title: The disinfection of contact lenses contaminated with adenovirus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the efficacy of different contact lens disinfection systems to eliminate adenovirus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study evaluating the elimination of adenoviral ocular isolates by contact lens disinfection systems. Hard (gas permeable) and soft contact lenses were contaminated with adenovirus serotypes 8 and 19, and then they were disinfected with chemical, hydrogen peroxide, and heat sterilization systems. The survival of the adenovirus was determined by the shell vial technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adenovirus survived chemical and hydrogen peroxide disinfection but not heat sterilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because heat sterilization is not readily available to sterilize adenovirus contaminated contact lenses, it may be prudent for patients with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis to dispose of unclean contact lenses.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. kowalskirp@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Sundar-Raj
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Romanowski
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000821:virology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide