Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the efficacy of using soap and water versus bleach solution for the disinfection of ophthalmic lenses that are directly applied to the corneoscleral surface of the eye.
Methods: :
Three different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium straitum, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), along with Adenovirus, were grown in culture media. The bacterial (or viral) culture media was added to each of 20 gonioscopy and laser lenses with a pipette. One sterile cotton tip was used to culture the lens concavity. The lens was then cleaned with a cotton tip and soap solution and re-cultured. The lens concavity was then placed in 10% Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach solution for 25 minutes, rinsed with water, and cultured. These steps were repeated for each of 20 different gonioscopy and laser lenses and for each type of bacteria and virus.
Results: :
Out of the 20 lenses inoculated with Staphylococcus epidermidis, none demonstrated growth after washing with soap and water. None of the 20 showed growth after bleach as well. Corynebacterium straitum also showed no growth for both soap/ water and bleach. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) showed no growth after soap and water. However, 1 out of the 20 lenses showed positive growth for MRSA after cleaning with bleach.
Conclusions: :
Cleaning with soap and water is effective for the elimination of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium straitum, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from gonioscopy and laser lenses applied to the corneoscleral surface of the eye. The use of bleach after soap and water for further disinfection of the lens does not appear to have any added benefit, given the complete elimination of the bacteria by soap and water alone.