Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings of infectious keratitis at Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Egypt.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings of infectious keratitis.


METHODS
A retrospective study on cases of infective keratitis, attended our institution from Mar. 2013 to Feb. 2015, was done at Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Egypt. Corneal scrapings were performed and processed for direct microscopy and culture in appropriate media using standard laboratory protocols.


RESULTS
Out of 245 patients enrolled for study, 247 corneal scrapings were obtained. Ocular trauma was the most common predisposing factor (51.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (15.1%). Cultures were positive in 110 scraping samples (44.5%): 45.5% samples had pure fungal infection, 40% had pure bacterial infections and 10% had mixed fungal and bacterial growths.Acanthamoebawas detected in 5 (4.5%) samples. The most common fungal pathogen wasAspergillusspp. (41%). The most common bacterial isolates wereStaphylococcus aureus(38.2%) andPseudomonas aeruginosa(21.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of fungal keratitis is high in our region. Therapeutic approach can initially be based on clinical features and sensitivity/resistance patterns. Microbiological research should direct the antimicrobial treatment. Antibiotic resistance to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides is an important consideration.
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Amani E
AE
Badawi
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Dalia
D
Moemen
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Nora L
NL
El-Tantawy
antibiotic resistance; bacterial; fungal; infectious keratitis; parasitic; predisposing factors