Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate coincidental detection of polymicrobial growth in an ophthalmology OPD
Methods: It is routine practice to inoculate culture plates and test tubes for bacterial and fungal culture following scraping of corneal ulcers of suspected microbial origin A fresh plate of chocolate agar and an inoculated test tube containing Sabouraud’s dextrose agar were inadvertently left on the work desk of the ophthalmologist’s room after corneal scraping.
Results: Florid growth was noted on agar plate with varying morphology of the microbial colonies. Colonies with black center and white margins were noted near the top of the agar slope in the test tube, which was characterized as Aspergillus niger, consistent with the growth noted on the rest of the scrapings from the patient concerned.
Conclusion: Our findings suggested polymicrobial inoculation of the agar plate. It is apparent that routine infection control measures are insufficient in preventing airborne microbes from thriving.