Anterior chamber tap: diagnostic and therapeutic indications in the management of ocular infections

Abstract

Purpose: To report three cases in which an anterior chamber tap was useful in the management of infection of the eye confined to the anterior segment. Methods: In the first case, the patient presented with diffuse conjunctival congestion and thick anterior chamber exudates adhering to the back of the cornea. The second case involved fungal keratitis, and the patient was not responding to topical natamycin and systemic ketoconazole. In this patient, infiltrate and thick hypopyon persisted despite medical therapy. The patient in the third case had a persistent thick endothelial exudate, and a retained intracameral foreign body, fungal infection, and a cataract were suspected. In all three cases, an anterior chamber tap was performed. In case 1, the exudate was removed and sent for microbiologic investigation. In case 2, the hypopyon was evacuated and intracameral amphotericin B (5 μg) was injected. In case 3, the exudate contained a wooden foreign body that was sent for culture. Intracameral amphotericin B (5 μg) was injected. Results: In the first case, the culture of the exudate grew Staphylococcus aureus. The eye quieted, and the exudate resolved following treatment with topical fortified cefazolin, fortified gentamicin, and systemic cefazolin. In the second case, smears of corneal scrapings revealed fungal filaments and the culture grew Aspergillus species. The infection resolved following an anterior chamber tap, but the patient developed a cataract. After cataract surgery, visual recovery was limited because of the corneal scar. In the third case, the culture of the foreign body grew an unidentified hyaline fungus. Following an anterior chamber tap, the infection resolved, but the cataract progressed. The patient did well after cataract surgery. Conclusions: An anterior chamber tap is an extremely useful procedure in the management of ocular infections confined to the anterior segment. The procedure should be performed under strict aseptic conditions. If the infection involves the anterior capsule of the lens, care should be taken to avoid injury to the lens, and the possibility of progression of the cataract should be explained to the patient.