Spectrum of fungal keratitis at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PURPOSE: To report the spectrum of fungal keratitis at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 24 cases of culture-positive fungal keratitis treated from January 1991 to March 1999 at Wills Eye Hospital. Risk factors, fungal identification, antifungal treatment, and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 24 eyes (24 patients). Fourteen patients (58.3%) were female. The mean age was 59 years (range, 19-86 years). Predisposing factors included chronic ocular surface disease (41.7%), contact lens wear (29.2%), atopic disease (16.7%), topical steroid use (16.7%), and ocular trauma (8.3%). Early identification of fungal elements was achieved by staining of corneal scrapings in 18 cases (75%). Half of the cases (12 eyes) had corneal infections caused by yeast, and the other half by filamentous fungi. Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated organism (45.8%), followed by Fusarium sp (25%). Natamycin and amphotericin B were the topical antifungals most frequently used, while systemic treatment commonly used included fluconazole, ketoconazole, or itraconazole. Six patients (25%) had penetrating keratoplasty during the acute stage of infection. After a mean follow-up of nine months, 13 eyes (54.1%) had the best corrected visual acuity 20/100 or better. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to other studies from the northern United States, we found Fusarium sp the most commonly isolated filamentous fungus. In our series, C. albicans was the most frequent cause of fungal keratitis, and a past history of ocular trauma was uncommon.     

Bacterial keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty

Bacterial keratitis continues to be a serious problem in developing countries. The authors studied 881 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty (total of 947 procedures) from January 1983 to March 1986 at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. All patients were followed for at least 6 months. Clinical evidence of bacterial keratitis developed in 113 (11.9%) eyes with penetrating keratoplasties in 108 patients. The causative organisms among those patients included: Streptococcus pneumoniae, 29 (26%); Staphylococcus epidermidis, 24 (21%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 13 (12%); Staphylococcus aureus, 5 (4%); Hemophilus influenzae, 5 (4%); Moraxella spp, 5 (4%); alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, 5 (4%); and other bacteria, 27 (25%). In addition, postoperative epithelial defects that required hospital admission for treatment developed in 21 (2.2%) patients. Herpetic keratitis developed in three (0.3%) patients and fungal keratitis developed in 1 (0.1%). Statistically significant predisposing risk factors included: trichiasis (P less than 0.0001), epithelial defects (P less than 0.0001), soft contact lens wear (P less than 0.0001), and eroding sutures (P less than 0.0001). The authors believe that the incidence of postoperative bacterial keratitis can be minimized or avoided by appropriate selection of patients for penetrating keratoplasties as well as good preoperative and postoperative management of associated ocular conditions.     

恩施地区外伤性真菌性角膜炎回顾性分析

目的 了解恩施地区外伤性真菌性角膜炎临床流行病学特点.方法 回顾性分析2009年7月至2013年6月恩施州中心医院收治的外伤性真菌性角膜炎病例.记录患者人口学特征、病史、职业、致伤原因、病程、先前诊断用药情况,来院后裂隙灯检查、微生物学检查、治疗方法、转归及随访结果,对资料进行分析.结果 4年间,69例（69眼）根据患病诱因、微生物学检查结果诊断为外伤性真菌性角膜炎.随访时间1 ～14个月.男51例,女18例,年龄27 ～71岁.农民64例.主要诱因为植物外伤.外院曾经过微生物学检查诊断为真菌性角膜炎2例.来院后沙氏培养基培养阳性67例,其中镰刀菌属54例（80.6％）,曲霉菌属10例（14.9％）.59例用药物治愈,清创及板层切除术8例,穿透性角膜移植术1例,眼球摘除1例.结论 恩施地区外伤性真菌性角膜炎首位病原体是镰刀菌属,多见于青壮年男性农民,植物外伤是主要原因,可导致严重视力损害.     

棘阿米巴性角膜炎的发病相关因素

由于角膜接触镜的日益广泛使用,棘阿米巴性角膜炎在世界范围内呈上升趋势。本文就棘阿米巴性角膜炎发病相关因素包括人口学特征（性别、年龄、职业）、季节倾向和地理分布特征以及易感危险因素（角膜接触镜佩戴、眼部创伤、眼部手术、并存眼部疾病或混合感染）的研究进展进行综述。（国际眼科纵览,2020, 45：393-396）     

Epidemiological and microbiological diagnosis of suppurative keratitis in Gangetic West Bengal, eastern India

PURPOSE: To determine the epidemiological pattern and risk factors involved in suppurative corneal ulceration in Gangetic West Bengal, eastern India, and to identify the specific microbial agents responsible for corneal infections. METHODS: All patients with suspected microbial keratitis presenting to the corneal clinic at Disha Eye Hospital, Barrackpore, West Bengal, India, from January 2001 to December 2003 were evaluated. Sociodemographic data and information pertaining to the risk factors were recorded. After diagnosing infective corneal ulcer clinically, corneal scraping and cultures were performed. RESULTS: Over a three-year period, 1198 patients with suppurative keratitis were evaluated. Ocular trauma was the most common predisposing factor in 994 (82.9%) patients (P< 0.0001), followed by use of topical corticosteroids in 231 (19.28%) patients. Cultures were positive in 811 (67.7%) patients. Among these culture positive cases, 509 (62.7%) patients had pure fungal infections (P< 0.001), 184 (22.7%) patients had pure bacterial infections and 114 (14.1%) had mixed fungal with bacterial infections. Acanthamoeba was detected in 4 (0.49%) patients. The most common fungal pathogen was Aspergillus spp representing 373 (59.8%) of all positive fungal cultures (P< 0.0001), followed by Fusarium spp in 132 (21.2%) instances. Most common bacterial isolate was Staphylococcus aureus, representing 127 (42.6%) of all the bacterial culture (P< 0.0001) followed by Pseudomonas spp 63 (21.1%). CONCLUSION: Suppurative keratitis in Gangetic West Bengal, most often occurs after a superficial corneal trauma with vegetative or organic materials. Fungal ulcers are more common than bacterial ulcers. Aspergillus spp and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common fungus and bacteria respectively. These "regional" findings have important public health implications for the treatment and prevention of suppurative corneal ulceration in this region of India.     

马来西亚东西部感染性角膜炎研究

目的：评估马来西亚东西部三级医院感染性角膜炎流行病学及发病因素。

方法：收集来自马来西亚西部Sungai Buloh医院、吉隆坡综合医院和东部Queen Elizabeth医院、沙捞越州综合医院的感染性角膜炎患者207例。研究记录了危险因素。进行角膜刮片镜检和培养。

结果：马来西亚西部感染性角膜炎最普遍的风险因素是植物性损伤(28.5%)和非植物性损伤(18.3%)。27.7%的创伤病例与工作有关,其中外籍男性工作者占34.2%。马来西亚东部最普遍的风险因素是配戴隐形眼镜(32.9%)。马来西亚东西部绿脓假单胞菌是感染性角膜炎最常见的病菌。马来西亚西部最常见的真菌病原体是镰刀菌,占所有阳性真菌培养物的60%。

结论：马来西亚东西部公立医院细菌性角膜炎检出率较高,而东部隐形眼镜配戴则是常见风险因素(P<0.05),西部真菌性角膜炎检出率高。     

Corneal ulceration in the elderly in Hyderabad, south India

AIMS: To report demographic, microbiological, therapeutic, anatomical, and visual results of corneal ulceration in the elderly patients seen at a tertiary eye care centre in south India. METHODS: 102 consecutive cases of microbial keratitis in patients 65 years and older were studied. Inclusion criteria were: (i) presence of corneal stromal infiltrate upon slit lamp examination; and (ii) microbiological evaluation of corneal scrapings for suspected microbial keratitis. RESULTS: The principal predisposing factors identified in this study were ocular disease (38.2%), previous ocular surgery in the same eye (29.4%), trauma (17.6%), and severe systemic disease (16.7%). Contact lens wear was associated with only two cases (2.0%). 99 organisms were isolated in cultures of corneal scrapings from 74 (72.5%) of the 102 cases. Staphylococcus epidermidis (31.1%), filamentous fungi (25.7%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (13.5%) were the most common isolates. 12 eyes (11.8%) required surgery, 15 (14.7%) eventually required evisceration, and nine (9.6%) of the 94 followed patients achieved an unaided vision of 20/60 or better at last follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This work represents the largest recent single centre study on (non-viral) microbial keratitis in the elderly, its management, and outcomes of therapy. While the predisposing factors differ from those of general population, the spectrum of microbes responsible for keratitis in the elderly appears to reflect the local microbial flora rather than a predilection for elderly patients. Delay in diagnosis and systemic conditions associated with advancing age probably contribute to poorer outcome from therapeutic measures.     

Microbial keratitis in South India: influence of risk factors, climate, and geographical variation

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of risk factors, climate, and geographical variation on the microbial keratitis in South India. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all clinically diagnosed infective keratitis presenting between September 1999 and August 2002 was performed. A standardised form was filled out for each patient, documenting sociodemographic features and information pertaining to risk factors. Corneal scrapes were collected and subjected to culture and microscopy. RESULTS: A total of 3,183 consecutive patients with infective keratitis were evaluated, of which 1,043 (32.77%) were found to be of bacterial aetiology, 1,095 (34.4%) were fungal, 33 (1.04%) were Acanthamoeba, 76 (2.39%) were both fungal and bacterial, and the remaining 936 (29.41%) were found to be culture negative. The predominant bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated were Streptococcus pneumoniae (35.95%) and Fusarium spp. (41.92%), respectively. Most of the patients (66.84%) with fungal keratitis were between 21 and 50 years old, and 60.21% of the patients with bacterial keratitis were older than 50 (p < 0.0001) (95% CI: 5.19-7.19). A majority of patients (64.75%) with fungal keratitis were agricultural workers (p < 0.0001) [odds ratio (OR): 1.4; 95% CI: 1.19-1.61], whereas bacterial keratitis occurred more commonly (57.62%) in nonagricultural workers (p < 0.0001) (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 2.47-3.36). Corneal injury was identified in 2,256 (70.88%) patients, and it accounted for 92.15% in fungal keratitis (p < 0.0001) (OR: 7.7; 95% CI: 6.12-9.85) and 100% in Acanthamoeba keratitis. Injuries due to vegetative matter (61.28%) were identified as a significant cause for fungal keratitis (p < 0.0001) (OR: 23.6; 95% CI: 19.07-29.3) and due to mud (84.85%) for Acanthamoeba keratitis (p < 0.0001) (OR: 26.01; 95% CI: 3.3-6.7). Coexisting ocular diseases predisposing to bacterial keratitis accounted for 68.17% (p < 0.0001) (OR: 33.99; 95% CI: 27.37-42.21). The incidence of fungal keratitis was higher between June and September, and bacterial keratitis was less during this period. CONCLUSION: The risk of agricultural predominance and vegetative corneal injury in fungal keratitis and associated ocular diseases in bacterial keratitis increase susceptibility to corneal infection. A hot, windy climate makes fungal keratitis more frequent in tropical zones, whereas bacterial keratitis is independent of seasonal variation and frequent in temperate zones. Microbial pathogens show geographical variation in their prevalence. Thus, the spectrum of microbial keratitis varies with geographical location influenced by the local climate and occupational risk factors.     

2004-2014年云南省西双版纳地区599例真菌性角膜炎临床分析

目的 了解2004-2014年云南省西双版纳地区真菌性角膜炎的人口学特征及病因。设计 回顾性病例系列。研究对象 2004年7月-2014年7月西双版纳州人民医院眼科599例真菌性角膜炎患者。方法 回顾分析患者的人口学特征、发病诱因、病原学特征及既往诊疗情况等。主要指标 人口学特征、病因及致病菌。结果 男女患病比为3:1,年龄35~65岁者占47.5%,农民为主（63.4%）,雨季为高发季节（85.4%）。发病诱因中植物性外伤78.4%。未确诊前治疗使用糖皮质激素者占32.5%。致病菌中镰刀菌占37.8%、烟曲霉菌占32.7%。结论 男性中壮年农民雨季植物性外伤是西双版纳热带地区真菌性角膜炎主要患病危险因素。（眼科, 2017, 26： 49-51）     

Infectious keratitis in Vietnam: etiology, organisms, and management at Vietnam National Eye Hospital

AIM:To report the etiologies,risk factors,treatments,and outcomes of infectious keratitis(IK)at a major Vietnamese eye hospital.METHODS:This is a retrospective review of all cases of IK at Vietnam National Eye Hospital(VNEH)in Hanoi,Vietnam.Medical histories,demographics,clinical features,microbiological results,and treatment outcomes were reviewed.RESULTS:IK was diagnosed in 1974 eyes of 1952 patients,with ocular trauma being the greatest risk factor for IK(34.2%),frequently resulting from an agriculturerelated injur y(53.3%).The mean duration between symptom onset and presentation to VNEH was 19.3±14.4 d,and 98.7%of patients had been treated with topical antibiotic and/or antifungal agents prior to evaluation at VNEH.Based on smear results of 1706 samples,the most common organisms identified were bacteria(n=1107,64.9%)and fungi(n=1092,64.0%),with identification of both bacteria and fungi in 614(36.0%)eyes.Fifty-five of 374 bacterial cultures(14.7%)and 426 of 838 fungal cultures(50.8%)were positive,with the most commonly cultured pathogens being Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Streptococcus pneumonia,Fusarium spp.,and Aspergillus spp.Corneal perforation and descemetocele developed in 391(19.8%)and 93(4.7%)eyes,respectively.Medical treatment was successful in resolving IK in 50.4%eyes,while 337(17.1%)eyes underwent penetrating or anterior lamellar keratoplasty.Evisceration was performed in 7.1%of eyes,most commonly in the setting of fungal keratitis.CONCLUSION:Ocular trauma is a major risk factor for IK in Vietnam,which is diagnosed in almost 400 patients each year at VNEH.Given this,and as approximately one quarter of the eyes that develop IK require corneal transplantation or evisceration,greater emphasis should be placed on the development of prevention and treatment programs for IK in Vietnam.     

Indecision about corticosteroids for bacterial keratitis: an evidence-based update

PURPOSE: To quantify the effect of topical corticosteroids on bacterial keratitis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bacterial keratitis is an economically important infection affecting 1 in 10,000 Americans annually. The predisposing factors, prior ocular health, infecting microorganisms, inflammatory severity, and therapeutic choices can affect the course and outcome. Antibacterial treatment is often curative but does not guarantee good vision. Because many treated patients develop a sight-limiting corneal problem, antiinflammatory therapy has sometimes been recommended. LITERATURE REVIEWED: Publications from 1950 to 2000 that evaluated the effect of corticosteroids on bacterial keratitis in animal experiments, case reports and series, case-comparison and cohort studies, and clinical trials were systematically identified by electronic and manual search strategies. RESULTS: The use of a topical corticosteroid before the diagnosis of bacterial keratitis significantly predisposed to ulcerative keratitis in eyes with preexisting corneal disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% confidence limits [CL], 1.41, 4.91). Once microbial keratitis occurred, prior corticosteroid use significantly increased the odds of antibiotic treatment failure or other infectious complications (OR, 3.75; 95% CL, 2.52, 5.58). However, the effect of a topical corticosteroid with antibiotics after the onset of bacterial keratitis was unclear. Experimental models suggested likely advantages, but clinical studies did not show a significant effect of topical corticosteroid therapy on the outcome of bacterial keratitis (OR, 0.62; 95% CL, 0.25, 1.54). CONCLUSIONS: Topical corticosteroids increase the risk of infectious complications affecting the cornea but may or may not have an effect during antibacterial therapy. The unproven role of corticosteroids in the adjunctive treatment of bacterial keratitis highlights the need to collect prospective information that would guide appropriate management for this common eye disease.     

Fungal keratitis at the new york eye and ear infirmary

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to review the clinical experience at our institution with fungal keratitis during a 16-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the clinical and microbiology records of the New York Eye and Infirmary identified 61cases of fungal keratitis in 57 patients between January 1, 1987 and June 1, 2003. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed to better delineate patient demographics, risk factors, etiologic organisms, treatment, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5083 positive corneal cultures were recorded'from January 1, 1987 to June 1, 2003. Sixty-one eyes in 57 patients (37 women) were positive for fungus (1.2%). Three'patients had bilateral simultaneous infections. Candida albicans accounted for 29 of 61 cases (48%). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity (15 eyes), chronic ocular surface disease (14 eyes), and trauma (7 eyes) were the most commonly associated risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with fungal keratitis in the northeastern United States appears to be different than those reported from other areas of the United States. Serologic positivity for HIV and chronic ocular surface disease were the most common associated risk factors followed by trauma, herpes simplex keratitis, and contact lens use. Candida species predominated, whereas filamentous fungi were uncommon.     

Corneal infection in Shandong peninsula of China: a 10-year retrospective study on 578 cases

AIM: To determine the epidemiological characteristics, clinical signs, laboratory findings, and outcomes in patients with corneal infection in Shandong peninsula of China. METHODS: The medical records of 578 inpatients (578 eyes) with corneal infection were reviewed retrospectively for demographic characteristics, risk factors, seasonal variation, clinical signs, laboratory findings, and treatment strategy. Patient history, ocular examination findings using slit-lamp biomicroscopy, laboratory findings resulted from microbiological cultures, and treatment. RESULTS: Fungal keratitis constituted 58.48% of cases of infectious keratitis among the inpatients, followed by herpes simplex keratitis (20.76%), bacterial keratitis (19.03%) and acanthamoeba keratitis (1.73%). The most common risk factor was corneal trauma (71.80%). The direct microscopic examination (338 cases) using potassium hydroxide (KOH) wet mounts was positive in 296 cases (87.57%). Among the 298 fungal culture-positive cases, Fusarium species were the most common isolates (70.47%). A total of 517 cases (89.45%) received surgical intervention, including 255 (44.12%) cases of penetrating keratoplasty, 74 (12.80%) cases of lamellar keratoplasty which has become increasingly popular, and 77 cases (13.32%) of evisceration or enucleation. CONCLUSION: At present, infectious keratitis is a primary corneal disease causing blindness in China. With Fusarium species being the most commonly identified pathogens, fungal keratitis is the leading cause of severe infectious corneal ulcers in Shandong peninsula of China.     

Bacterial keratitis: predisposing factors,clinical and microbiological review of 300 cases

AIM: To identify predisposing factors and to define clinical and microbiological characteristics of bacterial keratitis in current practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the hospital records of patients presenting with bacterial keratitis and treated at the Quinze-Vingts National Center of Ophthalmology, Paris, France, was performed during a 20 month period. A bacterial keratitis was defined as a suppurative corneal infiltrate and overlying epithelial defect associated with presence of bacteria on corneal scraping and/or that was cured with antibiotic therapy. Risk factors, clinical and microbiological data were collected. RESULTS: 300 cases (291 patients) of presumed bacterial keratitis were included. Potential predisposing factors, usually multiple, were identified in 90.6% of cases. Contact lens wear was the main risk factor (50.3%). Trauma or a history of keratopathy was found in 15% and 21% of cases, respectively. An organism was identified in 201 eyes (68%). 83% of the infections involved Gram positive bacteria, 17% involved Gram negative bacteria, and 2% were polymicrobial. Gram negative bacteria were associated with severe anterior chamber inflammation (p=0.004), as well as greater surface of infiltrates (p=0.01). 99% of ulcers resolved with treatment, but only 60% of patients had visual acuity better than the level at admission, and 5% had very poor visual outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Contact lens wear is the most important risk factor. Most community acquired bacterial ulcers resolve with appropriate treatment.     

Ulcerative keratitis associated with contact lens wear

A review of 573 cases of ulcerative keratitis cultured at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from January 1977 through September 1982 showed that 118 cases (21%) were associated with contact lens wear; of these, 64 were culture-positive. Of these culture-positive cases, 50 (78%) were caused by gram-negative bacteria, nine (14%) by gram-positive organisms, and two (3%) by fungal organisms. Of the 264 culture-positive ulcers not associated with contact lens wear, 119 (45%) were caused by gram-negative bacteria, 74 (28%) by gram-positive organisms, and 63 (24%) by fungal organisms. These statistically significant differences suggested that the organisms associated with ulcerative keratitis within our geographic region are modified by contact lens use. Pseudomonas was the organism most frequently isolated from ulcers associated with contact lenses and was responsible for nearly two thirds of the culture-positive cases.     

Predisposing factors in microbial keratitis: the significance of contact lens wear.

Fifty-three patients consecutively admitted to Moorfields Eye Hospital for treatment of suspected microbial keratitis were examined to identify predisposing factors. The principal associations were pre-existing corneal disease (22 patients (41.5%] and contact lens wear (22 patients (41.5%]. In 13 cases (25%) contact lens wear was the only factor in patients with otherwise healthy eyes using contact lenses as an alternative to spectacles. Gram-negative keratitis was more frequent in the lens wearers, with the exception of therapeutic lens users, than in other patients (p = 0.0006) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused keratitis in cosmetic soft lens users more frequently (p = 0.001). There was no correlation between lens handling or solution contamination in three extended wear soft-lens users. This implies that some soft-lens wearers may be infected by Gram-negative organisms from environmental sources other than contaminated lens care materials. Gram-negative keratitis is strongly associated with contact lens wear, and the diagnosis must be considered in any contact lens user with an acutely painful red eye.     

Fungal keratitis in a daily disposable soft contact lens wearer.

PURPOSE: To report the first case of fungal keratitis in a patient wearing daily disposable soft contact lenses. METHODS: Case Report. A 20-year-old white female in good health developed a corneal ulcer in her lefteye associated with daily disposable soft contact lens wear. There was no history of trauma to the left eye, and she denied overnight wear. Corneal scrapings were taken, and the patient was started on intensive tobramycin 14 mg/mL and cefazolin 50 mg/mL topical therapy for suspected bacterial keratitis. After 3 days of antibacterial therapy, the ulcer worsened. The cultures were negative as were the Gram stain and Gomori's methenamine silver stain. Initial cultures and stains were then repeated with the addition of a culture for herpes simplex virus. The developing clinical picture was suspicious for fungal keratitis. The patient was then started on intensive vancomycin 2%, natamycin 5%, and continued on fortified tobramycin. Three days after the second corneal scrapings were performed, a positive fungal culture was obtained for Fusarium sp. Vancomycin and tobramycin were then discontinued and amphotericin B 0.15% was added to natamycin 5% with the continuation of intensive topical therapy. RESULTS: The patient's keratitis was successfully treated with intensive double antifungal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious keratitis in daily disposable soft contact lens wear is an unusual occurrence. To our knowledge, there is no previous case of fungal keratitis occurring in patients wearing daily disposable lenses. This case emphasizes the importance of considering fungus in the differential diagnosis for keratitis even in daily disposable contact lens wearers.     

The clinical diagnosis of microbial keratitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of ophthalmologists to predict the laboratory results of presumed microbial keratitis and to explore which findings may influence diagnostic prognostication. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. METHODS: Fifteen ophthalmologists completed study forms at the initial presentation of patients with presumed microbial keratitis. After predicting the category of microbial recovery, clinicians submitted corneal scrapings for masked laboratory processing. The relative effects of ocular inflammatory signs on correct microbial diagnosis were explored with Poisson regression. RESULTS: Clinical examiners correctly predicted the presence or absence of microbial recovery in 79 (76%) of 104 ulcerative keratitis cases and successfully distinguished among bacterial, fungal, and amebic keratitis for 54 (73%) of 74 culture-positive infections, although only 31 (42%) were subcategorized properly. The positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis was 65% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43% to 84%) for 20 eyes with Pseudomonas keratitis cases, 48% (95% CI, 32% to 63%) for 38 other bacterial keratitis, 45% (95% CI, 17% to 77%) for 13 fungal keratitis, and 89% (95% CI, 52% to 100%) for nine Acanthamoeba keratitis cases. The recognition of Pseudomonas keratitis significantly improved by the occurrence of a larger infiltrate (P = .02), and correctly predicting Acanthamoeba keratitis was enhanced by observing a ring infiltrate (P < .001). Antimicrobial use before referral significantly attenuated clinical diagnosis (P = .03) and hampered microbial recovery (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Established Pseudomonas keratitis and Acanthamoeba keratitis can be suspected before laboratory confirmation, but overlapping inflammatory features and recent empiric antimicrobial treatment limits etiologic recognition of most microbial corneal infections.     

马来西亚大学医学中心角膜溃疡的回顾分析

目的：分析角膜溃疡的病例分布、危险因素、临床特点、微生物检查及预后结果。方法：对2003-07／2006-04就诊于马来西亚大学医学中心的84例（87眼）患者进行研究，其中1例双眼发病，另1例曾因疱疹性角膜炎复发3次就诊。选入标准包括角膜上皮缺损、角膜基质浸润及炎症。结果：患者84例中有男46例，女38例。主要是马来人（52％）。3个主要的危险因素是角膜接触镜的配戴（47％），眼外伤（25％）及眼表疾病（24％）。在老年患者中，糖尿病（8％）及高血压（9％）是重要的系统性疾病。阳性为25％，而微生物培养阳性为73％。在各危险因素组中，绿脓杆菌是最常见的致病菌，在角膜接触镜配戴者中最高。耐庆大霉素革兰染色阴性菌有2例，耐青霉素表皮葡萄球菌有1例。75％的患者溃疡愈合，遗留角膜混浊。2mo后，54％的患眼最佳矫正视力〉6／18，14％〈3／60。3例患者需要行眼球摘除或剜除术。结论：角膜接触镜配戴和眼外伤是青年人群中主要的可预防性危险因素，相反，眼疾是老年人中不可预防的危险因素。超过60％的培养阳性病例为革兰染色阴性菌。