title: Use of penetrating keratoplasty in acute bacterial keratitis.
abstract: Twenty-three patients with bacterial keratitis had penetrating keratoplasties performed for deep indolent ulceration or descemetoceles, during the acute period. The period in hospital (17.6 days) was significantly lower than for a control group (35.4 days) who were treated medically and had subsequent grafts. The number of grafts remaining clear was similar, 70% and 72% respectively. Eleven patients (48%) of those who had an acute graft achieved corrected visual acuities of 6/12 or better. No cases of reinfection occurred and no eyes were lost.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014792:Visual Acuity