Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
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2013 OMIG Abstract 11

Contact Lens Surveillance Cultures in Patients Wearing Bandage Contact Lenses
Tenley N Bower, MD; Divya Narendra; Leela V Raju, MD
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and
Charles T. Campbell Eye Microbiology Lab, Pittsburgh, PA

Purpose: To describe surveillance cultures of bandage contact lenses (BCL) in patients with a clinical history requiring a BCL such as Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro), and peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) and infectious keratitis both of which required cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive application.

Methods: An institutional review board-approved retrospective consecutive case review of all patients with a history of requiring a BCL and culture taken from October 1, 2009 until July 1, 2013 were examined. Data analyzed included demographics, indication for wearing BCL, type of BCL, time from BCL application to culture, and culture results of the cornea, conjunctiva and lids. Additional information examined included the use of antibiotic drop prophylaxis and steroid use (topical and systemic) while wearing the BCL and the effect that the BCL culture results had on clinical management. 

Results: There are a total of 34 cultures from 17 patients so far included in the analysis. There are 30 cultures from a BCL required for Boston type 1 Kpro and 4 cultures from patients with PUK or infectious keratitis both of which required cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive. It was found that 79% (27/34) of BCL’s grew positive cultures with the most common organism being coagulase-negative Staphylococci (67%, 18/27). In every case, the organism grown on the cornea matched the organism grown on the conjunctiva and lids. It was found that of the positive cultures, 26% (7/27) grew an organism that was found to be resistant to the antibiotic they were taking as prophylaxis and consequently these patients were switched to an antibiotic that was sensitive to the organism grown. One culture was found to grow fungus so the patient was started on Natamycin therapy.

Conclusions: In our series, surveillance cultures were used to support therapy changes for 26% of patients suggesting that BCL cultures provide useful information to guide effective prophylaxis and, if infectious complications arise, to guide treatment.

Grant and Financial Support: None
Conflict of Interest: None for any of the authors listed

2013 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous | Next >