Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2003 Jan;26(1):33-6.
doi: 10.1076/ceyr.26.1.33.14253.

Molecular analysis of the pediatric ocular surface for fungi

Tzu Wu  1 , Bradley Mitchell, Thomas Carothers, David Coats, Kathryn Brady-McCreery, Evelyn Paysse, Kirk Wilhelmus
Affiliations

Molecular analysis of the pediatric ocular surface for fungi

Tzu Wu et al. Curr Eye Res. 2003 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the conjunctival flora of individuals 21 years of age or less for fungi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology.

Methods: Before povidone-iodine antisepsis, eye-swab specimens were collected from adolescent corneal donors preceding corneal excision and from children during preparation for strabismus surgery. Nucleic acid was extracted from the specimens and analyzed by PCR using primers designed for the detection of broad-spectrum fungal DNA and of Candida albicans-specific DNA.

Results: Twelve (38%) of 32 eye donor surfaces and 7 (23%) of 30 patient samples were positive for fungal DNA (P = 0.1). C. albicans DNA was detected in 6 (19%) of the decedents' eyes but from none of the surgical patients (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Fungi were present on the normal ocular surface of children and adolescents. C. albicans was more likely to be found postmortem than pre-surgically.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources