Broth culture yield vs traditional approach in the work-up of endophthalmitis.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate whether the Bactec Peds Plus F broth traditionally used for culturing body fluids in pediatric departments can also be used for vitreous cultures in cases with clinically suspected endophthalmitis, and to compare yields between this method and the traditional method.


METHODS
Prospective, comparative clinical trial.


METHODS
All consecutive cases with clinically suspected endophthalmitis treated in our institution between July 2003 and November 2005 were included in the study. All cases were cultured both in the Bactec Peds Plus F broth and using the traditional method.


RESULTS
Thirteen cases were included in this study. The overall growth rate for the Bactec broth was 28.4% higher than the traditional method (69.2% and 53.9%, respectively, P = .48). In two cases, one of acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis due to Streptococcus mitis and one of delayed-onset postoperative endophthalmitis attributable to Candida albicans, there was positive growth only in the Bactec broth.


CONCLUSIONS
The Bactec Peds Plus F broth can be used successfully in the examination of clinically suspected endophthalmitis. The method appears to have several advantages over the traditional method: time-savings, as only one medium needs to be inoculated, transportation to the laboratory is simpler as there is no need for immediate incubation, and there is no need to maintain a supply of fresh agar media. This method is especially suitable for office settings and remote clinics, but also can be used in hospital settings, as an adjunct, to increase the growth yield.
Kratz
Assaf
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. assaff@bgu.ac.il
Levy
Jaime
J
Belfair
Nadav
N
Weinstein
Orly
O
Klemperer
Itamar
I
Lifshitz
Tova
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D003470:Culture Media; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology
D003470:Culture Media