Lewis R. Groden

Lid flora in blepharitis.

&NA; The microbiologic evaluations of 332 consecutive patients with the primary diagnosis of chronic blepharitis were reviewed and compared to those of 160 control patients. The most commonly isolated organisms from lids with blepharitis were Staphylococcus epidermidis (95.8%), Propronibacterium acnes (92.8%), Corynebacterium sp. (76.8%), Acinetobacter sp. (11.4%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.5%). Compared to controls, S. epidermidis (p < 0.01), P. acnes (p < 0.02), and Corynebacterium sp. (p < 0.001) were present significantly more often. S. aureus and the isolation of more than one microbial species were not more common in blepharitis patients. Quantitatively, heavy growth, by total and individual species, was significantly more common in blepharitis patients (total, p < 0.001; S. epidermidis, p < 0.001, P. acnes, p < 0.001). These data demonstrate that patients with blepharitis are more likely to have normal skin bacteria on their lids and in greater quantities than nonblepharitis patients.

Acridine orange and Gram stains in infectious keratitis.

Two hundred thirty consecutive cases of presumed infectious keratitis were reviewed. Cultures were positive in 49.5% (114 of 230). Acridine orange stain sensitivity (81%) was significantly greater than gram stain sensitivity (65%) (p less than 0.002). Gram stain specificity was 92%, and acridine orange specificity was 89%. In keratitis with low or moderate growth, acridine orange was positive in 73% (61 of 84) as compared with Gram stain 53% (45 of 84), (p less than 0.001). In cases of heavy microbial growth, Gram stain was positive in 97% (29 of 30), acridine orange in 100% (30 of 30). This study demonstrates that both Gram stain and acridine orange stain are excellent in cases of infectious keratitis with heavy microbial growth, but that acridine orange is significantly better than Gram stain in cases with low amounts of organisms.

Chronic Vitritis with Macrophagic Inclusions: A Sequela of Treated Endophthalmitis Due to a Coryneform Bacterium

A 75-year-old woman was treated successfully for endophthalmitis due to a coryneform bacterium contracted from a contaminated corneal graft. We were able to study the involved eye histologically when the patient died unexpectedly 5 1/2 weeks after treatment. The vitreous contained a moderate number of macrophages filled with PAS-positive particles. Ultrastructurally, the PAS-positive particles corresponded to degenerating bacterial cell walls. The striking resemblance of the macrophages in this case to macrophages in Whipples disease is intriguing because Corynebacterium has been the most frequently implicated bacterial genus in the pathogenesis of Whipples disease.

Corneal Manifestations of Scleromyxedema

Bilateral superficial corneal deposits and scleromyxedema, an uncommon dermatosis caused by the accumulation of acid mucopolysaccharide in the skin often associated with a benign monoclonal gammopathy developed in a 71-year-old man. A biopsy specimen of the cornea showed that the deposits stained strongly positive for IgG and lambda chains. Ultrastructurally, the deposits consisted of amorphous granular material. Scleromyxedema should be considered in the differential diagnosis of noninflammatory superficial keratopathies associated with benign gammopathies.

Primary Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva

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