INCIDENCE OF BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL CONTAMINATION OF DONOR CORNEAS PRESERVED BY ORGAN-CULTURE

We reviewed the results of sterility testing from culture media of 1,1 34 donor corneas preserved by organ culture at 37-degrees-C in our eye bank. All corneas were stored in minimal essential medium containing 2% fetal calf serum, 0.1 mg/ml penicillin G, 0.1 mg/ml streptomycin, a nd 2.5 mug/ml amphotericin B. After removal of ocular adnexal tissue, donor globes were rinsed with sterile saline solution, incubated in 3% polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine solution for 3-5 min, and subsequently ri nsed again with sterile saline solution. Samples for microbiological e valuation were obtained from the initial evaluation medium, at every m edium change (every 10 days), and from the medium used for deswelling of the individual cornea 1 day before transplantation. Incidence of co ntamination was 0.53% (6 of 1,134 corneas). Three corneas were contami nated by Micrococcus species, three by fungi. We conclude from our stu dy that a combination of rinsing donor globes with sterile saline solu tion, the initial use of a disinfectant, and the employment of penicil lin/streptomycin and amphotericin B in the organ culture medium, which have been commonly used in cell culture for decades, result in a low incidence of bacterial and fungal contamination of corneas preserved b y organ culture.