Report issued on outbreak of serious eye infection linked with use of certain contact len...( Researchers have additional informatio...),Health

Researchers have additional information concerning the recent outbreak of the corneal infection Fusarium keratitis, which was associated with use of a specific contact lens solution, according to a study in the August 23/30 issue of JAMA. After preliminary findings from this investigation were released in May, the product was withdrawn from the market worldwide.

Among the estimated 34 million contact lens wearers in the United States, microbial keratitis (corneal infection) is a rare but serious complication that may lead to permanent vision loss or the need for corneal transplantation. The annual incidence of microbial keratitis is estimated to be 4 to 21 per 10,000 soft contact lens wearers depending on overnight wear, according to background information in the article. Fusarium is a filamentous fungus commonly found in soil and plants and is the major cause of fungal keratitis in certain tropical or subtropical regions. Beginning in March 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received multiple reports of Fusarium keratitis among contact lens wearers in the US.

Douglas C. Chang, M.D., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues conducted a study to determine the specific activities, contact lens hygiene practices, or products associated with this outbreak. Data for cases that occurred after June 1, 2005, were obtained by patient and ophthalmologist interviews for case patients and neighborhood-matched controls by trained personnel.

As of June 30, 2006, the researchers had identified 164 confirmed case patients with Fusarium keratitis in 33 states and 1 US territory. Corneal transplantation was required or planned in 55 (34 percent). One hundred fifty-four (94 percent) of the confirmed case patients wore soft contact lenses. Forty-five case patients and 78 controls were included in the case-control study. In the final analysis, case patients were about 20 times more likely than cont
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Contact: CDC's Division of Media Relations
404-639-3286
JAMA and Archives Journals
22-Aug-2006