Microbiologic study of organ-cultured donor corneas.
BACKGROUND
Our purpose was to evaluate the sterility of organ-cultured human donor corneas at the time of surgery.


METHODS
We studied 603 organ-cultured corneas. Of these 603 corneas, 409 (68%) were grafted and 69 (11%) were contaminated during storage.


RESULTS
Contamination during preservation was either bacterial (65%) or fungal (35%). None of the tested antibiotics were effective against all of the 45 isolated bacteria. The risk of contamination decreased with death-to-organ culture time (P=0.008) and was higher for corneas excised in situ than for those enucleated (P=0.02). Corneoscleral rims were sterile in 99.3% of the grafted corneas. Deswelling media were sterile in 100% of cases. A 19- to 53-fold decrease in the percentage of rim contamination was assessed with organ culture as compared with hypothermic storage (previous studies, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate the benefit of organ culture over hypothermic storage, because it allows contaminated tissue to be discarded.
Banque de Cornées Saint-Antoine, ETS de l'AP-HP, Hôpital St. Antoine, Paris, France.
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VM
Borderie
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Laroche
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000502:physiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors