Donor-to-host transmission of Candida glabrata to both recipients of corneal transplants from the same donor.

Objective: To report 2 cases of exogenous Candida glabrata endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty in recipients of corneas from the same donor transplanted on the same day.

Methods: Case reports with ophthalmologic, electron microscopic, and microbiological findings including fungal strain analysis.

Results: Two patients developed fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis caused by the same C. glabrata strain within 1 day after penetrating keratoplasty of corneas from the same donor on the same day. Donor-to-host transmission was postulated when eye bank sterility checks were repeatedly negative.

Conclusions: A short death-to-harvesting time, routine donor rim cultures, and respecting of a time interval before transplantation may provide an additional safety feature in dealing with corneal tissue from high-risk donors.