Clinico-microbiological Profile of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Keratitis.

Purpose: To assess the clinical and microbiological characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) keratitis and to evaluate their response to medical therapy.

Methods: Sixteen patients of NTM keratitis were retrospectively reviewed from May 2014 to May 2019. Laboratory diagnosis were made using Ziehl-Nielsen acid-fast staining, routine culture method of isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria and further identification of species by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based DNA sequencing targeting the heat shock protein-65 () gene.

Microbiological profile of canaliculitis and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns: A 11-year review at a referral eye care centre.

Purpose: To analyze the microbiological profile and in vitro antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates in canaliculitis, an infection of the lacrimal drainage system of the eye.

Methods: The laboratory records of patients presenting with canaliculitis from whom specimens were obtained for microbiological investigations at our tertiary eye care centre in South India from January 2010 to December 2020, were reviewed.

Results: A total of 130 canalicular pus samples were collected from 112 patients and submitted for microbiological studies during the study period.

An Update on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that is specifically associated with demyelination of spinal cord and optic nerves. The discovery of specific autoantibody markers such as aquaporin-4 IgG and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG has led to several methodologies being developed and validated. There have been numerous investigations of the clinical and radiological presentations used in the clinical diagnosis of NMOSD.

Utility of Treponemal Testing from Aqueous Fluid in the Diagnosis of Ocular Syphilis in Patients with HIV/AIDS.

Purpose: Ocular syphilis is re-emerging globally especially in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Atypical manifestations of ocular syphilis and/or other associated opportunistic infections often lead to a diagnostic dilemma. We evaluated the utility of aqueous humor (AH) hemagglutination assay (TPHA) titers in the diagnosis of ocular syphilis.

Therapeutic Effect of Corneal Crosslinking on Fungal Keratitis: Efficacy of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking as an Adjuvant Therapy for Fungal Keratitis in a Tertiary Eye Hospital in South India.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of CXL in treating fungal keratitis as an adjuvant therapy.

Methods: Detailed clinical examination microbiological investigation was performed. Twenty fungal keratitis patients were recruited and randomized into two groups: group 1 (n= 11, standard antifungal), group 2 (n=9, corneal collagen crosslinking with standard antifungal).

Understanding the Uptake Mechanism and Interaction Potential of the Designed Peptide and Preparation of Composite Fiber Matrix for Fungal Keratitis.

The conventional use of antibiotics for the treatment of infectious keratitis currently faces two major challenges: poor drug penetration and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in microbial strains. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) with antimicrobial properties have the potential to address these challenges. However, their mode of action, mechanism of uptake, and interaction potential have not been explored in detail.

Diagnosis in a case total ophthalmoplegia - where time is life.

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection seen in poorly controlled diabetics or immunocompromised patients who can present initially to an ophthalmologist, otorhinolaryngologist or a neurologist. The clinical presentation to an ophthalmologist may be that of painful ophthalmoplegia.The confirmation and further management of the infection requires an interdisciplinary approach.

Endogenous endophthalmitis in children and adolescents: Case series and literature review.

Purpose: To study the clinical and microbiological profile, treatment modalities, and anatomical and functional outcomes among children and adolescents with endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) at a tertiary eye care centre in India.

Methods: Medical records of subjects <18 years, presenting with EE from 1997 to 2007 were reviewed. Cases where the causative organism was identified were included.

Designing and enhancing the antifungal activity of corneal specific cell penetrating peptide using gelatin hydrogel delivery system.

Background: Fungal keratitis is a major cause of corneal blindness accounting for more than one-third of microbiologically proven cases. The management of fungal keratitis is through topical or systemic antifungal medications alone or in combination with surgical treatment. Topical medications such as natamycin and voriconazole pose major challenges due to poor penetration across the corneal epithelium.

Postoperative endophthalmitis due to : First reported case of acute and virulent presentation from a tertiary eye care center in South India.

A 60-year-old male presented with pain and decreased vision 3 weeks following uneventful intracapsular cataract extraction with anterior vitrectomy for subluxated cataract. A diagnosis of acute endophthalmitis was made based on clinical and ultrasound features. Patient improved only after undergoing pars plana vitrectomies twice and repeated intravitreal antibiotic-steroid injections.

Application of six multiplex PCR's among 200 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the detection of 20 drug resistance encoding genes.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a menacing opportunistic, nosocomial pathogen; become a growing concern as conventional antimicrobial therapy is now futile against it. Multi-drug resistant P.

Unusual ulcerative keratitis caused by in a diabetic patient.

The purpose of the study was to report a case of ulcerative keratitis caused by an unusual algae Prototheca wickerhamii in a diabetic patient. This study design was a case report. A 46-year-old male, who was a known diabetic for 3 years, had an injury to the left cornea with the sparks of fire from wielding at work that developed into an ulcerative keratitis over a period of next 3 months as the patient was not on any medication.

Rare Pleurostomophora richardsiae Mass Causing Transient Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

Transient nasolacrimal duct obstruction secondary to a mass lesion compressing the sac or sac-duct junction is rare. The authors report a case of a young female who presented to the authors with complaints of watering and a mass lesion in the lacrimal sac region. An organized perilacrimal mass filled with thick pultaceous material was noted during surgery.

Endogenous endophthalmitis due to Roseomonas mucosa presenting as a subretinal abscess.

Background: Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis is an infrequently reported entity. Although Roseomonas mucosa has been reported to cause systemic infections in immunosuppressed individuals, ocular infection due to Roseomonas has been rarely reported in literature previously.

Findings: A 74-year-old diabetic was diagnosed to have Klebsiella urinary tract infection and septicemia following which he developed ocular pain and redness.

Polymerase chain reaction for DNA detection from ocular fluids in patients with various types of choroiditis in a referral eye center in India.

Aims: The aim of this study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in aqueous or vitreous samples of patients suffering from choroiditis presumed to be infectious origin.

Settings And Design: Hospital-based, retrospective case-control study.

Subjects And Methods: In all, forty eyes of forty patients with choroiditis divided into two groups - Group A (serpiginous-like choroiditis, ampiginous choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis) and Group B (choroidal abscess, miliary tuberculosis (TB), choroidal tubercle) were analyzed retrospectively.

Culture and Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Proven Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Endophthalmitis: A Case Series.

Purpose: To report early confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) endophthalmitis by detection of 85B mRNA in vitreous by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

Methods: Retrospective, interventional case series of 5 patients with MTB endogenous endophthalmitis. Vitreous aspirate was subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, BACTEC MicroMGIT culture, RT-PCR targeting the 85B gene, real-time PCR targeting the IS6110 region, and nested PCR targeting the MPB64 gene and IS6110 region.

A study on the characterization of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from ocular clinical specimens.

Background & Objectives: There are only a few reports available on characterization of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from various ocular clinical specimens. We undertook this study to evaluate the role of P. acnes in ocular infections and biofilm production, and also do the phylogenetic analysis of the bacilli.

Detection of novel and reported mutations in the rpoB, katG and inhA genes in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis isolates: A hospital-based study.

The objective of this study was to detect mutations associated with isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from newly diagnosed and previously treated tuberculosis patients using a PCR-based DNA sequencing technique. Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing was performed using a BACTEC™ MicroMGIT Culture System in 354 M. tuberculosis isolates.

In silico analysis and prioritization of drug targets in Fusarium solani.

Mycotic keratitis has emerged as a major ophthalmic problem and a leading cause of blindness, since its recognition in 1879. Filamentous fungi are major causative of mycotic keratitis. In India, the main etiological organism responsible for mycotic keratitis is Aspergillus species followed by Fusarium species.

Application of real time polymerase chain reaction targeting kex 1 gene & its comparison with the conventional methods for rapid detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in clinical specimens.

Background & Objectives: As there are no standard laboratory techniques for the rapid detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in India, this study was undertaken to evaluate and establish an optimal and rapid technique for the detection of P. jirovecii by comparing three different techniques - staining technique, application of a real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting kex 1 gene and application of nested PCR targeting mitochondrial large subunit (mtLSU) gene for rapid detection of P. jirovecii in HIV positive patients.

Detection of Escherichia fergusonii by PCR-based DNA sequencing in a case of delayed-onset chronic endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Unlabelled: We report a case of chronic low-grade endophthalmitis after cataract surgery presenting with recurrent episodes of severe anterior chamber reactions and hypopyon uveitis caused by Escherichia fergusonii, which was isolated from vitreous aspirate by polymerase chain reaction-based DNA sequencing. Polymerase chain reaction has emerged as an essential, powerful, and rapid laboratory diagnostic technique and a useful adjunct to the conventional gold standard.

Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from pediatric population of Chennai, India.

Purpose: Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) has been reported in almost all parts of the world. Childhood TB is accorded low priority by national TB control programs. Probable reasons include diagnostic difficulties, limited resources, misplaced faith in BCG and lack of data on treatment.

Acute postoperative Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis mimicking toxic anterior segment syndrome.

Objective: To study the clinicomicrobiologic characteristics and treatment outcomes in eyes with acute postoperative endophthalmitis (APE) owing to Bacillus cereus from a tertiary eye-care center.

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Participants: Case records of all eyes with culture-proven APE attributable to B cereus from January 2000 to May 2011 were identified from a computerized database and evaluated.