The Relationship Between the Use of Hydrogel and Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Population in the Conjunctiva and Biofilm Forming Staphylococcus epidermidis

Objective: The most important bacteria of the conjunctival microbiota are Staphylococcus epidermidis, diphteroid rods, Corynebacterium spp. and Cutibacterium acnes. Especially biofilm formation of S. epidermidis is very important for contact lens related infections. For this purpose, we aimed to examine the changes in the presence of biofilm-forming S. epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci in conjunctival swabs taken before and after lens usage in 140 patients (90 hydrogel, 50 silicone hydrogel) who were prepared to wear lenses. Methods: Coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from the conjunctival microbiota identified standard clinical microbiological methods, after identification of S.epidermidis strains with API Staph; Slime production was determined by Congo red agar, standard tube and molecular methods. Results: S.epidermidis was the most frequently isolated species in conjunctival microbiota before and after lens usage. Before lens usage, slime positive S. epidermidis strains were found as 45-50% but after lens usage it was 59% in hydrogel contact lens users and 70.2% in silicone hydrogel contact lens users. For the investigation of slime production, 82 (50.9%) of 161 S. epidermidis strains were found positive by using Congo red agar, 61 (37.8%) by standard tube method and 91 (56.5%) by molecular methods. Conclusion: The result of our study suggests that there are no significant changes in bacterial ratios before and after lens use, but bacteria such as S. epidermidis can predispose to infections by using slime production and contact lens factor. Also; molecular methods and Congo Red Agar method were found to be more reliable than the Standard Tube method.