Contamination of K-Sol corneal storage medium with Propionibacterium acnes
E. A. Sieck, R. W. Enzenauer, F. M. Cornell and C. Butler
Department of Ophthalmology, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colo. 80045.
K-Sol is a widely used corneal preservation medium. It has an excellent
record for corneal storage and no previous report of contamination. During
September 1988, on five of our K-Sol-stored donor rims Propionibacterium
acnes grew. Cultures of unopened K-Sol also yielded P acnes. This report
reviews previous contaminations of corneal storage media and the special
characteristics of P acnes that enabled it to survive precautions taken
against infection. The detection of P acnes was not obvious, and we
emphasize the need for appropriate culturing of all donors, both
aerobically and anaerobically, and close scrutiny of delayed inflammation
in postoperative patients.
