Disinfection of Goldmann tonometers against human immunodeficiency virus type 1
J. S. Pepose, G. Linette, S. F. Lee and S. MacRae
Department of Ophthalmology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo 63110.
Goldmann tonometer tips were inoculated with 5 X 10(5) IU of cell-free or
cell-associated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (lymphadenopathy virus
type 1 isolate) or 10(4) plaque-forming units of herpes simplex virus type
1 (McKrae strain) or type 2 (Hicks strain). In an effort to mimic a "worst
case" clinical scenario, each respective virus was allowed to air dry on
the tonometer tip for 10 minutes. Inoculated tonometers were then (1) not
treated, (2) wiped with a disposable (Kim-wipe) tissue or sterile gauze;
(3) wiped with sterile gauze soaked with 3% hydrogen peroxide; or (4) wiped
with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab. The hydrogen peroxide treatment and the
alcohol wipes both completely disinfected the tonometer tips for human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2,
whereas wiping with a sterile gauze or tissue was not effective. Wiping the
Goldmann tonometer tip with an isopropyl alcohol swab and then allowing the
alcohol to evaporate provides a ready and efficient means of inactivating
these three enveloped viruses.
