Corneal ulceration in South East Asia. II: a strategy for the prevention of fungal keratitis at the village level in Burma.
OBJECTIVE
To prove that topical antifungal and antibiotic prophylaxis distributed by grass roots village health workers (VHWs) in Burma is an effective public health intervention for the prevention of post-traumatic microbial keratitis in a population where the majority of ulcers are fungal.


METHODS
Three villages in Bago District with a combined population of 16,987 were selected for the study. This defined population was followed prospectively for 12 months by 15 VHWs who were trained to identify post-traumatic corneal abrasions with fluorescein dye and a blue torch and to administer 1% chloramphenicol and 1% clotrimazole ointment three times a day for 3 days to the eyes of individuals who fulfilled the eligibility criteria.


RESULTS
During the 12 month period 273 individuals reported to VHWs with an ocular injury and 126 were found to have a corneal abrasion. All 126 were treated with 1% chloramphenicol and 1% clotrimazole ointment three times a day for 3 days, and all healed without sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Both fungal and bacterial ulcers that occur following traumatic corneal abrasions can be effectively prevented in a village setting by using relatively simple measures that local volunteer public health workers can easily be taught to employ.
Maung
N
N
Trachoma Control and Prevention of Blindness Programme, Department of Health, Yangon, Burma.
Thant
C C
CC
Srinivasan
M
M
Upadhyay
M P
MP
Priyadarsini
B
B
Mahalakshmi
R
R
Whitcher
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009824:Ointments; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D003022:Clotrimazole