title: Non-viral microbial keratitis: etiology, clinical features and visual outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the etiology, clinical features and visual outcome in non-viral microbial keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study (case series).
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January 2007 to December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of all patients with infective keratitis treated at the department were reviewed. The data collected and recorded on a standardized form included age, gender, predisposing factors, microbiology results of culture and sensitivity, clinical features, treatment given, complications and visual acuity at last follow-up (at least 2 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a total of 228 cases, 148 were male (64.9%) and 80 were female (35.1%). Mean age of the patients was 42.8 ± 21.9 years. Trauma was the most common (31.5%) predisposing factor followed by previous ocular surgery (8.8%) and use of topical steroids (6.6%). The most common isolate among positive cultures was Staphylococcus aureus isolated in 31.4% (11/35) eyes followed by fungal hyphae in 25.7% (9/35) and Gram negative bacilli in 17.1% (6/35) eyes. Visual outcome was good (> 6/18) in 19.6 %, moderate (< 6/18 to ³ 6/60) in 22% and poor (< 6/60) in 58.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main predisposing factors in the studied group of patients with non-viral keratitis were ocular trauma and injudicious use of topical steroids. The most common microorganism involved was Staphylococcus aureus. Visual outcome was moderate to poor even after successful treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. dribrar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ibrar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Bakht Samar
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mehmooda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.lastname: Habibullah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult