title: Microbial contamination of hydrophilic contact lenses. Part II: Quantitation of microbes after patient handling and after aseptic removal from the eye.
abstract: We cultured Soflens (polymacon) contact lenses to determine the number of microorganisms present after patient handling and the number present after patient handling and 5 hours of lens wear. Twenty adapted contact lens patients were each dispensed two pairs of new sterile Soflens contact lenses. Both pairs of lenses were handled by the patients during a single experimental session. Prior to handling lenses, patients were instructed to wash their hands with soap and water, rinse with tap water, and dry with a paper towel. One pair (handled-only) was cultured immediately after handling. The second pair (handled-and-worn) was placed on the eyes by the patient, removed aseptically following 5 hours of wear, and then cultured. All 40 handled-only lenses had viable microorganisms associated with them (mean: 653 colony forming units (CFU) per lens). Bacteria were isolated on all of these lenses and fungi were detected on six. The mean bacterial count for the handled-and-worn lenses was 30 CFU/lens; fewer than half exhibited handled-and-worn lenses was 30 CFU/lens; fewer than half exhibited bacteria and no fungi were isolated. These data suggest that patient handling is a highly significant source of microbial contamination of hydrophilic contact lenses. Also, the number of microorganisms on lenses is significantly reduced (P < 0.0001) after the lens has been worn on the eye.
authors.affiliation: Personal Products Division, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mowrey-McKee
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Proskin
mesh_terms: D001207:Asepsis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D004203:Disinfection; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013048:Specimen Handling