Five-year experience of corneal scrapes at Wellington Eye Department, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the causative organisms of bacterial keratitis in Wellington and to identify the antibiotic sensitivities of each bacterium isolated. These results will then be compared with certain patient characteristics and clinical outcomes.


METHODS
Corneal scrapes collected between 2001 and 2005 were retrospectively analysed and collated on a database. Corneal scrapes were collected by an ophthalmologist and processed by trained microbiological staff.


RESULTS
34 scrapes were collected; there was a positive Gram-stain in 38% of cases. A positive culture was obtained in 85% of scrapes. The commonest Gram-negative organism was Moraxella spp. (12.5%). The commonest Gram-positive organism was coagulase-negative Staphylococci (25%). The Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were all sensitive to chloramphenicol. Ocular surface disease was the most common risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows similarities and differences with other ophthalmology centres around the World, this emphasises the recognised regional variation of bacterial keratitis. The two most important points to be taken from our results are: an accurate database for recording corneal scrape details and a protocol for testing antibiotic sensitivities and resistance needs to be established in Wellington; and a future study needs to be carried out on the next five years of corneal scrapes.
Rajpal
Kunaal
K
Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington. rajku602@student.otago.ac.nz
Hall
Reece
R
Long
Helen
H
Wells
Anthony
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012189:Retrospective Studies