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We investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of a new commercial ocular spray containing Biosecur^® citrus extract (Oftasecur^®) against Candida auris and C. albicans and assessed its activity against preformed Candida biofilm on contact lenses and plastic lens cases. The C. auris isolate 12 (NCPF 8973) and the SC5314 C. albicans wild-type reference strain were used. Oftasecur^®’s effect on C. auris and C. albicans planktonic cells (1 × 10⁶ cells/mL) was tested in RPMI-1640 medium. The concentrations tested were 0.39%, 1.56%, 6.25%, 12.5%, and 25%. The living planktonic cell number was obtained using time-kill experiments. Antifungal activity against preformed C. auris and C. albicans biofilm on etafilcon A and senofilcon A contact lenses and plastic lens cases was also tested. A significant decrease was found in the living cell number of C. albicans after 8–48 h in the presence of Oftasecur^® concentrations ranging from 6.25% to 25% (p < 0.01–0.001). In the C. auris experiments, the cell number was significantly decreased after 8 h incubation in 25% Oftasecur^® (p < 0.05–0.001). Similarly, 12.5% Oftasecur^® was effective against preformed C. auris and C. albicans biofilm on contact lenses and plastic lens cases. The results suggest that the in vitro antifungal activity of Oftasecur^® against C. albicans and C. auris planktonic cells and preformed fungal biofilm on contact lenses and plastic cases is dependent on the concentrations used. Further research is warranted to establish whether Oftasecur^® may play a role in the prevention of contact lens-related Candida keratitis and other ocular-surface Candida infections. Full article

Due to the wide etiology of conjunctivitis, the expensive and time-consuming diagnosis requires new therapeutic strategies with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and nonselective mechanisms of action. In this context, eye drops could provide an alternative to conventional antimicrobial therapies. Here, we compare the antibacterial and antiviral activity of Oftasecur and Visuprime, commercially available ophthalmic solutions. Cytotoxicity assay was performed on Vero CCL-81 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae by disk diffusion, broth microdilution methods, and time-killing tests. Furthermore, the antiviral activity against HSV-1 was estimated by co-treatment, cell and viral pretreatment and post-treatment, via plaque reduction assay, fluorescence assessment (GFP-engineered HSV-1), and real-time PCR. After 24 h of exposure, Oftasecur and Visuprime showed a volume-inducing 50% of cytotoxicity of 125 and 15.8 μL, respectively Oftasecur and Visuprime induced 90% antibacterial activity in response to mean volume of 10.0 and 4.4 µL for Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, respectively. Oftasecur exerted bactericidal action on both bacterial populations, while Visuprime was bacteriostatic on Gram-negative strains and slightly bactericidal on Gram-positive bacteria. A major impact on infectivity occurred by exposure of viral particles to the ophthalmic solutions. In detail, 50% of inhibition was verified by exposing the viral particles to 3.12 and 0.84 μL of Oftasecur and Visuprime, respectively, for 1 h. The reduction of the fluorescence and the expression of the viral genes confirmed the recorded antiviral activity. Due to their high antimicrobial efficiency, Oftasecur and Visuprime could represent a valid empirical strategy for the treatment of conjunctivitis. Full article