Chemoluorescent stains versus gram stain in diagnosis of infectious eye diseases

ABSTRACT

Two hundred forty three [243] consecutive cases of presumed eye infections were reviewed. Cultures were positive in 56.4% of cases [137 out of 243]. Chemofluorescent stains [Acridine orange and Calcoflour] sensitive [82% and 78.2% respectively] were significantly greater than Gram stain sensitivity [64.2%], [P 0.002]. Gram stain specificity was 93.3% Acridine orange 87.7% and Calcoflour white was 76.4%. In specimens with low or moderate growth chemoflourescent stains were positive in 76% as compared by 52% positively of Gram stain. In cases of heavy microbial +/- growth Gram stain was positive in%97 white chemoflourscent stains were 100%. This study demonstrates that both Gram and chemoflourescent stains are excellent in cases with heavy microbial growth, while Acridine orange and Calcoflour white are significantly better in cases with low amounts of organism. Therefore, the latters are considered as excellent alternative screening stains whenever low microbial growth is suspected as in Keratitis and endophthalmitis