Abstract
Microbiological contamination is a common cause for elimination of organ-cultured donor corneas. The aims of the present study were to analyze contamination rates and identify risk factors for contamination. Retrospectively, the contamination rates of 4546 organ-cultured corneas and the causative species were studied. The impact of sex, age, death-to-explantation interval, explantation technique, cause of death, and mean monthly temperature on contamination rate was analyzed. The median annual contamination rate was 5.3% (range: 3%-19%). Most contaminations were of fungal origin (61.9%), with Candida species (45%) being predominant. Bacterial contaminations (34.4%) were dominated by Staphylococcus species (12.8%). Sex, donor age, and mean monthly temperature had no statistically significant influence on the contamination rate. The median death-to-explantation interval of contaminated corneas (44 hours) was longer than that of sterile corneas (39 hours; P < 0.001; n = 4437). Cardiopulmonary failure was associated with the highest contamination rate (13.6%) of all death causes. The switch from whole globe to in situ excision was followed by a temporary increase in contamination rate (12.5%-19.4%). Although the genesis of donor cornea contamination seems to be multifactorial, resident species from physiological skin flora are the main contaminants indicating that the donor corpses could be the main source of microbiological contamination. A change in the explantation technique was followed by an increase in the contamination rate.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.