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Single-sample culturing comparable to multi-sample method
CHICAGO — A one-touch method compared favorably with the traditional method of collecting corneal microbiological specimens from eyes with infectious keratitis, a speaker told colleagues here.
At the American Academy of Ophthalmolgy meeting, Kaivon Pakzad-Vaezi, MD, described the results of a study comparing the ESwab (Copan) and traditional culture sampling methods.
“We felt that this was a cost-effective and a potentially practice-changing method to simplify sampling of microbial keratitis,” Pakzad-Vaezi said. “This is mainly for the community ophthalmologists who do not have access to the traditional method.”
The one-touch method is not meant to replace the traditional gold standard, but it may help culture-directed antibiotic treatment, as well as the management of corneal ulcer patients, he said.
The prospective study included 81 corneal ulcers from 80 patients who underwent culture sampling. The ESwab was used to take the first or second sample in conjunction with a chocolate agar sample. Traditional sampling methods were used for all ulcers. Laboratory staff were blinded to which method was used for each ulcer.
Study results showed the culture positivity rate for all sampling methods was 80%, according to Pakzad-Vaezi.
The ESwab and traditional methods had similar recovery rates for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Agreement between the recovery rates of the traditional methods and the ESwab was 75%, he said.
ESwab sensitivity was 84% and specificity was 67%. Positive predictive value was 86% and negative predictive value was 64%, Pakzad-Vaezi said.
Disclosure: Pakzad-Vaezi has no relevant financial disclosures.