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Positive cultures in corneas stored with cold storage technique to be used for corneal grafting
Author(s) -
JULIAN HO,
LINDEGAARD J,
HØJGAARDOLSEN K,
HEEGAARD S
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2014.1728.x
Subject(s) - cornea , cold storage , corneal transplantation , medicine , surgery , grafting , transplantation , biology , ophthalmology , horticulture , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer
Purpose Tissue for cornea grafting processed in the US is stored using cold storage method whereas corneas processed in the EU is stored in organ culture. The two preservation techniques differ in technical aspects, evaluation techniques, storage time and microbiological safety. Both techniques are considered to result in similar graft survival. Due to low availability of Danish donor tissue, we have used US donor tissue for more than seven years in Denmark. Methods Routine microbiological culturing of the cornea‐scleral ring was performed at the time of DSAEK surgery. Results From April 2013 to March 2014 a total of 11 donor rims tested after grafting were positive for bacteria or fungi with the cold storage technique. Microbiological testing of donor rims stored with organ culture were all negative. Total number of grafts, n = 210. Six candida, one MRSA, two E. Faecium and two E.coli were cultured. Two eyes had severe and vision threatening infection (fungi). Four eyes showed primary graft failure. Five eyes showed no signs of infection. Conclusion Corneas prepared with the cold storage technique were more prone to microbiological contamination, some with vision‐threatning fungal infection. Anti‐mycotics are now added to the current hypothermic storage solution.