PCR in acute bacterial endophthalmitis

Abstract

AbstractPurpose this review aims to summarize studies which assessed the use of PCR in post operative endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating complication of ocular surgeries. There is a need for more rapid and more sensitive microbiological techniques since clinicians should rapidly identify bacterial pathogens.Methods different microbiological techniques will be presented, eubacterial PCR, real time PCRResults Column‐based nucleic acid purification allows removal of DNA‐polymerase inhibitors. Real time PCR is more sensitive than culture, allows the detection and identification of specific micro‐organisms, DNA quantification, and has a faster turn around time (no post‐PCR step). The PCR amplification of 16S rDNA uses consensus primers (panbacterial PCR) and is followed by identification from analysis of 16S rDNA sequence (BIBI). This technique has the advantages of amplification of DNA from all bacteria, and identification of bacteria difficult to identify phenotypically (e.g. coagulase‐negative Staphylococcus species). However drawbacks are the possible contaminations, the duration (2‐3 days including sequencing), and the impossibility of differentiating mixed bacterial species in the same clinical sample. A summary of the main published clinicomicrobiological studies will be presented.Conclusion PCR techniques are complementary tools to culture. New techniques of PCR are needed in order to be faster and more sensitive. Genomic characterization of strain virulence of bacteria involved in endophthalmitis could help clinicians to identify patients needing a more aggressive treatment and to develop new drugs.