A new culture method for infectious endophthalmitis
B. C. Joondeph, H. W. Flynn Jr, D. Miller and H. C. Joondeph
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, School of Medicine, FL 33101.
We studied the use of blood culture bottles for culturing vitreous
specimens obtained during vitrectomy for infectious endophthalmitis. In a
retrospective review of 83 cases, blood culture bottles yielded a 91%
incidence of positive cultures. A laboratory comparison of direct media
inoculation, a membrane filter system, and three blood culture systems was
undertaken using inocula of nine organisms in three different
concentrations. The blood culture bottle systems became positive at the
same time as, or within 24 hours of, the membrane filter system for nearly
every organism tested. A prospective clinical comparison was also performed
in 14 cases of endophthalmitis, confirming our laboratory findings. The
direct inoculation of blood culture bottles may be an acceptable adjunct or
alternative to more sophisticated laboratory techniques for vitreous
cultures in infectious endophthalmitis.
