Reusing Surgical Materials for Cataract Surgery: An Assessment of Potential Contamination.

PURPOSE: To evaluate microbiological cultures of cataract surgical devices and products that were reused for multiple cases. SETTING: Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Samples from multiple surgical instruments and products that were reused for consecutive cataract surgeries underwent bacterial and fungal cultures and were monitored alongside positive controls for 7 days. This included instruments that were processed using immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS) between cases (e.g., surgical cannulas, syringes, phacoemulsification and coaxial/bimanual irrigation and aspiration (IA) tips, phacoemulsification and IA sleeves) (Group 1), instruments that were used without sterilization between cases (e.g., phacoemulsification tubing/handpieces, coaxial IA handpieces) (Group 2) and the residual (unused) fluid from balanced salt solution bags after being used for multiple patients (Group 3). RESULTS: 3,333 discrete samples were collected from all 3 product groups that were reused across multiple patients. In all collected samples, no bacterial or fungal growth was observed. Of the 3,241 cataract surgeries that utilized reused and IUSS-sterilized instruments alongside instrument sets cultured on the same day and balanced salt solution bags shared across multiple patients, no eyes developed endophthalmitis over a 6-week follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Bacterial or fungal growth was not found in extensive microbiological cultures of IUSS-sterilized ophthalmic surgical instruments, and cataract surgical products that were reused in multiple patients. This microbiological data complements clinical endophthalmitis data from 2 million consecutive cases at the Aravind Eye Hospital, suggesting that their instrument and surgical supply processing practices may allow for safe and sustainable ophthalmic care.

Clinical, microbiologic, and treatment outcomes of dematiaceous fungal keratitis - A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Dematiaceous fungi, the third most common causative organism of fungal keratitis, constitute 3.5% to 43.5% of fungal keratitis worldwide. Several studies on filamentous fungi (Aspergillus and Fusarium) are available as opposed to that on dematiaceous fungal keratitis. This study aims to describe the profile of dematiaceous fungal keratitis in South India. METHODS: This institutional cohort study on culture-proven dematiaceous fungal keratitis was performed in a single ophthalmology referral center in South India for a 6-year period. Records were analyzed for demographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment outcomes for 3 months from the date of presentation. RESULTS: This study comprised 312 cases involving dematiaceous fungal keratitis (DFK). During the study period, DFK accounted for 10% of microbial keratitis and 24.6% of fungal keratitis cases. The mean (standard deviation) age was 54 (14) years. Males were commonly affected (73.4%). Keratitis was ≤1/3rd depth in 47.8% of cases. Fifty-four cases (17.3%) demonstrated surface pigmentation, and 69 cases (22.1%) had endothelial plaque. Curvularia spp. (99 eyes, 31.7%) was the most common fungal isolate among the speciated fungi. Topical medications resulted in the healing of 63.5% of cases. A total of 193 cases (79%) healed, and 49 cases had to undergo therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK). Early TPK was performed for 20 cases (40.8%). Seventeen eyes (34.6%) maintained clear grafts at the end of 3 months. CONCLUSION: In this extensive study on DFK, we report a high incidence of this group of fungal keratitis. We found an excellent healing rate in our cohort of patients.

Successful Management of Pythium insidiosum Keratitis Masquerading as Dematiaceous Fungal Keratitis in an Immunosuppressed Asian Male.

PURPOSE: To describe the first case of Pythium insidiosum keratitis masquerading as dematiaceous fungal keratitis in a seropositive male. CASE SUMMARY: A 44-year-old seropositive male previously treated for acute retinal necrosis presented with pain and defective vision in the right eye following a mud injury 5 days back. Presenting visual acuity was hand movements close to the face. Ocular examination revealed a 7 × 7 mm dense, greyish-white mid stromal infiltrate with pigmentation and few tentacles. The clinical diagnosis suggested fungal keratitis. Corneal scraping on 10% KOH and Gram stain revealed slender, aseptate hyaline hyphae. Before culture results, the patient was treated with topical 5% natamycin and 1% voriconazole, but the infiltrate progressed. Culture on 5% sheep blood agar revealed white fluffy, submerged, shiny, and appressed colonies, and Pythium insidiosum was confirmed by zoospore formation. The patient was further managed with topical linezolid 0.2% hourly, azithromycin 1% hourly, and adjuvant drugs. CONCLUSION: This is an uncommon presentation of Pythium keratitis masquerading as dematiaceous fungal keratitis in an immunocompromised male.

Pythium insidiosum Keratitis: Past, Present, and Future.

Pythium insidiosum (PI) is an oomycete, a protist belonging to the clade Stramenopila. PI causes vision-threatening keratitis closely mimicking fungal keratitis (FK), hence it is also labeled as "parafungus". PI keratitis was initially confined to Thailand, USA, China, and Australia, but with growing clinical awareness and improvement in diagnostic modalities, the last decade saw a massive upsurge in numbers with the majority of reports coming from India. In the early 1990s, pythiosis was classified as vascular, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, systemic, and ocular. Clinically, morphologically, and microbiologically, PI keratitis closely resembles severe FK and requires a high index of clinical suspicion for diagnosis. The clinical features such as reticular dot infiltrate, tentacular projections, peripheral thinning with guttering, and rapid limbal spread distinguish it from other microorganisms. Routine smearing with Gram and KOH stain reveals perpendicular septate/aseptate hyphae, which closely mimic fungi and make the diagnosis cumbersome. The definitive diagnosis is the presence of dull grey/brown refractile colonies along with zoospore formation upon culture by leaf induction method. However, culture is time-consuming, and currently polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is the gold standard. The value of other diagnostic modalities such as confocal microscopy and immunohistopathological assays is limited due to cost, non-availability, and limited diagnostic accuracy. PI keratitis is a relatively rare disease without established treatment protocols. Because of its resemblance to fungus, it was earlier treated with antifungals but with an improved understanding of its cell wall structure and absence of ergosterol, this is no longer recommended. Currently, antibacterials have shown promising results. Therapeutic keratoplasty with good margin (1 mm) is mandated for non-resolving cases and corneal perforation. In this review, we have deliberated on the evolution of PI keratitis, covered all the recently available literature, described our current understanding of the diagnosis and treatment, and the potential future diagnostic and management options for PI keratitis.

Successful management of pediatric pythium insidiosum keratitis with cyanoacrylate glue, linezolid, and azithromycin: Rare case report.

PURPOSE: Pythium insidiosum causes a rare sight-threatening keratitis and is a devastating ocular pathology with a high morbidity. It is frequently mistaken as fungal keratitis. Here we highlight a rare case of pediatric Pythium insidiosum keratitis which was successfully managed using an antibiotic combination of linezolid and azithromycin with cyanoacrylate glue. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 9-year-old young male child presented to our clinic with defective vision, pain, redness in the right eye for 5 days post stick injury. In the right eye, Snellen's best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 6/12 which deteriorated to hand movements within 5 days of treatment. Ocular examination revealed 6 × 5 mm dry-looking mid stromal corneal infiltrate with feathery margin involving the visual axis. The clinical picture was suggestive of fungal keratitis. Corneal scraping and smear examination with 10% KOH and Gram stain revealed long slender hyaline hyphae with sparse septations. Before the culture result, the patient was started on 5% Natamycin and 1% Itraconazole hourly, but still, the infiltrate progressed. Further, P. Insidiosum keratitis was considered as the differential, which was confirmed on blood agar culture. After receiving culture results, the patient was managed with 0.2% Linezolid and 1% Azithromycin hourly. Due to the rapid progression of infiltrate, corneal melt, and younger age, cyanoacrylate glue, and bandage contact lens were used. On the last follow-up, the BCVA recovered to 6/12. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: Prompt diagnosis, clinical awareness, and a specific treatment regime is needed for managing this devastating corneal entity. Cyanoacrylate glue due to its antibacterial properties can be a potential rescuer and can be considered for managing these cases.

Retrospective multifactorial analysis of Pythium keratitis and review of literature.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to study the demographic profile, clinical diagnostic features, challenges in management, treatment outcomes, and ocular morbidity of microbiological culture-proven Pythium keratitis in a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. Methods: Retrospective analysis of microbiologically proven Pythium keratitis patients was performed at a tertiary eye center from October 2017 to March 2020. Demographic details, risk factors, microbiological investigations, clinical course, and visual outcomes were analyzed. Results: Thirty patients were analyzed. The mean age was 43.1±17.2 years. Most common risk factors were history of injury in 80% and exposure to dirty water in 23.3%. Visual acuity at baseline was 20/30 to perception of light (PL). The most common clinical presentation was stromal infiltrate and hypopyon in 14 (46.6%) patients each. The microbiological confirmation was based on culture on blood agar and vesicles with zoospores formation with incubated leaf carnation method. Seven (23.3%) patients improved with topical 0.2% Linezolid and topical 1% Azithromycin, 19 (63.3%) patients underwent Therapeutic keratoplasty (TPK) and 4 were lost to follow-up. Seven (23.3%) patients had graft reinfection, and 3 (10%) developed endophthalmitis. The final visual acuity was 20/20- 20/200 in 6 (20%) patients, 20/240-20/1200 in 5 (16.6%) patients, hand movement to positive perception of light in 16 patients and no perception of light (Pthisis Bulbi) in 3 (10%) patients. Conclusion: P. insidiosum keratitis is a rapidly progressive infectious keratitis with prolonged and relapsing clinical course. It usually results in irreparable vision loss in majority of the patients. Prompt diagnosis, clinical awareness, and specific treatment options are needed for successfully managing this devastating corneal disease.

Antibiotic sensitivity trends of pseudomonas endophthalmitis in a tertiary eye care center in South India: A 12-year retrospective study.

Purpose: To assess trends in antibiotic sensitivity of pseudomonas and compare multidrug resistance (MDR) between Pseudomonas endophthalmitis cases presenting in two consecutive 6-year time frames in a tertiary center in South India. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative series of all Pseudomonas endophthalmitis cases treated from June 2004 to May 2016. Microbiological culture results in all endophthalmitis patients were screened for pseudomonas. Positive cases in the initial 6 and final 6 years were compared for sensitivity to antibiotics and the proportion of MDR. MDR was defined as resistance to at least two different classes of antibiotics. Results: Pseudomonas accounted for 74 of 389 endophthalmitis cases (19%), 42 in initial 6 and 32 in final 6 years. Sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ceftazidime was 85.7%, 82.9%, 76.5%, 76.9%, 88.1% up to 2010 which reduced to 75%, 59.4%, 68.8%, 56.3%, 56.3%, respectively, after 2010, being significant for ofloxacin (P = 0.0349) and ceftazidime (P = 0.0028). Susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin changed non-significantly from 83.3%, 43.9%, 47.6% to 71.9%, 61.3%, 61.3%, respectively. Twenty of 74 cases (27%) were MDR with 16.7% in first 6 years versus 40.6% in final 6 years. Postoperative MDR cases rose from 10.3% to 50% (P = 0.0048). Conclusion: This study shows rising resistance of Pseudomonas to fluoroquinolones, amikacin, and ceftazidime in endophthalmitis. MDR also showed an upward trend, particularly in postsurgical cases.

Ocular infections caused by Scedosporium apiospermum: A case series.

The aim of our retrospective study is to report a case series of ocular infections caused by a rare fungus, Scedosporium apiospermum, in a South Indian population. Thirteen cases of culture-positive S. apiospermum infections diagnosed between January 2011 and March 2016 were included in this study. The parameters evaluated were predisposing factors, treatment and final clinical outcome. The most common mode of presentation was keratitis (84.6%) followed by sclerokeratitis (15.3%). The predisposing factors involved were unspecified foreign body injury (30.7%), organic matter injury (15.3%), uncontrolled diabetes (7.6%), and recent manual small-incision cataract surgery (7.6%). Five cases (38.46%) had no predisposing factor. Of the 11 keratitis cases, nine (69.2%) responded well to combination medical therapy while one case (7.6%) required therapeutic keratoplasty. One case was lost to follow-up. Both cases which presented with sclerokeratitis showed no response to medico-surgical treatment progressing to panophthalmitis and evisceration.

Traumatic endophthalmitis following a crane pecking injury - An unusual mode.

PURPOSE: To report a case of beta-hemolytic streptococcal endophthalmitis following crane-pecking injury. CASE REPORT: A twelve-year-old boy was brought to us by his father with history of crane beak injury in his right eye. On examination, his vision was 6/24 Snellen's acuity. Anterior segment examination showed a full thickness two mm corneo-limbal tear at 1 o'clock with iris prolapse. Pupil showed peaking through the wound with a clear crystalline lens. There was no evidence of hypopyon in the anterior chamber and B-scan ultrasonography showed acoustically clear vitreous with an attached retina. Left eye was within normal limits. Primary corneo-limbal tear repair was performed within 24 hours from the time of presentation. Intra-operatively, the corneal surgeon noted turbid aqueous with minimal hypopyon. In view of clinical suspicion of infection, an intravitreal tap for culture was taken during the primary repair, and prophylactic intravitreal antibiotics were given. The culture report showed beta-hemolytic streptococci. Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics was performed after 2 days as serial ultrasound scans showed appearance and worsening of endophthalmitis. A month after the surgery, his best corrected visual acuity improved to 6/12. CONCLUSION: Ocular injuries resulting from bird pecking are very rare. We treated a case of full thickness corneo-limbal tear with endophthalmitis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci following a crane-pecking injury. We recommend that injecting intravitreal antibiotics along with primary globe repair in case of severe/contaminated injuries and early pars plana core-vitrectomy would result in better outcome like in our case.