Molecular analysis of the pediatric ocular surface for fungi.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the conjunctival flora of individuals 21 years of age or less for fungi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology.


METHODS
Before povidone-iodine antisepsis, eye-swab specimens were collected from adolescent corneal donors preceding corneal excision and from children during preparation for strabismus surgery. Nucleic acid was extracted from the specimens and analyzed by PCR using primers designed for the detection of broad-spectrum fungal DNA and of Candida albicans-specific DNA.


RESULTS
Twelve (38%) of 32 eye donor surfaces and 7 (23%) of 30 patient samples were positive for fungal DNA (P = 0.1). C. albicans DNA was detected in 6 (19%) of the decedents' eyes but from none of the surgical patients (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Fungi were present on the normal ocular surface of children and adolescents. C. albicans was more likely to be found postmortem than pre-surgically.
Wu
Tzu
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Mitchell
Bradley
B
Carothers
Thomas
T
Coats
David
D
Brady-McCreery
Kathryn
K
Paysse
Evelyn
E
Wilhelmus
Kirk
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D005123:Eye; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014019:Tissue Donors
D004271:DNA, Fungal