A new culture method for infectious endophthalmitis.

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.