Corneal suture sample evaluation
Reviewed by Jonathan Chan

This is a prospective study of 35 patients’ suture samples taken from a tertiary cornea clinic, Miami, Florida, with a history of penetrating keratoplasty. The aim is to study the relationship between corneal suture bacteriology, biofilm and the clinical setting, retention time, antibiotics treatment, bacterial growth, bacterial presence and biofilm coverage on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significantly different culture positivity rates were found between the quiescent (8%), exposed (12%) and keratitis-related (60%) suture groups (p=0.039). Keratitis-related sutures had longest retention time. Biofilm coverage score was higher from keratitis-related and exposed groups. Higher biofilm scores were in samples that showed a positive culture result and in samples with bacterial presence on SEM images.The authors recommended that corneal sutures should be considered for removal sooner before becoming exposed and / or keratitis-related.

Microbiology and biofilm of corneal sutures.
Adler E, Miller D, Rock O, et al.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
2018;102:1602-5.