Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 59, Issue 9
July 2018
Volume 59, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2018
Amphotericin B Supplementation of Cold Storage Media to Treat Fungal Contamination of Donor Cornea Transplant Tissue.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Stephen C Kaufman
    Ophthalmology, State University of New York - Downstate, New York, New York, United States
  • Michelle Rhee
    Ophthalmology, Mt. Sinai, New York, New York, United States
  • Camille Hamula
    Microbiology, Mt Sinai, New York, New York, United States
  • Edwin Roberts
    Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, New York, New York, United States
  • Patricia Dahl
    Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, New York, New York, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Stephen Kaufman, None; Michelle Rhee, None; Camille Hamula, None; Edwin Roberts, None; Patricia Dahl, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  Eye Bank Association of America, New York Eye Bank for Sight Restoration
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2018, Vol.59, 3664. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      Stephen C Kaufman, Michelle Rhee, Camille Hamula, Edwin Roberts, Patricia Dahl; Amphotericin B Supplementation of Cold Storage Media to Treat Fungal Contamination of Donor Cornea Transplant Tissue.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2018;59(9):3664.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Recently, post-keratoplasty fungal infections, most commonly Candida species, have been more commonly after endothelial keratoplasty when compared to penetrating keratoplasty. It is hypothesized that the additional warming of the cornea, for endothelial keratoplasty processing, may allow for fungal growth. Previous studies determined an amphotericin b concentration of 0.255 ug/ml effectively eliminated Candida albicans in cornea organ culture, without toxicity. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the optimal timing of amphotericin B supplementation in cold storage, as is used in the USA. In this study we investigated whether the addition of amphotericin b to cold cornea storage media, at the time of tissue processing, eliminates Candida albicans from the corneal storage media and donor cornea.

Methods : 40 human donor corneas were placed in individual 20ml vials of Optisol GS (Bausch and Lomb, US). Candida albicans was added at a concentration of 2.5 X 103 CFU/ml. The corneas remained in the storage media for 2 days, which was followed by a 2 hour warming period (to simulate the tissue processing for DSAEK or DMEK). This was followed by an additional 1 day of storage. At this point the fungal assay was performed by plating the cornea and media on Sabouraud agar. Next, viable colony forming units of the culture plates were counted. The groups: Group 1) 20 of the vials had amphotericin b (0.255 ug/ml) added to the storage media after the 2 hour warming period. Group 2) 20 vials did not have amphotericin b added (control group).

Results : All 20 samples from the control group produced more than 100 CFU of Candida. The 20 samples with amphotericin b demonstrated a mean of 35.25 CFU (std deviation = 16.3), with a range of 15 to 70 CFU. The reduction in CFU by the addition of amphotericin was statistically significant (P=0.0102).

Conclusions : Although the addition of amphotericin b, after the simulated processing of the cornea for endothelial keratoplasty, did significantly reduce the number of Candida organisms, it did not totally eliminate candida from the media. Further studies are necessary to determine if the significant reduction in fungal organisms is acceptable or whether additional amphotericin b should be added during the initial placement of the cornea in the storage media or whether other measures are necessary.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.

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