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Microbial keratitis in Gujarat, Western India: findings from 200 cases.

Publication Type : Journal Article

Thematic Areas : Medical Sciences

Publisher : The Pan African medical journal

Source : The Pan African medical journal, Volume 10, p.48 (2011)

Url : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3290878/

Keywords : Acanthamoeba keratitis, adult, agricultural procedures, antibiotic sensitivity, article, Aspergillus, bacterial keratitis, cefazolin, ceftazidime, clinical feature, cornea injury, cornea perforation, cornea ulcer, disease predisposition, female, fungus growth, Fusarium, health education, high risk population, human, India, keratitis, keratoplasty, major clinical study, male, microbial keratitis, microbiological examination, morbidity, nonhuman, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, risk factor, rural population, seasonal variation, sex difference, slit lamp, Staphylococcus, traditional healer, traditional medicine

Campus : Kochi

School : School of Medicine

Department : Microbiology

Year : 2011

Abstract : The objective of this study was to study the epidemiological characteristics and the microbiological profile of patients suspected with microbial keratitis in Gujarat. Corneal scraping was collected from 200 consecutive cases of suspected microbial keratitis and was subjected to direct examination and culture. Of the 200 ulcers 55% were culture positive, 26.5% were bacterial ulcers of which 47% were due to Staphylococcus spp. Pure fungal growth was seen in 22% while 6% were mixed ulcers. Fusarium spp. (30%) was the most common fungus followed by Aspergillus spp. (21%). Only one case of Acanthamoeba keratitis was encountered. Patients were mainly from rural areas (61.5%) with male preponderance (61.5%). Corneal injury was seen in 78.5% cases of which 53% had injury with vegetative matter. Prior treatment was seen in 58% of which 5% had been treated by village healers. Nineteen patients (9.5%) also used some kind of traditional topical treatment. Increased incidence was seen from August to December. Five case of fugal ulcers lead to perforation of which three were due to Fusarium spp. whereas perforation was seen in only two cases of bacterial ulcers due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus and Fusarium spp. were the most common etiological agents in our region. Predominant outdoor agricultural activity is the principal causative factor for corneal injury. Corneal ulcers complicated due to treatment by village healers are another important concern. The information regarding regional etiology will help empirical management as many eye clinics do not have microbiological facilities.

Cite this Research Publication : Anil Kumar, Snehal Pandya, Ghanshyam Kavathia, Sejul Antala, Molly Madan, and Tanuja Javdekar "Microbial keratitis in Gujarat, Western India: findings from 200 cases", Pan Afr Medicine Journal, 2011

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