Laboratory Diagnosis in Ulcerative Keratitis

Vol. 37, No. 3, 2005

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 133 KB)

Original Paper

Laboratory Diagnosis in Ulcerative Keratitis
B. Khanal^a, M. Deb^a, A. Panda^b, Harinder Singh Sethi^b

^aDepartment of Microbiology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal;
^bDepartment of Ophthalmology, Dr. R.P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmic Res 2005;37:123-127 (DOI: 10.1159/000084273)

Key Words

Keratitis
Pseudomonas
Pneumococcus
Aspergillus
Aureobasidium pullulans

Abstract

Aims: To identify the common bacterial and fungal isolates from corneal ulcers and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates to commonly used antibiotics at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), eastern Nepal. Culture and direct microscopic correlation and reliability were also compared. Methods: All patients with suspected corneal ulceration presenting to the Ophthalmology Department of BPKIHS from 1st August 1998 to 31st July 2001 were evaluated. Corneal scraping was performed and processed for direct microscopy and culture for bacterial and fungal isolates. Bacterial isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results: Of 447 specimens examined direct microscopy was positive in 216 (48%) specimens. Culture positivity could be correlated with direct microscopy in 179 (83%) of specimens. Growth of etiologic agents was found in 303 (67.8%) samples. Of these 145 (47.8%) had pure fungal growth, 103 (34%) had pure bacterial growth and 55 (18.2%) had mixed fungal and bacterial infection. The commonest fungal pathogen was Aspergillus spp.in 78 (38.4%) followed by Fusarium spp. in 45 (22%). Aureobasidium sp. was isolated in 25 (12.3%) samples. Staphylococcus aureus (93, 56.7%) dominated the scene as the commonest bacterial agent. Streptococcus pneumoniae (33, 20%) was second in the list. Most of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance and need of the continued surveillance of the agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility for the prevention and management of corneal ulcers and their complications.

Author Contacts

Dr. Anita Panda
DII/33, Ansari Nagar
New Delhi (India)
Tel. +91 11 26593177, Fax +91 11 26588919
E-Mail anitap49@yahoo.com

Article Information

Received: March 3, 2004
Accepted after revision: August 19, 2004
Published online: March 4, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 34

Medline Abstract (ID 15746569)

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