PURPOSE: To compare the traditional method of culturing bacterial keratitis (platinum spatula) with the use of a commercially available Mini-tip Culturette (Becton-Dickinson, Cockeysville, MD, U.S.A.). METHODS: An experimental model of bacterial keratitis was created in rabbit corneas by intrastromal injection of bacteria. Cultures were taken of rabbit corneas with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. Culture results were compared with corneal colony counts. Humans with community-acquired presumed bacterial keratitis were cultured with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. The sensitivity and specificity of the Mini-tip Culturette method was determined and compared with the platinum-spatula technique. RESULTS: Rabbit keratitis model: 100% of corneas had established infections by colony count. Each ulcer was culture positive with platinum spatula, moist Mini-tip Culturette, and dry Mini-tip Culturette. Human keratitis: Seven patients had culture-negative keratitis with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. Five patients were culture positive with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. One of the positive cultures had growth of multiple organisms by using the platinum spatula but not with the Mini-tip Culturette. The sensitivity of the Mini-tip Culturette was 83.3%. The specificity of the Mini-tip Culturette was 100%. Detected organisms included group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, S. aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CONCLUSION: The Mini-tip Culturette is a highly specific and moderately sensitive method for culturing bacterial keratitis.
PURPOSE: To compare the traditional method of culturing bacterial keratitis (platinum spatula) with the use of a commercially available Mini-tip Culturette (Becton-Dickinson, Cockeysville, MD, U.S.A.). METHODS: An experimental model of bacterial keratitis was created in rabbit corneas by intrastromal injection of bacteria. Cultures were taken of rabbit corneas with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. Culture results were compared with corneal colony counts. Humans with community-acquired presumed bacterial keratitis were cultured with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. The sensitivity and specificity of the Mini-tip Culturette method was determined and compared with the platinum-spatula technique. RESULTS:Rabbit keratitis model: 100% of corneas had established infections by colony count. Each ulcer was culture positive with platinum spatula, moist Mini-tip Culturette, and dry Mini-tip Culturette. Humankeratitis: Seven patients had culture-negative keratitis with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. Five patients were culture positive with both the Mini-tip Culturette and the platinum spatula. One of the positive cultures had growth of multiple organisms by using the platinum spatula but not with the Mini-tip Culturette. The sensitivity of the Mini-tip Culturette was 83.3%. The specificity of the Mini-tip Culturette was 100%. Detected organisms included group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, S. aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CONCLUSION: The Mini-tip Culturette is a highly specific and moderately sensitive method for culturing bacterial keratitis.
Authors: Stephen B Kaye; Prasad G Rao; Godfrey Smith; John A Scott; Sharon Hoyles; Clare E Morton; Colin Willoughby; Mark Batterbury; Graham Harvey Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Mihail Zemba; Otilia-Maria Dumitrescu; Andreea-Elena Dimirache; Daniel Constantin Branisteanu; Florian Balta; Marian Burcea; Andreea Dana Moraru; Sinziana Gradinaru Journal: Exp Ther Med Date: 2021-12-13 Impact factor: 2.447