Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the type and number of organisms cultured from surgically explanted periorbital biomaterials.
Methods: :
A search of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine microbiology laboratory electronic database was conducted from 1983 to 2008 examining results of direct cultures from all explanted biomaterials submitted by the oculoplastic service.
Results: :
Twenty-one patients with explanted biomaterials were identified. Cultured items included: 11 orbital implants, 6 lacrimal silicone stents, 3 Jones tubes, and 1 glabellar plate. All biomaterials were culture positive, with a total of 30 isolates identified. Gram-positive organisms comprised 37% of isolates, with Staphylcoccus aureas, Staphylcoccus epidermidis, and Propionibacterium acnes the most common. Gram-negative organisms comprised 30% of isolates, most commonly Pseudomonas species. Mycobacteria organisms made up 20% of isolates, most commonly Mycobacterium chelonae from lacrimal silicone stents. Fungal organisms comprised 10% of isolates. Four lacrimal silicone stents , 2 orbital implants, and one Jones tube grew multiple organisms.
Conclusions: :
A diverse array of microorganisms can colonize biomaterials implanted within the orbit. Most explanted lacrimal silicone stents were infected with Mycobacteria chelonae. Many of the microorganisms found were known biomatrix producers growing in consortium, suggesting growth in an antibiotic resistant biofilm.
Keywords: microbial pathogenesis: clinical studies • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence