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RESEARCH FACILITIES AND CORE

Ocular Microbiology

The ocular microbiology laboratory at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is one on the few remaining laboratories dedicated to the investigation, epidemiology, pathogenesis and in vitro susceptibility profiles of ocular pathogens to improve ocular patient outcomes.

The main goals of the Ocular Microbiology Laboratory at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute are to:

• provide expert advice on the emergence, detection and recovery of ocular pathogens,
• determine and correlate the in vitro efficacy of ocular antimicrobial therapy with patient outcomes
• offer diagnostic and research support for faculty, fellows and residents in their pursue of state of the art discovery and management of ocular infectious disease

Highlights

• Specialized services in ocular bacteriology, virology and mycology, susceptibility testing
• 25 year ocular pathogens repository
• Confirmed the role of Herpes viruses as causative agents in necrotizing retinitis
• Confirmed Coxsackiae A24 as etiological agent in pandemic of Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Cuba, and Mexico
• 1st Prize at the XXIX Brazilian Congress-Joint Project, Estudio Clinico e Laboratorial de Tacome , 1997
• 1st Prize at ASCRS for “Best Paper” in Session, 2003, Epidemiology of Ocular Mycobacteria
• AAO Achievement Awards (Medical and Technical Directors)
• Expert consultations on ocular pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
• Over 60 peer-review articles on emerging pathogens, endophthalmitis, antimicrobial testing and ocular infectious diseases
• Laboratory instrumental in identifying and confirming Fusarium and other fungi as etiological agents in the recent fungal keratitis pandemic associated with soft contact lens wear

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