Clinical and microbiological spectrum of corneal ulcer in eastern region of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Aim: To find clinical microbiological spectrum and predisposing factors of corneal ulcer in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study conducted in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, over a period of three years from May 2015 to April 2018.Suspected microbial keratitis were stained with fluorescent paper strip and examined under cobalt blue light. Scraping of the edge and bases were directly inoculated on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar and Blood Agar. Plates were examined daily in 1st week then every 3rd day for next 3 weeks. Results: Maximum cases were seen in the age group of 25-50 years (63.79%), with male preponderance (60.30%). Trauma to the affected eye was major predisposing factor for microbial keratitis (74.10%). The major etiological agent in our study was fungal corneal ulcers followed by bacterial ulcer. Aspergillus spp. (53.84%) was most common filamentous fungi followed by Fusarium spp. (23.07%). Among bacteria most common species was Staphylococcus aureus 57.89% followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in 21.05% and 15.78% respectively. Conclusions: The major aetiological agent in our study was fungal corneal ulcers followed by bacteria ulcer. Filamentous fungi were most common cause of fungal corneal ulcer with Hyaline fungi (80.76%) and Phaeoid fungi (11.53%). Keywords: Aspergillus, Bacterial Growth, Corneal ulcer, Keratitis, Keratomycosis.