Bacterial Keratitis: Clinical Features, Causative Organisms, and Outcome During a 13-year Study Period

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Bacterial keratitis is a serious eye infection.
• Understanding causative organisms and risk factors is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review clinical features, organisms, complications, and outcomes of bacterial keratitis.
• To identify factors associated with poor outcomes in bacterial keratitis cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of bacterial keratitis cases (2007-2019).
• Defined poor outcome by visual acuity, perforation, endophthalmitis, or globe loss.
• Multivariate analysis to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• 169 (64.3%) cases were culture-positive bacterial keratitis.
• Gram-positive bacteria were most common; coagulase-negative staphylococci and Pseudomonas predominated.
• Poor outcomes linked to diabetes, poor presenting visual acuity, and positive cultures.

Conclusions:

• Culture-negative keratitis showed less severe infection and better outcomes.
• Diabetes, poor presenting visual acuity, and positive cultures are significant predictors of poor outcomes in bacterial keratitis.