An Evaluation of a Simplified Impression Membrane Sampling Method for the Diagnosis of Microbial Keratitis



Somerville, Tobi F, Herbert, Rose, Neal, Timothy, Horsburgh, Malcolm ORCID: 0000-0002-3806-0039 and Kaye, Stephen B ORCID: 0000-0003-0390-0592
(2021) An Evaluation of a Simplified Impression Membrane Sampling Method for the Diagnosis of Microbial Keratitis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10 (23). p. 5671.

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Abstract

<jats:p>The purpose of this study was to compare bacterial isolation rate using a corneal impression membrane (CIM) and a sharp instrument for obtaining corneal samples from patients with suspected microbial keratitis (MK). Data was retrospectively collected for all patients that had corneal samples taken for presumed MK between May 2014 and May 2020. Prior to May 2017 samples were collected by scraping the edges of the ulcer with a blade. From May 2017, samples were collected by placing a CIM (Millicell cell culture insert) against the ulcer. All corneal samples were processed using the same conventional diagnostic culture method. A total of 3099 corneal samples were included, of which 1214 (39.2%) were corneal scrapes and 1885 (60.9%) CIMs. Microorganisms were isolated from 235 (19.4%) and 1229 (65.2%) cases using a corneal scrape and CIM, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). Of routinely described pathogenic microorganisms, there were significant increases in the isolations of S. aureus (2.4% to 11.3%) and Serratia (0.5% to 1.7%) using the CIM and no significant changes in the isolations of S. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. No significant differences were seen between the isolation rates of fungi or Acanthamoeba species. There was a significant increase in the isolation rates of other Streptococcal species (0.7% to 6.9%) and CNS species, specifically, S. epidermidis (2.1% to 26.2%), S. capitis (0.4% to 2.6%) and S. warneri (0.3% to 1.6%) using the CIM. The simplified CIM sampling method is an effective method for collecting corneal samples from patients with presumed MK in clinical practice.</jats:p>

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: microbial keratitis, corneal scrape, corneal impression membrane
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 09 Dec 2021 11:45
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 21:23
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10235671
Open Access URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/23/5671/pdf
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3145069