[Infectious keratitis in children: an epidemiological and microbiological study in a university hospital in Asunción-Paraguay].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the microbiologic aspects of infectious keratitis in children (0-18 years old) examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of the National University of Asunción-Paraguay, during a 14-year period (1988-2002).


METHODS
The authors retrospectively studied 146 children, under 18 years old, with infectious keratitis at the Department of Ophthalmology of the National University of Asunción-Paraguay, from 1988 to 2002.


RESULTS
The cultures were positive in 113 patients (77%) with 70% of bacterial and 30% of fungal etiology. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (23.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.8%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.8%) were the most common microorganisms isolated. Acremonium ssp (25%), Fusarium ssp (14%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (14%) were the fungi isolated.


CONCLUSIONS
Ulcerative keratitis in children examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of the National University of Asunción-Paraguay is of bacterial origin in most of the cases.
Maidana
Eduardo
E
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Nacional de Assunção-Paraguai. drmaidanasimon@hotmail.com
González
Richard
R
Melo Júnior
Luiz Alberto Soares de
LA
Souza
Luciene Barbosa de
LB
D000164:Acremonium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010239:Paraguay / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents