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Study: PCR yields quick diagnosis of contact lens-induced infectious keratitis
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Polymerase chain reaction was found to be a rapid assay compared to conventional cultures in detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa in contact lens-induced severe, partially treated corneal ulcers.
In a study of 10 patients 20 to 45 years old with contact lens-related keratitis (>4 mm), results from an in-house, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared with culture.
Eight patients were found positive for P. aeruginosa by PCR or culture, and there was no significant difference between the two methods in detecting the bacteria (P < 0.05). However, PCR produced a result in a few hours compared to 4 days with culture, with the potential to enable early detection and prompt treatment.
“Although the high cost of this test might hinder its use at the present, the introduction of PCR technology in some clinical fields (e.g., detection of HIV and some other viruses) increases the hope that in the near future ... the cost of this test will be reduced, and the test will become affordable for clinical practice,” the study authors said. – Courtney Preston
Reference:
- Subrayan V, Peyman M, Lek Yap S, Mohamed Ali NA, Devi S. Assessment of polymerase chain reaction in the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in contact lens-induced severe infectious keratitis. Eye Contact Lens. 2010;36(4):201-203.