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Establishing a Porcine Ex Vivo Cornea Model for Studying Drug Treatments against Bacterial Keratitis
Published on: May 12, 2020
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The Temporal Distribution and Microbial Spectrum in Infectious Keratitis: A Comprehensive Single-Center Study
Naoyuki Yamada1, Nanako Iwamoto1, Ayano Sakuma1
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube 755-8505, Japan.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|March 17, 2025
Summary
Infectious keratitis shows distinct seasonal patterns for different pathogens in Japan. Understanding these trends, like bacterial keratitis in winter, aids diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Infectious keratitis is a significant cause of vision loss.
- Understanding seasonal variations in causative pathogens is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify pathogen-specific seasonal patterns in infectious keratitis.
- To analyze long-term trends in a Japanese tertiary care center.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 500 culture-proven infectious keratitis cases (2009-2021).
- Analysis of seasonal distribution for bacterial, viral, fungal, and Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Main Results:
- Bacteria (49.8%) and viruses (34.6%) were the most common causes.
- Bacterial keratitis peaked in winter; Pseudomonas aeruginosa in late summer.
- Acanthamoeba keratitis showed summer predominance; HSV keratitis in winter/spring.
Conclusions:
- Distinct seasonal patterns exist for infectious keratitis pathogens in Japan.
- Climate and geography may influence temporal distribution of corneal infections.
- Pathogen-specific seasonal trends can guide preliminary diagnosis and empirical treatment.
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