The effects of freezing and antibiotics on the viability of Acanthamoeba cysts

Arch Ophthalmol. 1989 Mar;107(3):439-40. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1989.01070010449043.

Abstract

The effects of cryotherapy and antibiotics (paromomycin, neomycin, or propamidine isethionate) on the viability of Acanthamoeba polyphaga and Acanthamoeba castellani cysts were studied in vitro. Either cryotherapy or exposure to antibiotic led to a decrease in the number of viable A castellani detected; A polyphaga showed variable response to the antibiotics tested. The combination of cryotherapy and antibiotic therapy was more cysticidal than either modality alone and eliminated detectable viable organisms in five of six experiments. Of the antibiotic solutions tested, paromomycin (15 mg/mL) was the most effective.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba* / drug effects
  • Acanthamoeba* / growth & development
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzamidines / pharmacology
  • Cryosurgery*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Neomycin / pharmacology
  • Paromomycin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Benzamidines
  • Paromomycin
  • propamidine isethionate
  • Neomycin