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[Endophthalmitis: improvement of culture results]
Background:
Infectious endophthalmitis is a rare, but serious complication. Identification of the responsible microorganism is important for prognosis and therapy. In the literature positive cultures have been reported in 35-85% of cases. The purpose of our work was to improve the proportion of positive culture results.
Methods And Patients:
All necessary materials (culture media: Columbia, Hämatin, ENDO and yeast-cystein-blood agar, fungus media) and instructions were always available in the operation theater. Thus, intraocularly derived samples could be cultured by less experienced residents right in the operation theater, especially off duty. At night the culture plates were incubated in the Department of Ophthalmology under optimal conditions and passed on to an experienced microbiologist later. Culture results of the first 21 patients suffering from endophthalmitis (acute or chronic postoperative, endogen) after introduction of this "endophthalmitis set" were compared to the results of the 21 patients before.
Results:
As a result of the introduction of the "endophthalmitis set", the proportion of positive culture results improved from 11/21 to 18/21. The detected microorganisms were all representative of the pathogens commonly causing endophthalmitis (gram-positive bacteria, anaerobic bacteria).
Conclusion:
An appropriate culture set that is always available in the operation theater may increase the number of positive cultures dramatically and hence help to find the adequate antibiotic treatment in endophthalmitis cases.
Insights
Implementing an "endophthalmitis set" in operating theaters significantly improved positive microbial culture rates for infectious endophthalmitis, aiding in targeted antibiotic selection.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Infectious endophthalmitis is a severe complication requiring timely microbial identification for effective prognosis and therapy.
- Literature reports variable positive culture rates (35-85%), highlighting a need for improved diagnostic yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the proportion of positive microbial culture results in endophthalmitis cases.
- To streamline the culturing process for intraocular samples within the operating theater.
Main Methods:
- An "endophthalmitis set" with necessary culture media and instructions was made available in the operation theater.
- Intraocular samples were cultured by residents, with incubation and subsequent analysis by an experienced microbiologist.
- Culture results from 21 patients before and 21 patients after the "endophthalmitis set" implementation were compared.
Main Results:
- The proportion of positive cultures increased from 11/21 to 18/21 after introducing the "endophthalmitis set".
- Identified microorganisms included common endophthalmitis pathogens like gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria.
Conclusions:
- An accessible, appropriate culture set in the operation theater can dramatically increase positive culture yields.
- Improved culture diagnostics facilitate the selection of adequate antibiotic treatments for endophthalmitis.