This study aimed to compare the culture results between scraping specimens with microhomogenization and corneal smears in patients with moderate to severe bacterial corneal ulcers. This study could be a guideline for treating bacterial corneal ulcers.

Purpose: To compare bacterial culture results from corneal infiltrate specimens taken by corneal scrapping followed by microhomogenization and direct scraping methods. Methods: This study was a comparative cross-sectional, with 18 subjects divided into two randomized groups; Group A (first scrapings then swab), and group B (first swab then scrapings). Both scraping and swab methods are separated and then compared in data analysis. Results: The proportion of Gram according to culture in the scraping-microhomogenization technique was 6/13 (46.2%) and the proportion of Gram according to cultures in the swab technique was 5/13 (38.5%). McNemar test p-value is 1.000 (p>0.05). The proportion of positive cultures in the scraping-microhomogenization technique was 13/18 (72.2%) and the proportion of positive culture in swab technique was 9/18 (50%). McNemar test p-value is 0.219 (p> 0.05). The Kappa suitability test value from scraping-microhomogenization technique against the corneal swab is 0.333. Conclusion: The results of bacterial culture from specimens taken by the corneal scraping followed by microhomogenization have a higher positive culture compared to those taken by corneal swab, but not statistically significant. Keywords: bacterial cultures, scraping, microhomogenization, corneal swab

Background: To review the literature and report relative efficacy and safety of various tamponade agents used with surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) regarding functional success rate, anatomical success rate, and adverse effects. Methods: We searched articles from PubMed and Clinical Key database starting from the year of 1990 to November 2014. Information needed from all articles were extracted into data extraction sheet. We reviewed the efficacy of both tamponade agents regarding the postoperative visual acuity, macular attachment, and adverse effect. Results: Eight articles were included after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our analysis showed all studies shows an increasing visual acuity and percentage of macular attachment postoperatively of all type tamponade agents. Functional and anatomical success rate of Sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF6) was high in study with PVR stage B or less (94-98%). In patient with complex or recurrent RD associated with PVR, silicone oil had a better functional success (51% vs 32.5%) and better anatomical success (80% vs 60%) than SF6 gas. The anatomical success rate also higher in C3F8 than in SF6 group (73.9% vs 57.5% respectively). Functional and anatomical success rate of HSO as tamponade was high in patients with a severe PVR located mainly in the inferior quadrants (92.3%).Conclusion: As tamponade agents, C3F8 and silicone oil appear to have more visual and anatomic advantages over SF6 in participants with complex or recurrent RD associated with PVR. Silicone oil was better than C3F8 gas to obtain final visual and anatomic successs in patient with recurrent RD associated with higher grade PVR. Heavy silicone oil would be useful in particular cases complicated by recurrent inferior RD with PVR. Retinal redetachment, glaucoma, cataract, hypotony and keratopathy were reported in both gases and silicone group. Keywords: Tamponade in retinal detachment surgery, SF6, C3F8, silicon oil, and heavy silicone oil