Bacterial and fungal causes of infectious keratitis among patients attending Research Institute of Ophthalmology

Abstract

Abstract Background Corneal ulcer is a potentially sight threatening ocular condition and the leading cause of monocular blindness in developing countries. Knowing the predisposing factors and etiologic microorganism can help prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent devastating outcomes The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of bacteria and fungi in infectious keratitis. And to detect the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern against these causative bacterial and fungal pathogens using antibacterial and antifungal disces. Results Out of 50 cases (= 50 eyes), fungal growth was predominant 23/50 representing 46% with Aspergillus flavus being the most prevalent 14/23(61%). Bacterial growth was 7/50 (14%), 4/7 was gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonie) and 3/7 was pseudomonas spp. While twenty out of 50 cases (40%) showed no growth. Conclusion Ocular trauma was the major cause of infectious keratitis, more in rural population. Fungal growth; mainly Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent pathogen encountered in all cases. Voriconazole proved to be the first choice in the treatment of mould keratitis with 100% susceptibility. While alarmingly, fluconazole should no longer be used for the empirical therapy as it showed resistance to all the fungal isolates.

Keywords

• Keratitis risk factors
• Ocular trauma
• Antifungal therapy