Bacteria - Culture & Sensitivities – Eye/Ear

Corneal Scrapes:
Preferably plant at bedside onto agars (BA, CHOC, IMA), into broth (THIO), and onto microscope slide; otherwise collect in sterile container with small amount of sterile saline. Corneal surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly with sterile normal saline to remove anaesthetic prior to collecting specimen; use a Kimura scalpel to scrape across the ulcer using short firm strokes in one direction; obtain 3 to 5 scrapings per cornea. Avoid contact with eyelids/eyelashes. For agar, plant in rows of C-shaped marks, with each row representing a separate sample.
Conjunctival/eye swab:
○ Conjunctival surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly with normal saline to remove anaesthetic prior to collecting specimen. Roll a sterile pre-moistened swab over the conjunctiva and place in transport medium.
○ Collect samples from both affected and unaffected eyes to compare microbial growth using different swabs/transport media for each eye. Swabs should be collected prior to the instillation of topical anaesthetics or antibiotics.

Lacrimal stone/secretions:
○ For lacrimal stones, collect stones using sterile technique and place into sterile container.
○ For lacrimal secretions, collect visible purulent discharge using a swab or press lacrimal sac to remove exudate for culture. Do not perform a needle aspiration of the lacrimal gland.
External ear swab:
○ Insert clean, sterile swab into ear canal until resistance is met. Rotate swab to collect fluid on swab and place in transport medium.
○ If ear drum is ruptured, collect exudate on swab after inserting through an auditory speculum

Devices:
○ Collect device and place in sterile container using aseptic technique where possible to avoid contamination