Quality assessment and microbiologic screening of donor corneas.
OBJECTIVE
To identify possible predictors of donor corneal contamination.


METHODS
Relationships between eye-banking characteristics of donor corneas and surgical corneoscleral rim culture results were examined in a retrospective case-control study by using logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).


RESULTS
Of 263 donor corneal rims, microbial recovery occurred from 23 (9%), including 6 yielding Clostridium perfringens. After adjusting for outdoor temperature and death-to-preservation duration, a positive rim culture occurred more often among tissues having an acceptable but less favorable biomicroscopic rating (OR, 4.22; 95% CI, 1.27-13.98).


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study suggests that slit-lamp assessment of corneal appearance may correlate with subsequent microbiologic results. Ensuring optimal selection and preservation of the donor cornea may contribute to the safety of eye banking.
Hassan
Sohela S
SS
Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine, and the Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Wilhelmus
Kirk R
KR
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001831:Body Temperature; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005125:Eye Banks; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000517:prevention & control; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009926:Organ Preservation; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors