A presentation of culture-positive corneal donors and the effect on clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: Donor-to-host transmission of infectious agents is a rare but well-recognised complication of corneal transplantation and may carry a grave visual prognosis. In this case series, we describe the clinical features and risk factors of using culture-positive donor corneas for transplantation. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of a series of patients who underwent either penetrating keratoplasty (PK) or Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with positive microbiology cultivation during routine assessment of donor corneal tissue obtained at the time of surgery. Donor and recipient characteristics, tissue preparation and surgical parameters, clinical signs and outcomes were registered. RESULTS: Eleven patients who received culture-positive corneal grafts were identified: six with Candida, three with Gram-positive bacteria and two with Gram-negative bacteria. Three patients developed clinical keratitis after routine DSAEK using corneas contaminated with Candida species. The median death-to-preservation time (DPT) of these three donor corneas was 18.08 (range 18.08 to 20.90) h, while in the remaining eight donors, it was 12.27 (range 9.32 to 20.47) h. Despite the initiation of antifungal treatment, all three cases required explantation of the graft and a subsequent re-DSAEK. CONCLUSIONS: The use of donor corneas that are culture-positive for Candida carries a risk for developing postoperative keratitis and the risk may be higher in DSAEK. Unlike the cold storage technique employed for donor corneas described in this case series, organ culture technique requires microbiological screening and supplementation of an antifungal agent which may reduce the risk of donor-to-host transmission of fungal infection.

Serologic Evaluation of Cornea Donors and Microbiologic Evaluation of Cornea Storage Media in an Eye Bank from Izmir, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the serologic positivity of cornea donors and microbiologic positivity of cornea storage media at the Ege University Tissue and Cornea Bank, Izmir, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the serologic blood sample and microbiological culture media analysis results of all cornea donors at Ege University Tissue and Cornea Bank between 2007 and 2015 with reference to age, sex, and cause of death of each donor. RESULTS: Mean age of the 955 deceased donors was 43.19 ± 15.89 years (range, 2-65 y). The mean postmortem time to blood sample removal and excision of the cornea tissue was 8.4 hours (range, 4-12 h). Serologic analyses showed that 855 donors (89.5%) were seronegative. The remaining donors were seropositive for hepatitis B (54 donors; 5.7%), human immunodeficiency (27 donors; 2.8%), hepatitis C (14 donors; 1.5%), and syphilis (5 donors; 0.5%) virus infections. Microbiologic analyses of the storage media were negative, with no microorganisms shown in 855 samples (89.5%). Candida species (32 donors; 3.4%), Escherichia coli (14 donors; 1.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11 donors; 1.2%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (11 donors; 1.2%), Enterobacter species (11 donors; 1.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7 donors; 0.7%), Acinetobacter baumannii (6 donors; 0.6%), Proteus species (5 donors; 0.5%), and Corynebacterium species (3 donors; 0.3%) were the detected microorganisms in the infected storage media. CONCLUSIONS: False-positive serologic results among cornea donors were high. The incidence of false-positive results might be decreased by earlier blood removal from deceased donors and testing of all potential donors in intensive care units. Although rare, endophthalmitis after keratoplasty might be a devastating problem. In addition to serologic testing, microbiologic analyses of cornea storage media before transplant may be an effective way to prevent postoperative infectious complications.

Candida Interface Infections After Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To describe 2 Candida interface keratitis infections occurring in the setting of positive donor rim cultures from precut corneal tissue used for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and the ensuing public health investigation. METHODS: Following 2 clinical Candida interface keratitis infections, patients from 2012 to 2014 in the same surgical center were evaluated for bacterial and fungal rim cultures and subsequent infection. All cases of fungal infections occurring post-DSAEK were analyzed. Data included patient demographics, surgical technique, donor rim cultures, donor mate outcomes, clinical courses, and outcomes. A review of the relevant literature was also undertaken. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2014, among 99 DSAEK procedures performed, 7 (7.1%) donor rim cultures were positive for fungi. Use of this tissue with positive donor rim cultures resulted in 2 (28.6%) episodes of confirmed fungal interface keratitis, both Candida species, and presumptive treatment in an additional 2 patients. An investigation did not identify any breach in sterile technique or procedures by the surgeon or surgery center. Our literature review identified 15 reports of postoperative fungal infection associated with DSAEK, of which 11 involved Candida spp. CONCLUSIONS: While postoperative infection remains rare, our 2 additional cases along with those previously reported suggest that DSAEK may be susceptible to infection with Candida spp. Furthermore, this report of correlated rim cultures and clinical infection suggests a need for reevaluation of the utility of obtaining routine corneoscleral donor rim fungal culture.

A zygomycetes-contaminated corneal graft harvested from a donor with signs of orbital trauma.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features and histopathology of a transplanted cornea that was immediately replaced because of the possible diagnosis of lattice corneal dystrophy in the graft in which histopathologic examination revealed a Zygomycetes infection. METHODS: A 19-year-old patient with keratoconus underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) in the right eye. The operation was uneventful, transplanting a corneal graft without Descemet membrane, harvested from a donor with signs of orbital trauma. RESULTS: Three days after keratoplasty, multiple refractile lines involving the entire donor stroma were observed. With the potential diagnosis of lattice dystrophy of the donor cornea, the graft was replaced and sent for histopathologic analysis, which revealed a Zygomycetes graft infection. CONCLUSIONS: This case report introduces Zygomycetes as a cause of donor-to-host infection and also suggests that corneas harvested from donors with signs of orbital trauma may be a risk factor for donor-to-recipient transmission of such fungal infections.

Donor-related Candida keratitis after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans interface keratitis after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: We performed clinical and microbiologic examinations on 2 patients who underwent DSAEK for pseudophakic corneal edema. RESULTS: Two patients underwent uneventful DSAEK surgery using corneal tissue from the same donor. The donor corneoscleral rims were cultured at the time of surgery and both rims subsequently grew C. albicans and Candida glabrata. Approximately 5 weeks after surgery, infiltrates were noted in the DSAEK interface in both of these patients. Despite treatment with antifungal therapy, the Candida keratitis was unable to be controlled medically and required surgical intervention in each case, after which there was no recurrence of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Candida interface keratitis can occur after DSAEK. These 2 cases emphasize the importance of donor corneoscleral rim cultures, especially with the increase in lamellar and endothelial keratoplasty, which can make such interface infections more difficult to diagnose and treat. Patients with fungal positive donor corneal rim cultures should be prophylactically treated with antifungal therapy.

Candida keratitis after descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To report the donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans after Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: An 80-year-old woman with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy developed an infiltrate in the donor corneal lenticule after DSAEK. RESULTS: Donor corneoscleral rim cultures grew C. albicans. Gram stain of the removed corneal lenticule demonstrated budding yeast and pseudohyphae, and cultures yielded C. albicans. Despite topical and systemic antifungal therapy and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, the patient developed a blind painful eye and underwent enucleation. CONCLUSIONS: This case report indicates that fungal keratitis may occur from donor-to-host transmission after DSAEK. The location of the infected tissue poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the surgeon.

Donor-to-host transmission of Candida glabrata to both recipients of corneal transplants from the same donor.

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of exogenous Candida glabrata endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty in recipients of corneas from the same donor transplanted on the same day. METHODS: Case reports with ophthalmologic, electron microscopic, and microbiological findings including fungal strain analysis. RESULTS: Two patients developed fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis caused by the same C. glabrata strain within 1 day after penetrating keratoplasty of corneas from the same donor on the same day. Donor-to-host transmission was postulated when eye bank sterility checks were repeatedly negative. CONCLUSIONS: A short death-to-harvesting time, routine donor rim cultures, and respecting of a time interval before transplantation may provide an additional safety feature in dealing with corneal tissue from high-risk donors.

Candida albicans interface infection after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To report a case of interface infection by Candida albicans after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). METHODS: A 30-year-old man with keratoconus underwent DALK. Four weeks after surgery, the patient developed multiple infiltrates in the graft-host interface with absence of intraocular infection. Donor rim cultures grew C. albicans. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was performed because of worsening of the infection despite topical, local, and systemic antifungal therapy. RESULTS: Cultures carried out on the excised donor cornea confirmed donor-to-host transmission of C. albicans. An aqueous tap taken before PK was negative. Six months after PK, the corneal graft was clear with no recurrence of infection. CONCLUSIONS: After DALK, in cases of donor graft microbial contamination, infection may develop at the graft-host interface. This may delay or prevent direct intraocular penetration of microorganisms, reducing the risk of development of endophthalmitis. PK may be needed to eradicate the infection in cases where conservative treatment fails.

Multivariate analysis of childhood microbial keratitis in South India.

INTRODUCTION: Corneal infection is the most common cause of profound ocular morbidity leading to blindness worldwide. Corneal infection in children is difficult to diagnose and treat, as they are unwilling and sometimes unable to cooperate during active management. This study analyses the prevalence, microbiology, demography, therapeutic and visual outcome of infectious microbial keratitis in the paediatric age group seen at a tertiary eye care hospital in south India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all cases presenting with keratitis to the ocular microbiology and cornea service at Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, from February 1997 to January 2004, was done to screen the patients for microbial keratitis. Their records were further analysed for clinical and microbiological details. Cases with culture-proven non-viral keratitis in children

Late-onset donor-to-host transmission of Candida glabrata following corneal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the potential value of obtaining routine fungal cultures of donor rims at the time of corneal transplantation and instituting prophylactic therapy in culture-positive cases, even in the absence of clinical evidence of established microbial keratitis or endophthalmitis. METHODS: Interventional case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 69-year-old Saudi man underwent penetrating keratoplasty with donor tissue that was culture-positive for Candida glabrata. The postoperative course was complicated by slight override of the graft associated with an associated epithelial defect, but there was no evidence of microbial keratitis or significant anterior chamber inflammation. Following repair of the graft override on postoperative day 42, the epithelial defect healed. The subsequent clinical course was unremarkable until postoperative day 146, when a deep stromal infiltrate was present at the graft-host junction, associated with a dense endothelial plaque. Cultures of the anterior chamber were positive for Candida glabrata. Treatment with topical and intracameral amphotericin B and systemic fluconazole, along with topical corticosteroids and intracameral t-PA, was successful in eradicating the corneal infiltrate and resolving intraocular inflammation. Four months after treatment was initiated, there was no evidence of recurrent fungal keratitis or endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: This case provides support for the practice of obtaining routine fungal cultures of donor rims at the time of corneal transplantation and for the implementation of prophylactic antifungal therapy in culture-positive cases.

Intracorneal injection of amphothericin B for recurrent fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis.

Penetrating keratoplasty carries an infectious risk. Its requirement for topical corticosteroid therapy facilitates fungal growth with resulting keratitis. Although progression of fungal keratitis to intraocular infection is uncommon, endophthalmitis resulting from keratitis usually has a poor visual prognosis. Fungal infection under these circumstances remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We report a complicated case of recurrent fungal keratitis with endophthalmitis following a contaminated penetrating keratoplasty that ultimately was controlled with a new treatment modality. Intrastromal corneal injections combined with intravitreal injection of amphotericin B led to the eradication of the corneal fungal plaques and the intraocular infection. Intrastromal corneal injections of amphotericin B may offer a less invasive, in-office alternative to repeat penetrating keratoplasty.

Cryptococcus albidus keratitis after corneal transplantation.

PURPOSE: To report suspected donor-to-host transmission of Cryptococcus albidus after penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: Review of the literature and a case report of a 69-year-old woman who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for Fuchs corneal dystrophy and developed persistent corneal infiltrates 7 months postoperatively are presented. RESULTS: Cryptococcus albidus was cultured from the original donor tissue at the time of the repeat keratoplasty. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates an unusual case of cryptococcal keratitis after keratoplasty suspected to be a donor-to-host transmission.

Donor-to-host transmitted Candida endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To report the first case of Candida albicans endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty after warm preservation. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: We reviewed the patient's chart and the available literature on fungal endophthalmitis after keratoplasty. RESULTS: After keratoplasty, a 45-year-old man developed an endophthalmitis on the first postoperative day. The same day, results of the culture of the transportation medium were available and revealed Candida albicans. Despite therapy with topical and subtenon amphotericin B, there was no clinical improvement, and a regraft was performed 4 days after the initial corneal transplant. A best corrected visual acuity of 20/32 was achieved. CONCLUSION: The majority of reported cases of postkeratoplasty candidal endophthalmitis are associated with cold storage preservation and a poor prognosis of the affected eye. We describe a case of postkeratoplasty candidal endophthalmitis after organ-cultured preservation, with a final visual acuity above expectations. In our opinion, early diagnosis based on routine culturing of the transportation medium and early removal of the infected corneal graft when local antifungal therapy failed are important factors contributing to the good clinical outcome.

The incidence of fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of postkeratoplasty fungal endophthalmitis and keratitis at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. To determine whether there is a relationship between culture-positive corneoscleral donor material and postoperative infection. METHODS: The microbiologic records of corneoscleral donor rims submitted for culture following penetrating keratoplasty at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary between January 1998 and January 2003 were reviewed. The incidence of rim cultures positive for fungi was tabulated. Clinical outcome measures were recorded for each patient receiving corneal donor tissue. RESULTS: Of 2466 donor corneoscleral rims cultured during the study period, 344 were positive for microbial growth (13%). Of those rims with positive cultures, 28 (8.6%) were positive for fungus. All fungi cultured were Candida species. Four of the 28 recipient eyes (14%) who received contaminated donor material went on to develop postkeratoplasty fungal infections. There were no cases of fungal infection in any postkeratoplasty patients in the absence of contaminated donor rims during the study period. Overall, there was a 0.16% incidence of fungal infection (4/2466) following penetrating keratoplasty. There were 18 positive donor rims identified in the first 4 years of the study, but there were 10 cases in the last 10 months of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of fungal infection following penetrating keratoplasty is low, but all cases in our study were associated with positive rim cultures. Whether prophylactic antifungal therapy would be of any benefit in the presence of a positive corneoscleral rim culture has not yet been determined.

Curvularia keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis from a feline source.

Fungal keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is extremely rare. Except in cases that follow trauma, the source of fungal organisms is unknown in published reports. We report a case of keratitis following LASIK that could be directly traced to a fungal skin infection of the patient's pet cat.

Donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans after corneal transplantation.

PURPOSE: To report donor-to-host transmission of Candida albicans after penetrating keratoplasty. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 15-year-old boy who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus with donor tissue from a drowning victim developed keratitis and a lenticular abscess 26 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Candida albicans was cultured from the donor rim and the recipient cornea. Antifungal sensitivity profiles were identical for the two isolates. DNA profiles were identical for both isolates, confirming the donor as the source of the infection. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the value of routine culture of corneal donor rims and the advisability of close follow-up and possible antifungal prophylaxis when donor rims are positive for fungus.

[Difficulties of fungus detection in corneal culture medium]. / Schwierigkeiten beim Pilznachweis in Hornhautkulturmedium.

UNLABELLED: It is not always possible to prevent the growth of microorganisms in organ culture for cornea preservation, despite many prophylactic measures. It is especially difficult to prove the presence of fungi in the cultural medium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A culture medium was examined for sterility after 8 days' storage of cornea in organ culture. To prove the presence of fungi a culture of Sabouraud 2% glucose-agar was prepared and its growth examined by light microscopy. RESULTS: After 8 days of preservation we noticed a color change in the cultural medium and suspected contamination with fungi. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci could be cultivated from the conjunctival smear obtained before preparation of the cornea only. Routine screening of microbiological contamination did not show any results. We were able to identify an Aspergillus species only after preparing a special culture. The conjunctival smear as well as the cultural medium of the other eye of the same donor showed no contamination. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the fact that microbiological contamination can be seen macroscopically, it is difficult to prove the presence of a specific microorganism and even more so when dealing with fungus. Especially in these cases the incubation of the cornea in media might have an advantage because contamination can be suspected by just looking at the medium. By excluding these preparations from transplantation we can possibly prevent infections, even when routine examinations show negative results.