RESUMO
The authors evaluated the in vitro effects of subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of aminoglycosides (gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin) on the adherence of coagulase-negative staphylococcus to intraocular lens (PMMA, acrylic and heparin) surface. The five strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis used (S. epidermidis IMe7, IMe11, IMe27, IMe29 and IMe31) were tested for their ability to produce slime. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) indicated high susceptibility in vitro to the antibiotics and homogeneous values. The adhesion tests without antibiotics (K1, K2 and K3) for every time considered (30 min, 60 min and 180 min) and for all examined strains showed more constant adhesive activity on the surface of acrylic intraocular lens (IOLs) than on the surface of heparin IOLs. The aminoglycosides tested were able to reduce adhesivity by coagulase-negative S. epidermidis slime to the IOL surfaces, even at sub-MICs. The documentation obtained by scanning electron microscope shows the growth of a strain of S. epidermidis IMe11 after 180 minutes of contact which remains adherent to the surface of the acrylic IOLs.
