title: Clinical features of infectious keratitis at a tertiary referral center in a rural area of Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical features of infectious keratitis at a tertiary referral center in a rural area of Korea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This was a retrospective study. Medical records of 70 patients who were diagnosed with infectious keratitis and underwent corneal culture were reviewed. Data including demographics, predisposing factors, and microbiological profiles were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age distribution showed one peak at sixth and seventh decade, and 48 patients (68.6%) were ≥50 years old. The male to female ratio was 43 (61.4%):27 (38.6%). Ocular surface disease was the most frequently found (48 cases, 68.6%). Gram-positive bacteria were most common (ten patients, 66.7%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria (three patients, 20%) and fungi (two patients, 13.3%). In this study, 34.3% of patients were treated by at least one topical antimicrobial before culture. Patients who received topical therapy before culture showed positive culture rate of 16.7%, and patients who underwent corneal culture without topical antibiotics showed positive culture rate of 23.9%. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in positive culture rate (P=0.554).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportions of the elderly and male patients were higher than the young and female patients, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common pathogens, and ocular surface disease was the most common predisposing factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Moosang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyon
keywords: Gram-positive bacteria; corneal ulcer; infectious keratitis; rural area