An Original Use of a Bioluminescence Assay to Test the In Vitro Efficacy of Polihexanide in the Eradication of Acanthamoeba Cysts.

Purpose: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare ocular disease caused by Acanthamoeba spp. The current Acanthamoeba keratitis treatments consist of unlicensed drugs, most commonly polihexanide (PHMB), a biguanide derivative, either as monotherapy or combined with a diamidine. The main purpose of this study was to develop an in vitro bioluminescence assay able to differentiate the antiamoebic activity of PHMB concentrations (0.