Premium
Comparison of bacterial culture results collected via direct corneal ulcer vs conjunctival fornix sampling in canine eyes with presumed bacterial ulcerative keratitis
Author(s) -
Auten Candace R.,
Urbanz Jennifer L.,
Dees Darryl Dustin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12698
Subject(s) - fornix , keratitis , microbiological culture , corneal ulcer , cornea , medicine , ophthalmology , staphylococcus , biology , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , genetics , hippocampus
Objective To compare aerobic bacterial culture results between samples obtained from the corneal ulcer versus lower conjunctival fornix in eyes with presumed bacterial ulcerative keratitis. Animals studied Fifty five client‐owned dogs diagnosed with ulcerative keratitis. Procedures Ophthalmic examinations were performed on each dog including slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Microbial swabs were collected by direct sampling of the infected corneal ulcer as well as the lower conjunctival fornix, of the same eye, using a sterile rayon‐tipped swab. Samples were submitted to an outside reference laboratory for aerobic bacterial culture and sensitivity. Results One hundred twelve samples were obtained from 56 eyes (55 dogs). Sixty‐eight samples yielded bacterial growth. Positive growth from both sites was obtained in 31 eyes (55%). Six eyes yielded bacterial growth from the conjunctival fornix but not from the cornea. No bacterial growth was obtained from either sampling site in 19 eyes. Overall, 31/56 (55%) corneal samples were positive and 37/56 (66%) conjunctival fornix samples were positive. Comparison of organisms isolated from the two collection sites of the same eye revealed an exact correlation in 42/56 (75%) eyes and differed in 14/56 (25%) eyes. Twenty different bacterial isolates were obtained from 68 positive samples. Gram‐positive (71%) organisms were more common than Gram‐negative (29%). The most commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (25%), beta‐hemolytic Streptococcus spp. (23%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%). Methicillin‐resistant organisms were isolated in 9% of samples. Conclusion Sampling from the conjunctival fornix may be a suitable alternative to direct ulcer sampling in eyes with compromised corneal structural integrity.