[The variance of pathogenic organisms of purulent ulcerative keratitis]

To identify the variance of pathogens of purulent keratitis and their resistance patterns to antibiotics.

From January 1995 to October 2000, all patients with suspected infectious corneal ulcer were examined by bacterial, fungal and Acanthameoba culture. The results of microorganism-culture were compared with those in literature.

Of the specimens in 1 430 cases, there were 790 cases (55.2%) with positive culture including bacterial isolates in 258 cases (18.0%), fungal isolates in 498 cases (34.8%) and parasites in 34 cases (2.4%). The Staphylococcus aureous and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that had markedly declined since 1980s represented 6.2% and 21.7% of bacterial isolates respectively. However, the opportunity organism such as Staphylococcus epidermidis represented 27.5%, a tendency of gradual increase. The most common fungal pathogen was fusarium spp that represented 64.5% of all positive fungal cultures, and Aspergillus spp (13.6%) occupied the second place. The resistance of the ocular bacteria to fluoroquinolones gradually increased. Although the Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to gentamycin in 36.2%, it was almost no resistance to tobramycin (3.4%). The fusarium spp was shown to be resistant to a number of the anti-fungal agents, but it is sensitive to natamycin.

The survey of pathogens in purulent ulcerative keratitis and their resistance patterns to antibiotics helps in clinical treatment.