(An)aerobic bacteria found in secondary-cataract material

Abstract

Twenty four patients, who had marked reduction of vision due to secondary-cataract developed after an ECCE, were treated by surgical cleaning of the posterior lens capsule. During this procedure globular secondary-cataract material was removed and collected for morphological examination by SEM and TEM. Fragments of various sizes and shapes, including some with a 'golf ball' structure, were seen; these closely resembled particles frequently found in cataractous lenses. In addition, in 18 patients micro-organisms were found: rod-shaped bacteria, cocci, and in 2 cases yeasts. These findings were the more remarkable because these were clinically quiet eyes with no signs of intra-ocular inflammation and cultures have been persistently negative. We imagine that these bacteria must have entered the eye during the cataract extraction and have settled there without causing an infection.

Detection of and Discrimination between Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria in Intraocular Samples by Using Nested PCR

“…Cultures prove to be negative for a variety of reasons, such as small sample size, sequestra-tion of bacteria on solid surfaces (e.g. intraocular lens, lens remnants, and capsule) leading to low numbers in the liquid sample, the use of antibiotics prior to sampling, and the fastidious nature of some of the organisms which cause intraocular infection (6,22,28). The use of molecular techniques has, therefore, been investigated in order to improve the diagnostic rate and reduce the time to diagnosis.…”