LACK OF VIRUS TRANSMISSION BY THE EXCIMER-LASER PLUME

PURPOSE: To test the possibility of pathogenic virus transmission into the operating suite during excimer laser treatment of corneal tissue. Such treatment vaporizes corneal tissue, which may put the surgeon at risk of infection from human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis virus, or other viruses. We developed a model system to test the possibility of such virus transmission, METHODS: Pseudorabies virus is a porcine enveloped herpesvirus similar in structure and life cycle to human imm unodeficiency virus and herpes simplex virus. An excimer laser was use d to ablate a virus-infected tissue culture plate while an uninfected tissue culture plate was in an inverted position over the infected pla te. Six hundred laser pulses were applied. Pseudorabies virus in the e xcimer laser plume would, potentially, contact and infect the uninfect ed cells. The experiment was repeated 20 times with appropriate positi ve and negative controls. RESULTS: None of the 20 uninfected plates wa s infected by the laser plume rising from ablation of infected tissue culture plates. Positive and negative controls performed as expected. CONCLUSIONS: Even under conditions designed to maximize the likelihood of virus transmission, the excimer laser ablation plume does not appe ar capable of transmitting this particular live enveloped virus. Excim er laser ablation of the cornea of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV )-infected or herpesvirus-infected patient is unlikely to pose a healt h hazard to the surgeon.