11 research outputs found
Tonometers and infectious risk: myth or reality? Efficacy of different disinfection regimens on tonometer tips.
Purpose To evaluate the adequacy of
common disinfection regimens for disposable
tonometer tips and assess if disinfection of
reusable prisms or the use of disposable tips is
preferable.
Methods We used disposable tonometer tips,
using the same material and tip diameter of
standard Goldmann tonometer prism. Strains
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus
aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans
were tested according to the European
standard guidelines for disinfectants test.
Antimicrobial effectiveness of the following
disinfection practices has been assessed:
dry wipe, Minuten wipes (Alpros), soaking
in 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.5% benzalkonium
chloride, and 0.5% Pantasepts for 1, 5, and
15 min. All tests have been performed
three times and all conditions tested in
duplicate.
Results Dry wiping and 1 min soak in 3%
hydrogen peroxide were ineffective on all
microrganisms. Minuten wipes, 1 min soak in
0.5% benzalkonium chloride or 3% hydrogen
peroxide were ineffective on B. subtilis. 0.5%
Pantasepts soak was effective in 1 min for all
microrganisms tested, whereas 3% hydrogen
peroxide and 0.5% benzalkonium chloride
soaks were effective when performed for at
least 5 min. B. subtilis was the most resistant
organism to disinfectant regimes at 1 min time.
Conclusions Results of our study
demonstrate a relative disinfection efficacy for
the different evaluated regimens, provided
that correct exposure times are adopted for the
chosen disinfectants, a condition difficult to
ensure in a busy clinic setting. We conclude
that disposable prism tonometry provides a
safe alternative to Goldmann tonometry