The Epidemiological Profile and Predisposing Factors of Microbial Keratitis Over a 10-Year Period at a Tertiary Hospital in Central Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

To evaluate the demographic and predisposing factors and clinical presentation of microbial keratitis (MK) patients over 10 years at a tertiary hospital in central Saudi Arabia. In 2020, a retrospective review of data from clinical and pathology departments from 2010 to 2019 was conducted. Demography includes age, gender, residence, and the risk factor of microbial keratitis, clinical features, and organism profile as number and percentage. We reviewed 181 eyes of 179 patients with microbial keratitis. The mean age was 40.1 years. Contact lens usage(55; 30%), ocular trauma (30; 16.5%), and ocular surface diseases(42; 23.2%) were the main predisposing factors. Hypopyon was noted in 60 (33%) eyes, impaired vision at presentation was observed in 78 (43%) eyes, and endophthalmitis with microbial keratitis was noted in eight (4.4%) eyes at presentation. Ninety-eight (54,1%) cases were culture positive, while gram-positive organisms were seen in 50 (27.6%) eyes, gram-negative organisms in 35 (19.3%) patients, and fungi in 13 (7.2%) patients. Microbial keratitis was central in 67 (37%), paracentral in 94 (52%), and peripheral in 20 (11.3%) patients. All instances of fungal keratitis occurred in the eyes of men who work in the agriculture field. Standard operating procedures to manage microbial keratitis at primary and secondary eye care levels are recommended. Health promotion to prevent trauma, appropriate useof contact lens, and early treatmentcould prevent the incidence ofmicrobial keratitis.