Results of culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of corneal scrapings from patients with presumed infectious keratitis
| N = 30* | Culture positive for fungi | Culture negative for fungi |
|---|---|---|
| *Percentages of the total of 30 specimens are shown in parentheses | ||
| †Specimens were considered to be “PCR positive” if a positive DNA product was obtained using any 1 of the 3 primer sets described. | ||
| ‡These fungal culture isolates were examined microscopically and recorded as “hyaline” or “dematiaceous.” They were not speciated. | ||
| PCR positive for fungi† | 15 (50%) | 7 (23%) |
| Culture results: | Clinical impression: | |
| Fusarium: 5 (17%) | Fungal keratitis: 2 (7%) | |
| Aspergillus 2 (7%) | Bacterial keratitis: 4 (13%) | |
| Unidentified: 8 (27%)‡ | Uncertain: 1 (3%) | |
| PCR negative for fungi | 1 (3%) | 7 (23%) |
| Culture result: unidentified‡ | Culture results: | |
| Bacteria: 4 (13%) | ||
| Clinical impression: fungal keratitis | Acanthamoeba: 2 (7%) | |
| No growth: 1 (3%) | ||
| 16 (54%) | 14 (46%) | |