba in contact lens rinse solutions.

: Acanthamoeba may cause a severe keratitis in contact lens wearers. Since most sterilization techniques require rinsing the lenses prior to insertion, contaminated solutions represent a potential vector for transmission of Acanthamoeba. The ability of rinse solutions to sustain an inoculum of Acanthamoeba polyphaga was investigated. A. polyphaga was exposed to 0.1% benzalkonium chloride, 0.001% thimerosal/0.1% edetate disodium, 0.1% edetate disodium, saline, tap water, and distilled water. The status of the organism was evaluated with direct microscopic counts and cultures to confirm viability. Incubation with 0.1% edetate disodium, saline, tap water, and distilled water resulted in the maintenance of reduced populations of viable organisms for 7 days. Benzalkonium chloride preserved saline and solutions containing thimerosal with edetate rendered the Acanthamoeba nonviable.