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Published on: May 12, 2020
Mycotic keratitis in India: a five-year retrospective study
Ragini Tilak1, Abhisek Singh, Om Prakash Singh Maurya
1Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. raginijain29@rediffmail.com
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
|March 31, 2010
Summary
Mycotic keratitis, a serious fungal eye infection, was diagnosed in 41 of 90 patients. Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani were the most common causative agents, highlighting the need for rapid diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mycotic keratitis is a severe fungal corneal infection with global prevalence, particularly in tropical regions.
- It leads to significant visual impairment and blindness, often linked to trauma and prior ocular treatments.
- Predisposing factors include trauma, ocular/systemic defects, corticosteroid use, and prolonged antibiotic eye-drop application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the causative fungal agents of mycotic keratitis.
- To determine the predisposing factors associated with this corneal infection.
Main Methods:
- Corneal scrapings from 90 patients with suspected fungal keratitis were analyzed.
- Diagnostic methods included 10% KOH mount, Gram stain, and fungal culture.
Main Results:
- Mycotic keratitis was diagnosed in 41 out of 90 patients.
- Fungal growth was confirmed by culture in 36 cases and by KOH preparation in 5 cases.
- Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani were the predominant fungal species identified; males aged 31-40 were most affected.
Conclusions:
- Rapid diagnosis and prompt antifungal treatment are crucial to prevent vision loss.
- Direct microscopic examination offers a faster presumptive diagnosis compared to culture alone.
