A Novel Vitreous Culture Technique

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This is the first case series of a novel method of collecting and transporting a vitreous specimen after a vitreous tap and injection for infectious endophthalmitis.Methods: Case series.Results: Four consecutive cases of presumed infectious endophthalmitis underwent an in-office vitreous tap and antibiotic injection. The vitreous specimen was injected into the ESwab liquid-based collection and transport system for microbiology samples. Three of the four cases had a positive culture. Conclusion:The ESwab is a simple and efficacious method of collecting a vitreous specimen, increasing the probability of a positive culture, particularly when there is a delay between specimen collection and delivery to the laboratory for processing.