Conjunctival Swab Culture Research Articles

A Case of Chronic Conjunctivitis Caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum Misdiagnosed as Inclusion Conjunctivitis

Purpose: To report a case of chronic conjunctivitis caused by <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> misdiagnosed as adult inclusion conjunctivitis.Case summary: A 48-year-old female visited our clinic complaining of conjunctival injection and discharge in her right eye that had started 9 months earlier. Slit lamp examination showed conjunctival exudates with follicular hypertrophy on the upper and lower palpebral conjunctiva of the right eye. Adult inclusion conjunctivitis was suspected, and polymerase chain reaction tests for 12 sexually transmitted infections, serum <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> antibody test, sputum tests, and urine tests were performed. The serum trachomatis IgM was negative, but IgG was positive; there were no other specific findings. The patient was treated with oral doxycycline and topical antibiotics eyedrops for 1 week, but there was no improvement. <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> was detected in a conjunctival swab culture. The oral antibiotic was changed to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. After 1 week, the symptoms improved and the chronic conjunctivitis and follicles decreased; 4 weeks later, recovery was complete.Conclusions: Chronic conjunctivitis caused by bacteria such as <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> should be considered if adult inclusion conjunctivitis is suspected and does not respond to treatment.

Bacteriological Study of Conjunctival Swab Cultures in Diabetic Patients

Bacteriological Study of Conjunctival Swab Cultures in Diabetic Patients

Preterm infants with positive conjunctival swab culture: risk factors and association with late-onset sepsis-a retrospective cohort study.

Purulent conjunctival discharge in hospitalized preterm infants may indicate conjunctivitis and warrant treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between positive conjunctival swab (CS) culture and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the relationship between positive CS culture growth results (CSP) obtained in preterm infants ≤34 weeks' gestation and the development of LOS within 120 h of obtaining CS compared with those who had negative CS culture results (CSN). Electronic medical records were reviewed from January 2015 until December 2019 for preterm infants presenting with purulent conjunctival discharge and underwent CS culture testing due to suspected conjunctivitis. Of the 234 CS cultures obtained during the study period, 145 (61.9%) were CSP compared to 89 (38.1%) CSN cultures. Gram-negative organisms accounted for 70% of all CSP cultures, with the remaining 30% being Gram-positive. Patients with CSP were smaller, younger, had lower 1-minute APGAR scores, and required respiratory support more frequently than those with CSN. Infants with CSP received antibiotics for longer periods, both topically and systemically. Infants who developed LOS were more likely to require invasive ventilation (adjusted odds ratio, 33.5; 95% CI, 2.52-446.5, p = 0.008). The incidence of LOS between the two groups was similar, with 6.2% observed in the CSP group compared to 3.4% in the CSN group (p = 0.543). Similarly, the rates of bacteremia were similar in both groups. Of the CSP patients who were presented with bacteremia, four out of seven (57%) exhibited bacteremia caused by the same organism found in their CS cultures. Similarly, within the entire cohort, respiratory cultures were performed on nine intubated patients within two weeks of obtaining CS cultures. Of these, in the CSP group, five out of six (83%) showed an organism identical to that found in the CS cultures. The study found a significant proportion of positive CS cultures in preterm infants, with distinct patient characteristics and treatment compared to negative cultures. While the incidence of LOS was not significantly different between the two groups, some CSP patients demonstrated bacteremia with the same CS organism, suggesting a possible connection between conjunctival or respiratory colonization and bacteremia.

Infectious surgically induced necrotising scleritis presenting 10 years post-pterygium excision: a case report

Background: Surgically induced necrotizing scleritis (SINS) is a rare sequela that may occur after ocular surgery. We report a case of infectious SINS as a complication of pterygium excision.
 Case presentation: A 75-year-old man had undergone pterygium excision in the right eye and developed infectious SINS 10 years post-surgery. The sclera adjacent to the previous site of pterygium excision showed significant thinning with uveal show, complicated with signs of infection including purulent discharge, necrotic sclera, and hypopyon. Conjunctival swab culture yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Blood investigations demonstrated positive rheumatoid factor. The patient was successfully treated with a 2-week course of systemic and topical antibiotics with topical steroid.
 Conclusion: SINS may develop post-pterygium excision. Early diagnosis and intervention prevent progression and further complications.

Burkholderia pseudomallei – The malicious invader causing orbital cellulitis !!!

This case report represents an unusual presentation of Melioidosis presenting as orbital cellulitis. Orbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the eye, commonly caused by Staphylococcal, Streptococcal species and also by fungi. Here we report a case of a 57 year old male who was a diabetic and hypertensive presented with fever, protrusion of right eyeball with sudden onset of defective vision. On examination right eye visual acuity was light perception with relative afferent pupillary defect. Proptosis, chemosis and total ophthalmoplegia were present. Routine investigation revealed leucocytosis. Conjunctival swab culture was negative whereas blood culture revealed Burkholderia pseudomallei. On further work up ultrasound abdomen showed splenic abscess. Even with effective treatment with IV antibiotics patient didn’t improve and succumbed to this disease. Ocular involvement in melioidosis is rare but can lead to devastating outcomes. This case represents the highly virulent nature of this organism which rarely presents with ocular involvement as primary presentation.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 is associated with conjunctival microbiota culture positivity in Korean patients with chronic Stevens-Johnson syndrome

BackgroundStevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is an abnormal immune-response causing extensive exfoliation of the mucocutaneous tissue including conjunctiva. While several factors are associated with the alteration of conjunctival microbiota, the conjunctiva of SJS patients are found to harbor a different microbiota compared to healthy subjects. We investigated the conjunctival microbiota of Korean SJS patients, and identified factors associated with the conjunctival microbiota and its positive culture.MethodsMedical records were retrospectively reviewed in 30 chronic SJS patients who had undergone conjunctival swab culture sampling. Demographic factors, chronic ocular surface complications score (COCS), tear break-up time (TBUT), tear secretion, tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and results of conjunctival swab culture were assessed.ResultsPositive culture was seen in 58.1%. Gram positive bacteria was most commonly isolated, among which Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (45.5%) and Corynebacterium species (40.9%) were predominantly observed. Tear MMP9 positivity was observed significantly more in the positive culture group (100%) compared to the negative culture group (70%) (P = 0.041). Topical cyclosporine and corticosteroid were not associated with repetitive positive cultures. No significant differences in COCS, TBUT, and tear secretion were found between culture-positive and culture-negative groups.ConclusionOur study suggests that tear MMP9 positivity may be related with the presence of an abnormal ocular surface microbiota in chronic SJS patients.

Importance of Conjunctival Swab Culture and Sensitivity Test Before Cataract Surgery

Purpose: To determine the spectrum of infectious-agent from conjunctival swab and antibiotic susceptibility. To observe the necessity of conjunctival swab culture and sensitivity prior to intraocular surgery as a preventive measure against post operative endophthalmitis in the socio-economic perspective of our country. Method: A retrospective review of microbiological records of conjunctival swab was done for 22 months (From August 2000 to May 2002) in BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. We selected the culture positive cases for our study. Antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates was determined for fourteen ocular and systemic antibiotics. Result: Among 209 attendant cases, 57 were culture positive. All of them were gram positive bacteria. Most of them were staphylococcus epidermis 47 (82.5%) others were staphylococcus aureus 5 (8.77%); streptococcus viridans 5 (8.77%). There was specific age variation also. All organisms were 100% sensitive to Chloramphenicol. Staphylococcus epidermidis, treptococcus viridans were 100% sensitive to Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin, while staphylococcus aureus show 80% sensitivity. Organisms were least sensitive to Neosporin. Conclusion: Commonest isolated organism from conjunctival swab is staphylococcus epidermidis (82.5%). All the organism shows full range of sensitivity and no resistance to chloramphenicol; also maximum sensitivity and no resistance to Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin in our study group and from this it can be conclude that instead of doing random C/S for conjunctival swab we can give prophylactic broad spectrum antibiotic eye drop to starilize conjunctival sac before surgery.

Isolated cortical vein thrombosis complicating orbital cellulitis

Background: Orbital cellulitis is characterized by the infective inflammation of orbital structures, usually posterior to the orbital septum. Extension of infection from the paranasal sinuses is the most common etiology for orbital cellulitis. Intracranial complications of orbital cellulitis include meningitis, subdural empyema, brain abscess, and cavernous sinus thrombosis.
 Case presentation: A 33-year-old man presented with acute onset of foul-smelling mucopurulent nasal discharge and swelling of the left eye followed by altered sensorium. On examination of the left eye, chemosis, eyelid edema, and proptosis were present. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed non-axial left proptosis with inflammatory reticulation in the intra- and extraconal fat alongside sinusitis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain confirmed the CT findings and additionally showed meningitis and subdural empyema along the left frontoparietal convexity with parenchymal signal changes, suggesting venous infarction in the left frontal lobe. Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) confirmed thrombus in the frontal polar vein on the left side, suggesting septic isolated septic cortical venous thrombosis (ICVT) as a complication of orbital cellulitis. Cerebrospinal fluid showed polymorphonuclear cell pleocytosis with elevated protein and lowered sugar. Blood and conjunctival swab cultures were negative. He was subsequently treated with intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals to which he responded and was discharged in stable condition.
 Conclusions: Our case highlights the presentation of septic ICVT complicating orbital cellulitis and paranasal sinusitis. It also underscores the higher sensitivity of SWI as a crucial tool in diagnosing ICVT. Appropriate and prompt medical treatment in orbital cellulitis can prevent further complications.

Microorganism detection and contamination rate of donor eyes in Japan

To evaluate the microorganism detection and contamination rate of donor eyes. Retrospective study. In this retrospective study, we reviewed all donor cornea data collected from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM) Eye Bank, Kyoto, Japan from April 2015 to June 2018, including microbiologic data obtained from conjunctival swabs and preservation medium and findings of postoperative infection from the medical records. During the study period, 77 eyes from 44 deceased individuals (mean age at time of death: 75 ± 17.3years [range, 30-102years]) were donated to the KPUM Eye Bank after being harvested using standard safety precautions and disinfection procedures. In 49 of the 77 eyes (63.6%), the conjunctival-swab culture revealed microorganisms, with the 3 most commonly detected being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA), and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). The data revealed positive microorganism detection in only 4 (5.2%) of the 77 donor-cornea storage-medium cultures. Positive microorganism detection was found in all the age groups, with no statistical difference between the groups (P > .05). In the eyes enucleated ≥ 2.5h postmortem, a higher positive microorganism detection occurred (P = .03). During the postoperative follow-up period, there was no record of corneal infection. The preenucleation conjunctival-swab-culture findings revealed that the rate of positive microorganism detection was similar for advanced-age and younger-age donors and that a shorter elapsed time from donor death to postmortem enucleation resulted in less donor-microorganism contamination.

Efficacy of Haritakyadi eye drops in Kukkunaka W.S.R to ophthalmia neonatorum – An open label clinical trial

An open label clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Haritakyadieye drops on Kukkunakaw.s.r to Ophthalmia Neonatorum in newborns at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Kuthpady, Udupi. This trial was conducted on 30 newborns. The drops were instilled 8th hourly in a 3 divided doses per day for 3 days. The response was assessed by using various subjective and objective parameters and analysed statistically using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Statistically significant results were obtained in subjective parameter and conjunctival swab culture. Study showed Haritakyadi eye drops is effective in relieving the clinical symptoms as well as controlling the growth of gram positive and negative organisms.

The Effectiveness of 0.6% Povidone Iodine Eye Drops in Reducing the Conjunctival Bacterial Load and Needle Contamination in Patients Undergoing Anti-VEGF Intravitreal Injection: A Prospective, Randomized Study.

The study purpose was to assess the efficacy of a preservative-free 0.6% povidone iodine eye drops as perioperative prophylactic treatment for reducing conjunctival bacterial load and the rate of needle contamination in patients undergoing intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection. Enrolled patients were randomized to either the study group (0.6% povidone iodine, three day-prophylactic treatment before the injection) or to the control group (placebo, three day-prophylactic treatment). Conjunctival swabs were obtained before and after the prophylactic treatment in both groups. Intravitreal injections were performed in a sterile fashion. The injection needle and a control needle were collected for microbiological culture. Data from 254 and 253 eyes in the study group and control group, respectively, were analyzed. Bacterial growth from conjunctival swab cultures was significantly lower after 0.6% povidone iodine prophylaxis compared to baseline and to placebo prophylaxis (p < 0.001), showing an 82% eradication rate in the study group. No injection needle showed bacterial contamination in the study group, whereas six needles were culture-positive in the control group (p = 0.015). No serious ocular and non-ocular adverse events were recorded. The 0.6% povidone iodine solution proved an effective treatment in reducing conjunctival bacterial load and risk of needle contamination.

Ocular Surface Microbial Flora in Patients with Chronic Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Undergoing Cultivated Oral Mucosal Epithelial Transplantation.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study is to analyze the ocular surface microbial flora in patients with chronic limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) due to Stevens–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and ocular chemical injury undergoing cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET).METHODS:Patients of SJS and chemical injury who had bilateral total LSCD planned for COMET were studied. Conjunctival swab was taken before surgery. Parameters evaluated were organism cultured, sensitivity pattern, frequency of positive culture, and clinical impact on management strategy.RESULTS:Thirteen patients were included in which nine were males and four females. All patients had positive conjunctival swab culture. Most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The staphylococcal species isolated were sensitive to all the conventional antibiotics while Pseudomonas cultured showed resistance to cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime. Repeat conjunctival swab sent after a week of topical antibiotic therapy yielded positive culture of the same organism twice in 25% (3/12), thrice in 58.3% (7/12), and four times in 16.6% (2/12) of the patients. One patient had a polymicrobial flora with positive yield of S. aureus (thrice), S. epidermidis (twice), and P. aeruginosa (twice) in consecutive conjunctival swab culture in the absence of clinical infection. Two patients with persistent positive cultures had to undergo repeat oral mucosal harvesting as the transplantation of the cultivated explants had to be deferred.CONCLUSION:Ocular surface in LSCD patients yielded pathogenic organisms on culture. Poor ocular surface with absent tear film could be the contributing factors. It is important to perform the conjunctival swab culture before COMET surgery.

Self-inflicted Chronic Bacterial Keratoconjunctivitis Using Self Semen

This case report describes a case of self-inflicted chronic bacterial keratoconjunctivitis involving the patient's own semen. A 20-year-old male soldier was referred to our clinic for the evaluation of refractory chronic bacterial conjunctivitis. Over the previous 4 months, he had been treated for copious mucous discharge, conjunctival injection, and superficial punctate keratitis in both eyes at an army hospital and a local eye clinic. Despite the use of topical and systemic antibiotics according to the results of conjunctival swab culture, there was no improvement. During the repeated smear and culture of conjunctival swabs, surprisingly, a few sperm were detected on Gram staining, revealing that the condition was self-inflicted bacterial keratoconjunctivitis involving the patient's own semen. Thus, in cases of chronic keratoconjunctivitis that do not respond to appropriate antibiotic treatment, self-inflicted disease or malingering should be considered.

Bacillus cereus Infection After Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty

To report the first case of Bacillus cereus keratitis leading to panophthalmitis in a patient operated for combined Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. A 40-year-old woman with corneal decompensation underwent DSEK with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and developed corneal infiltrate in the host cornea progressing to ring corneal abscess and panophthalmitis within 72 hours of surgery. The microbiological examination of the patient's corneal scraping revealed Gram-positive rods on the smear and the culture grew B. cereus. The source of the organism was found to be in the conjunctival sac of the patient because the conjunctival swab culture from the other eye revealed B. cereus. Despite vigorous topical and systemic antibacterial therapy, and immediate therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, the infection progressed to panophthalmitis and required evisceration on the fifth day. Bacillus cereus is a rare potential cause of postoperative infective keratitis after DSEK. The fulminant nature of the infection and its spread resulting in the loss of vision poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to corneal surgeons.

Pneumococcal Conjunctivitis at an Elementary School—Maine, September 20–December 6, 2002

On October 18, 2002, the nurse at an elementary school in Westbrook, Maine, notified the Maine Bureau of Health (MBOH) of an increase in the number of students with conjunctivitis. During September 23-October 18, a total of 31 students in kindergarten and in first and second grades either were reported by parents to the nurse as having conjunctivitis or had conjunctivitis diagnosed by the nurse at school. Conjunctival swab cultures from five (38%) of the 13 students who were tested initially grew Streptococcus pneumoniae. This report documents additional cases in the community and summarizes preliminary results of the investigation of this outbreak, which indicated that the outbreak was caused by the same nontypeable strain of pneumococcus that caused an outbreak of conjunctivitis among college students in New Hampshire during January-March 2002. This is the first time that this strain has been reported as the cause of a conjunctivitis outbreak among schoolchildren. Health-care providers and public health officials should be aware that nontypeable S. pneumoniae can cause outbreaks of conjunctivitis in school-age children and college students; outbreaks should be reported to state health departments and CDC.

Primary Graft Failure Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

To present a cluster of four patients with primary graft failure (PGF) who consecutively underwent a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) during a period of 17 days in one institution. PKP was performed for reasons unrelated to herpes simplex infection. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is presented as the possible cause of these PGFs. Viral culture of conjunctival swabs and of a bandage contact lens was performed on VERO, MRC-5, and Hep-2 cells. The four patients underwent subsequent regrafting. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HSV-1 was carried out on aqueous humor and on a sample of iris and cornea with primers. Aqueous humor specimens were pretreated by boiling, and a qiagen extraction was performed according to the instructions of the manufacturer on biopsies of iris and cornea. Immunohistopathology was performed with polyclonal antibodies directed against HSV-1 and -2. Culture of a conjunctival swab in three patients and culture of a bandage contact lens in the fourth patient were positive for HSV-1. In three of the four patients, PCR was positive for HSV-1 on aqueous humor and corneal graft tissue. PCR on iris tissue was positive in all patients. In three patients, culture for HSV-1 of aqueous humor and of iris tissue could not be carried out because of insufficient sample. Viral culture of the iris tissue in one patient and of the corneal graft in the four patients were negative. Immunohistopathologic examination was positive for HSV-1 in three cases. These case reports strongly support the hypothesis that HSV-1 can be the cause of PGF.

Using Conjunctival Swab with Polymerase Chain Reaction to Aid Diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in AIDS Patients

Conjunctival swabs were used in combination with polymerase chain reactions (PCR) or virus culture to aid to confirm the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients. Based on ophthalmoscopic findings, 13 AIDS patients were diagnosed as having CMV retinitis and treated with systemic ganciclovir from January 1997 to December 1998. Nine of 13 AIDS patients with CMV retinitis were found to be positive for CMV DNA by using a conjunctival swab with PCR (CS-PCR). CMV was also isolated from the conjunctival swab culture in 2 AIDS patients with CMV retinitis. Following 1 month of systemic ganciclovir treatment, except for 1 patient who had disease progression and remained positive for CMV DNA by using CS-PCR, 12 patients were negative for CMV with a concordant lesion regression. Results of this study also indicate that this CS-PCR method is valuable for confirming the diagnosis of CMV retinitis and monitoring the ganciclovir effect on the treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients.

Detection of human cytomegalovirus retinitis and monitoring of ganciclovir treatment using conjunctival swab with polymerase chain reaction in AIDS patients.

This report studies the accuracy of conjunctival swab polymerase chain reaction (CS-PCR) for the diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus retinitis (HCMV) in AIDS patients. PCR and virus culture were used for the detection of HCMV in conjunctival swab, serum, and urine specimens from 38 AIDS patients between April 1996 and April 1998. The clinical utility of the identification of HCMV retinitis by these 6 different methods was demonstrated by their prediction power to estimate AIDS patients at risk of contracting HCMV retinitis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CS-PCR for the detection of HCMV retinitis were 91.5%, 80.9%, 60.8%, and 92.7%, respectively; for serum PCR were 74.3%, 81.7%, 57.2%, and 90.3%; for urine PCR were 100%, 17.3%, 20.4%, and 100%; for conjunctival swab culture were 22.7%, 100%, 100%, and 86%; for serum culture were 27.3%, 98.1%, 75%, and 86.4%; and for urine culture were 90.9%, 44.2%, 25.6%, and 95.8%.

Detection of human cytomegalovirus retinitis and monitoring of ganciclovir treatment using conjunctival swab with polymerase chain reaction in AIDS patients

This report studies the accuracy of conjunctival swab polymerase chain reaction (CS-PCR) for the diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus retinitis (HCMV) in AIDS patients. PCR and virus culture were used for the detection of HCMV in conjunctival swab, serum, and urine specimens from 38 AIDS patients between April 1996 and April 1998. The clinical utility of the identification of HCMV retinitis by these 6 different methods was demonstrated by their prediction power to estimate AIDS patients at risk of contracting HCMV retinitis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CS-PCR for the detection of HCMV retinitis were 91.5%, 80.9%, 60.8%, and 92.7%, respectively; for serum PCR were 74.3%, 81.7%, 57.2%, and 90.3%; for urine PCR were 100%, 17.3%, 20.4%, and 100%; for conjunctival swab culture were 22.7%, 100%, 100%, and 86%; for serum culture were 27.3%, 98.1%, 75%, and 86.4%; and for urine culture were 90.9%, 44.2%, 25.6%, and 95.8%.

Simultaneous bilateral cataract extraction

Purpose To evaluate the visual outcome and safety of simultaneous bilateral cataract extraction. Setting Stobhill Hospital NHS Trust, Glasgow, United Kingdom. Methods This retrospective case review comprised 259 consecutive patients (518 eyes) who had simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery. Surgeries included bilateral extracapsular procedures, uniocular extracapsular procedures performed simultaneously with a different type of intraocular lens surgery in the other eye, and 1 bilateral intracapsular procedure. Outcome measures were postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, and conjunctival swab culture results. Results Eighty-three percent of patients (75% of eyes) with measured preoperative and postoperative BSCVA achieved an acuity of 6/12 or better. Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were similar to those in previous reports of unilateral extracapsular surgery and simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery. Endophthalmitis occurred in 1 eye (0.19%). There were no bilateral complications that resulted in visual loss. Cultures were positive from 42% of conjunctival swabs; 81% of positive cultures were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and 10% were Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions Simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery did not lead to an increased incidence of serious intraoperative or postoperative complications, and visual acuity results were good.