Molecular biology applied to the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis prevalence in an university hospital

“…This may also account for the large number of patients who had already undergone some treatment, either clinical or surgical, which in turn may explain the large number of patients who did not have material collected for culture when getting to the our service, or who presented a negative result of culture. Among the positive cultures, there was a predominance of gram positive microorganisms, as in other studies 1,2,4,6 . The delay in the diagnosis and appropriate treatment can also justify the long hospitalization and the poor visual outcome found in our study.…”

“…ndophthalmitis is an inflammation of the intraocular tissues 1 , and is one of the most serious complications and with worst functional outcome among ophthalmic diseases 2 . Although it is a rare condition, it is potentially destructive since it creates irreversible damage to the delicate photoreceptor layer of the retina, and even with proper intervention results in partial or complete loss of vision, or even of the eye in a few days 3 .…”

Analysis of Intraocular Lens Biofilms and Fluids After Long-Term Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery

“…Endophthalmitis is a potentially sight-threatening infection (13). Detection of endophthalmitis and identification of the causative agent are therefore essential to ensure that rational treatment is given (14), yet routine microbiologic diagnosis relies on time consuming classical culture techniques that offer low sensitivity; indeed, the positivity rates range from 22% to 30% in the aqueous humor and from 40% to 69% in the vitreous humor (15). Modern molecular techniques -such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with different post-PCR analyses -now allow for greater sensitivity and more rapid results (7,14,16), and are particularly useful when only a small amount of material is available (e.g.…”

Diagnosis of Microbial Keratitis Causatives by Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…Such failures may occur due to unsuitable culturing conditions and methods for the bacterial species in question. Alternatively, the patient under investigation may have received antimicrobial therapy before sampling [3].…”