Positive Microbiological Culture among Patients with Infective Keratitis Visiting the Cornea Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre

• Published in: Journal of Nepal Medical Association 2023-10, Vol.61 (266), p.775-778
• Main Authors: Shrestha Joshi, Leesha, Kaiti, Raju, Shyangbo, Ranjila, Bogati, Birkha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: corneal ulcer; keratitis; Original; prevalence
• ISSN: 0028-2715; 1815-672X
• DOI: 10.31729/jnma.8285

Introduction: Keratitis is the infection and inflammation of the cornea. Microbial keratitis is a potentially sight-threatening corneal condition. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of positive microbiological culture among patients with infective keratitis visiting the Cornea Unit of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with a clinical diagnosis of infective keratitis presenting to the Cornea Unit of a tertiary eye care centre from 16 October 2020 to 16 March 2021 after obtaining ethical approval from the Ethical Review Board. After slit-lamp examination, corneal scrapings were performed under aseptic conditions which were subjected to Gram stain, potassium hydroxide preparation and culture for bacterial and fungal pathogens. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 428 patients, 337 (78.73%) (73.24-84.33, 95% Confidence Interval) had a positive microbiological culture. A total of 213 (49.76%) of enrolled samples had a prior history of ocular trauma. Aspergillus species 68 (20.17%) and Streptococcus species 33 (9.79%) were the most common organisms isolated from fungal and bacterial corneal ulcers respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of positive microbiological culture among patients with infective keratitis from this study is similar to the pattern reported from similar settings.