Association Between Cultures of Contact Lens and Corneal Scraping in Contact Lens–Related Microbial Keratitis

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between cultures of contact lens and corneal scraping in contact lens-related microbial keratitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the culture results of corneal scrapings and contact lenses of patients with contact lens-related microbial keratitis who were initially seen at Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2004, was conducted. RESULTS: Fifty eye specimens of 49 patients were included in the study. Corneal scrapings and contact lenses were culture positive in 17 eyes (34%) and in 35 eyes (70%), respectively. In 13 eyes, corneal scrapings and contact lenses yielded identical organisms. Serratia marcescens was the most common organism isolated from the corneal scrapings and from the contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Contact lens culture may sometimes give a clue to the organism involved in cases of microbial keratitis in which the corneal scraping is culture negative and may help in choosing the appropriate antimicrobial therapy.