Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of the various culture media used in the traditional workup in infectious keratitis.
Methods: Microbiology data sheets from all corneal cultures performed at the University of California Davis Medical Center over a 1-year period were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: Bacterial cultures were sent in 76 cases. In 19 cases, culture specimens from ulcers were plated onto blood, chocolate, and inhibitory mold agar and were inoculated into an anaerobic medium. In 58 cases, blood and chocolate agar were sent. In 70% of cases, blood and chocolate agar provided identical information. Inhibitory mold agar was positive twice in 39 plates sent. A fungal pathogen had been identified on chocolate agar plates sent for these cases.
Conclusion: In the evaluation of infectious keratitis, plating onto chocolate agar or blood agar alone is a reasonable alternative to sending multiple cultures.