Characterizing the microbiota of instrumentation in ophthalmology clinics during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heba MahjoubSean X ZhangJiangxia WangWarda MemonHeba MostafaMark Philip BreazzanoPublished in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie (2022)
Most samples across subspecialty clinic instrumentation grew bacteria, and several tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Many isolated pathogens have been implicated in causing infections such as endophthalmitis, conjunctivitis, uveitis, and keratitis. The clinical implications of the ophthalmology microbiome for transmitting nosocomial infections warrant optimization of disinfection practices, strategies for mitigating spread, and additional study beyond the pandemic.