Fungal contamination in organ culture.

Fungal contamination of organ-cultured corneas was studied retrospectively. Over a 3 1/2-year period, 5.2% of 696 corneas became contaminated by fungi in organ culture. The average length of time for fungal contamination to occur in organ culture was 11 days. The most frequent contaminating fungi were those of the Candida species. In addition to previously identified risk factors for donor cornea contamination, those corneas from donors given mechanical respiratory assistance at the time of death, those corneas with long postmortem times, and those corneas with positive postwash cultures were identified as being at higher risk for fungal contamination in organ culture.