Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
High-plex Imaging using Spectral Confocal Microscopy to Minimize Non-specific Tissue Fluorescence
Published on: October 28, 2025
Paediatric infectious keratitis at tertiary referral centres in Vancouver, Canada
Gelareh S Noureddin1, Sachiko Sasaki2, Andrea L Butler1
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Insights
Infectious keratitis in children is often linked to contact lens wear and existing eye conditions. Prompt treatment is crucial for potentially sight-threatening infections in this pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infectious keratitis is a significant cause of visual impairment in children.
- Understanding the specific risk factors and causative agents in a pediatric population is essential for effective management.
- Vancouver, Canada, serves as the study location for this clinical analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical and microbiological characteristics of pediatric infectious keratitis cases in Vancouver.
- To identify key predisposing factors and common pathogens in this patient group.
- To inform treatment strategies based on regional infection patterns and antibiotic susceptibilities.
Main Methods:
- An observational case series design was employed.
- Retrospective review of medical records and microbiology results for 17 eyes in 16 pediatric patients (aged ≤17 years).
- Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, risk factors, microbiology, antibiotic susceptibility, treatment, and outcomes from 2006-2011.
Main Results:
- The most frequent predisposing factors were contact lens wear (35%) and ocular surface conditions like blepharitis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (18% each).
- Commonly isolated microorganisms included Staphylococcus epidermidis and Acanthamoeba, with Acanthamoeba found in 67% of contact lens-related ulcers.
- Final visual acuity was >20/60 in 56% of patients; 3 required corneal transplantation for scarring.
Conclusions:
- Contact lens wear and pre-existing ocular surface diseases are identified as major risk factors for infectious keratitis in pediatric patients.
- Awareness of local microbial patterns and resistance is vital for timely intervention in sight-threatening keratitis.
- This study highlights the importance of considering specific patient demographics and behaviors in managing pediatric infectious keratitis.
Objective:
To report the clinical and microbiological profiles of paediatric patients with infectious keratitis in Vancouver, Canada.
Design:
In this observational case series, the microbiology results and medical records of 17 eyes with microbial keratitis in 16 children aged 17 years or younger were retrospectively reviewed. These patients had undergone corneal scraping between May 2006 and April 2011 at BC Children's Hospital or Vancouver General Hospital Eye Care Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Demographic information, clinical features, predisposing factors, results of microbiology studies, antibiotic susceptibilities, treatment course and outcomes were analysed.
Results:
The mean age of patients was 11±5.7 years (range 1-17 years) and the male:female ratio was 1.4:1. Major predisposing factors were contact lens wear (6/17; 35%), and pre-existing ocular surface conditions including blepharitis (3/17; 18%) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (3/17; 18%). Four patients had a previous corneal ulcer. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba was isolated in 67% of contact lens-related corneal ulcers, while the remaining 33% of contact lens-related corneal ulcers were associated with infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Final visual acuity was better than 20/60 in 9 out of 16 patients (56%). Three patients subsequently required surgical management with either penetrating keratoplasty or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for treatment of corneal scarring.
Conclusions:
Contact lens wear and pre-existing ocular surface conditions are significant risk factors for the development of infectious keratitis in our paediatric population. Knowledge of regional patterns of infection and susceptibility are essential in ensuring prompt treatment of this potentially sight-threatening condition.
More Related Videos
07:03Discovery of Metastatic Regulators using a Rapid and Quantitative Intravital Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane Model
Published on: February 3, 2021
13:12Quantitative Analyses of all Influenza Type A Viral Hemagglutinins and Neuraminidases using Universal Antibodies in Simple Slot Blot Assays
Published on: April 4, 2011