Analytical investigation of demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of patients with microbial keratitis

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we investigated epidemiological properties, clinical findings, risk factors, direct microscopy, and culture results in patients diagnosed with microbial keratitis. Materials and methods: We examined the hospital records of patients with microbial keratitis between March 2016 and March 2021, retrospectively. Also, clinical findings, risk factors, microbiological results, empirical treatment and, treatment responses were evaluated. Results:42 eyes of 42 patients whose mean age was 57.8 (range 18-70 years) were included in the study. In 12 (28.5%) patients, a gram-positive gram gram and gram-negative gram bacterial finding was found in the stained microscopic examination. In total, microbial growth was detected in the culture of 7 patients (16.6%), while growth was not detected in 35 patients (83.4%). No etiological factor was detected in 27 patients (64.4%). The complaints at admission were pain in 24 patients (57.6%), redness in 12 patients (28.8%), and both redness and pain in 6 patients (14.1%). While the visual acuity of 18 cases was preserved after the treatment, 24 cases (88.8%) achieved 1 or more line with the treatment. While the mean visual acuity was 0.69±1.1 (0-3.1) logMAR before treatment, it increased to 0.79±1.1 (0-3.1) logMAR after treatment (p=0.006). Conclusion: The keratitis is a common cause of unilateral blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment of keratitis is a significant role in the prognosis. The success of the therapy can be provided by starting empirical antimicrobial therapy by taking into consideration of the regional risk factors and common pathogens.