Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.51(5) > 1008805

Sun, Lee, Kim, and Jung: Clinical Features of Infectious Keratitis in West Coast Area of Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical features of infectious keratitis in the western coastal area of Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.

Methods

We performed bacterial and fungal cultures in patients with findings of infectious keratitis. Any correlations between the culture results and the patients' place of residence, occupation, types of ocular trauma, contact lens wear, previous ocular disease, duration of treatment for complete recovery, time between the onset of symptom and beginning of treatment were evaluated. In addition, we assessed the antibiotic susceptibilities of the cultured organisms.

Results

We detected 34 (58.62%) among 58 cultures performed in 55 patients that were positive for organisms; 24 for Gram-positive bacteria, 17 for Gram-negative bacteria, 3 for fungi and 9 for polymicrobial infections. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) was the most frequent infection. The culture positivity rate was significantly higher (P=0.047) in patients with history of previous ocular disease but no correlations were detected with place of residence, type of ocular trauma or the timing of culture. The average treatment period was 33.95±30.59 days, which extended as the lesion size increased (P=0.003).

Conclusions

Pseudomonas species are considered to be the most frequent cause of infectious keratitis in Korea. However, in our study, CNS were the most frequent culture-positive organisms and visual prognosis was poorer in the culture-positive group.

References

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Figure 1.
Flow chart of the patients recruited in the study.
jkos-51-658f1.tif
Figure 2.
Distribution of patients with infectious keratitis in Chungcheongnam-do. The number of patients are marked in parenthesis.
jkos-51-658f2.tif
Table 1.
Causative organisms of microbial keratitis
Organisms Culture positive keratitis (n=34)
No. of isolates Prevalence (%)*
Bacteria 41     120.59
   Gram(+) cocci   18   52.94
      Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CNS)     11 32.35
      Staphylococcus aureus     1 2.94
      Streptococcus pneumoniae     3 8.82
      Viridans group streptococcus     3 8.82
   Gram(+) rod   6   17.65
      Coryneform gram-positive rods     5 14.71
      Bacillus spp.     1 2.94
   Gram(−) cocci   0   0
   Gram(−) rod   17   50.00
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa     5 14.71
      Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes     1 2.94
      Acinetobacter spp.     1 2.94
      Serratia spp.     3 8.82
      Enterobacter aerogenes     1 2.94
      Morganella morganii     1 2.94
      Stenotrophomonas maltophilia     1 2.94
      Achromobacter xylosoxidans     1 2.94
      Burkholderia cepacia     1 2.94
      Citrobacter freundii     1 2.94
      Ochrobactum anthropi     1 2.94
Fungus 3     8.82
   Filamentary   1   2.94
      Trichothecium spp.     1 2.94
   Yeast   2   5.88
      Candida     2 5.88
Total     44 129.41

* Percentage of culture positive cases. Total is greater than 100% due to polymicrobial infections (double infection, 7; triple infection, 2).

Table 2.
Comparisons between culture positive and negative groups
  Culture positive (+) Culture negative (−) P value
Age (yrs) 49.68±22.06 55.46±17.32 0.031
Onset (days) 6.87±8.87 6.87±8.38 0.849
Initial VA (logMAR) 1.78±1.62 1.07±1.25 0.014
Final VA (logMAR) 1.62±1.70 0.65±1.17 0.002
Size of corneal lesion (mm2) 13.73±18.51 9.63±13.68 0.150
Treatment period (days) 37.35±33.17 29.13±26.43 0.114

VA=visual acuity.

Table 3.
Percentage of antibiotics resistance in Gram positive and negative bacteria
  Gram positive (+) Gram negative (−)
Ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin 33.3 % (5/15 cases) 0 %
Amikacin 21.4 % (3/14 cases)
Gentamycin 35.7 % (5/14 cases)
Tobramycin 42.9 % (3/7 cases)
Ceftazidime 6.7 % (1/15 case)
Vancomycin 0 %
Oxacillin 50.0 % (6/12 cases)
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