Used to aid in the diagnosis of eye infections caused by aerobic bacteria.

Conjunctivitis in adults is usually caused by S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis. In children, the most common causes of conjunctivitis are H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and perhaps S. aureus. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae (especially subsp. aegyptius) have been responsible for epidemics of conjunctivitis.

Keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, may be caused by a wide variety of infectious agents, usually only after some type of trauma produces a defect in the ocular surface.  Keratitis is regarded as an emergency situation since corneal perforation and loss of the eye can occur within 24 hours when organisms such as P. aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, or S. aureus are involved.

Endophthalmitis usually involves surgical trauma, non-surgical trauma (uncommonly), and hematogenous spread from distant sites of infection.  S. aureus and Pseudomonas spp. are often involved in surgical cases, whereas H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, and streptococci are frequently involved in endophthalmitis associated with meningitis.

Periocular infections are infections of the eyelids, lacrimal apparatus, and orbit.  Most eyelid infections are due to bacteria, especially S. aureus and S. epidermidis.  Orbital cellulitis, an acute infection of the orbital contents, may be caused by H. influenzae, S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and S. pneumoniae.  Anaerobes may be involved secondary to chronic sinusitis.

Donor corneoscleral rim cultures are not useful for clinical decision-making, quality assurance or epidemiology. (REF: Everts RI, et al. Cornea 20(6):586-589,2001.)  

Guidelines for identification and susceptibility testing of isolates are based on method of collection and numbers of different isolates and specific potential pathogens present. 

Quantitation for conjuctiva and lid cultures:
<50 colonies = actual number of colonies reported
>50 colonies = 1+
colonies too numerous to count = 2+
mass growth/confluent growth = 3+

Quantitation for preinoculated "C" Streak cultures:
growth on 1 C-streak = 1+
growth on >1 C-streak, but not all C-streaks = 2+
growth on all C-streaks = 3+

Aerobic Culture with Gram Stain.

Includes Identification and susceptibility testing when appropriate at additional charges. 

CPT coding cannot be determined before the culture is completed.

Order CULTURE, BODY FLUID or CULTURE, AEROBES AND ANAEROBES, OTHER and transport specimen in an AS tube when anaerobes are suspected.