Culture and Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Proven Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Endophthalmitis: A Case Series. (17th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rishi, Ekta; Rishi, Pukhraj; Therese, K. Lily; Ramasubban, Gayathri; Biswas, Jyotirmay; Sharma, Tarun; Bhende, Pramod; Susvar, Pradeep; Agarwal, Mamta; George, Amala Elizabeth; Delhiwala, Kushal; Sharma, Vishal Rajan
• Is Part Of: Ocular immunology and inflammation. Volume 26:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 220
• Page End: 227
• Publication Date: 2018-02-17
• Subjects: Acid fast bacilli -- endophthalmitis -- Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- RT-PCR -- vitrectomy; Eye -- Diseases -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Eye -- Inflammation -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2016.1207786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0927-3948

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose : To report early confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) endophthalmitis by detection of 85B mRNA in vitreous by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Methods : Retrospective, interventional case series of 5 patients with MTB endogenous endophthalmitis. Vitreous aspirate was subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, BACTEC MicroMGIT culture, RT-PCR targeting the 85B gene, real-time PCR targeting the IS6110 region, and nested PCR targeting the MPB64 gene and IS6110 region. Correlation between detection of MTB RNA, culture positivity, and ZN staining was studied. Results : Five patients with endophthalmitis with no history of tuberculosis revealed acid-fast bacilli on ZN staining of vitreous. RT-PCR detected 85B RNA within 24 h. Culture for MTB was positive in 3/5 patients after 1 month. None of the eyes recovered any useful vision. Conclusions : RT-PCR can detect viable MTB RNA and provide evidence of active infection much earlier than culture.