2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 13-19
Bacterial contamination of contact lens (CL) cases and lens care solution and the use of slightly acidic electrolyzed water as disinfectant for the disinfection of CL cases were investigated. Seventeen species of bacteria were identified in 16 (45.7%) of 35 cultures from CL cases and 27 (41.5%) of 65 cultures from lens care solution samples. The most common bacterium was Serratia marcescens, accounting for 25.9% of isolates, followed by Bacillus spp. (14.8%). When contaminated CL cases after decantation of all content solution were filled with slightly acidic electrolyzed water and incubated overnight at room temperature, 18 (66.7%) of 27 sample cases were completely sterilized. Time-kill studies of bacteria in dry conditions using experimentally contaminated CL cases measured about 107 to 80∼1.2×104 CFU/mL over a 24-h period, as well as in CL cases washed once in sterile distilled water. In contrast, no bacteria species could be detected just after drying in CL cases washed once in slightly acidic electrolyzed water. In our investigation, bacteria causing healthcare-associated infection were frequently found in CL cases and lens care solutions, and slightly acidic electrolyzed water was effective for the disinfection of reusable CL cases.
