Disinfection of eyelid speculums for retinopathy of prematurity examination.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs in disinfecting eyelid speculums after examination for retinopathy of prematurity.


METHODS
Two phases. Phase 1: 46 autoclave-sterilized eyelid speculums randomized into either a cleaned or control group following examination for retinopathy of prematurity. Speculums in the cleaned group were disinfected with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab while control speculums were not cleaned. Bacterial and fungal cultures were then obtained. Phase 2: 20 autoclave-sterilized eyelid speculums inoculated with a clinically relevant dilution of adenovirus serotype 5 or herpes simplex virus type 2. Inoculated speculums were randomized into either a cleaned or control group.


RESULTS
Phase 1: 17 (70.8%) of 24 cultures from the cleaned group yielded bacteria compared with 21 (95.5%) of 22 controls. Fungi were isolated from only 1 control and from no cleaned speculums. Phase 2: all speculums inoculated with adenovirus supported growth of the organism irrespective of cleaning with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs. None of 5 cleaned speculums inoculated with herpes simplex virus type 2 supported viral growth, compared with 3 (60%) of 5 cultures positive for growth in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Cleaning eyelid speculums with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs provided inadequate disinfection against bacteria following examination for retinopathy of prematurity and against adenovirus in a laboratory simulation.
Woodman
T J
TJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston 77030, USA.
Coats
D K
DK
Paysse
E A
EA
Demmler
G J
GJ
Rossmann
S N
SN
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D019840:2-Propanol