Comparison of Fluorescence Microscopy and Different Growth Media Culture Methods for Acanthamoeba Keratitis Diagnosis |
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| Authors: | Avi Peretz Yuval Geffen Soergiu D Socea Nina Pastukh Shmuel Graffi |
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| Institution: | Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Tiberias, Israel, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galilee, Israel; Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Department of Ophthalmology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Department of Ophthalmology, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Tiberias, Israel, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galilee, Israel |
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| Abstract: | Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a potentially blinding infection of the cornea, is caused by a free-living protozoan. Culture and microscopic examination of corneal scraping tissue material is the conventional method for identifying Acanthamoeba. In this article, we compared several methods for AK diagnosis of 32 patients: microscopic examination using fluorescent dye, specific culture on growth media—non-nutrient agar (NNA), culture on liquid growth media—peptone yeast glucose (PYG), and TYI-S-33. AK was found in 14 patients. Thirteen of the specimens were found AK positive by fluorescence microscopic examination, 11 specimens were found AK positive on PYG growth media, and 9 specimens were found AK positive on TYI-S-33 growth media. Only five specimens were found AK positive on NNA growth media. Therefore, we recommend using fluorescence microscopy technique and culture method, especially PYG liquid media. |
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