Bacterial contamination of non-contact condensing lenses in National University of Malaysia Hospital isolated using BD BACTEC Peds Plus/F broth bottles versus conventional culture plates.

Introduction. Non-contact condensing lenses (NCLL) are a requirement in ophthalmology examinations. To date, there have been no studies on the types of bacteria found on handheld lenses used to examine patients in an ophthalmology clinic.Hypothesis. The BD BACTEC Peds Plus broth (BACTEC-PP) culture method can isolate more organisms as compared to conventional culture plates (CCP) from NCLL.Aim. To evaluate the organism spectrum cultured from NCCL for fundus examination and to compare the results between BACTEC-PP and CCP. The isolation results were then related to the participant's knowledge and hand hygiene practices (HHP).Methodology. This is a comparative cross-sectional study involving consenting trainee ophthalmologists from a single centre, whose preferred NCCL was swabbed from January to December 2019. The respondents completed the adapted World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Perception Questionnaire, and their HHP were observed by Infective Control Unit nurses. Positive bacterial growth using both methods, in addition to hand hygiene practices, were compared.Results. All samples had positive yields by at least one method. BACTEC-PP had a higher yield of 47 (90.4%) isolates compared to CCP with 37 (71.2%) isolates, P=0.041. CoNS sp (38.9 %) was the most common isolate with both methods, followed by Bacillus sp (25.3 %). At the same time, three fungi were detected with CCP only (3.2 %). There was a significant correlation in bacterial isolation with years of training, with fewer isolates among seniors in both BACTEC-PP (P=0.049) and CCP (P=0.034). There were no significant correlations between HHP and positive yields from either culture method.Conclusions. NCCL used by trainee ophthalmologists are typically contaminated by at least one bacteria, with CoNS sp being the most commonly isolated. More positive cultures occurred in lenses from junior trainees. Contamination was not correlated with knowledge or HHP. BACTEC-PP has significantly higher yields than CCP for bacterial isolation from NCCL, but did not isolate any fungus.

A Case Report: Vitreous Haemorrhage – A Rare Presentation Of Retinoblastoma

@#Retinoblastoma very rarely presents as vitreous haemorrhage. We are presenting a case of atypical presentation of retinoblastoma in a 3-year-old girl. She initially came with right eye vitreous haemorrhage of unknown cause. B-mode ultrasound showed dense vitreous opacity without evidence of mass. Initial MRI Brain/Orbit was inconclusive. Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed and noted thickened abnormal retina which was suspicious for retinoblastoma. The parents refused for enucleation for diagnostic histopathological examination and opted for conservative management. Repeated MRI Brain/Orbit done six months later showed disease progression through optic nerve involvement and suggestive of retinoblastoma. The parents were re-counselled for enucleation however refused and defaulted. 2 months later, the child was brought back with proptosed and disorganized eye. This time, they agreed for intervention. The patient underwent three cycles of chemoreduction therapy before enucleation. After enucleation, she received six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. She was well with no disease recurrence at two-year post treatment.