[Bacterial contamination in corneal preservation: pathogens and their origin].

We compared the results of microbiological cultures of conjunctival swabs and organ culture samples of human corneoscleral tissue and found bacterial contimination of the conjunctiva in 54% of all eyes investigated post mortem. Donor age or time after death up to 60 h showed no influence on the rate of microbial growth. The bacterial flora in the conjunctiva was not responsible for microbial growth in the organ cultures, and none of the bacteria found in the cultures could be related to the conjunctival flora. A sterile conjunctival swab does not mean that the organ culture is sterile.