EFFICACY OF HAND-WASHING PROCEDURES ON BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION OF HYDROGEL CONTACT-LENSES

The effect of various hand washing regimens on transfer of bacterial c ontaminants from the hands to a hydrogel contact lens was evaluated. E ach of 47 subjects performed 5 different hand washing procedures, and then handled a new, sterile hydrogel contact lens. The lenses were cul tured to determine colony-forming units (CFUs) and microbial identity, Median CFUs on lenses handled after washing with water, soap and wate r, or soap and water followed by towel drying were higher than the med ian CFU for lenses handled after no hand washing, The median CFU for l enses handled after soap and water washing followed by an alcohol wipe was not different from the no washing group. The majority of the cont aminants were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis. These results show that ordinary hand washing alone does not decrease, and may even increase, the amount of contaminants transferred from the hands to a h ydrogel lens, Use of an alcohol wipe after hand washing reverses this effect, Hand washing is still recommended in contact lens hygiene for removal of more pathogenic contaminants.