Etiological spectrum of infectious keratitis in the era of MALDI-TOF-MS at a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

Infectious Keratitis (Ik) Is A Potential Vision-Threatening Ocular Infection Caused By A Variety Of Microorganisms. To Explore Risk Factors And Etiological Agents Associated With Ik. A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study In Which Corneal Scrapings From 120 Suspected Cases Were Evaluated At A Tertiary Health Care Institute From January To December 2019. Scrapings Were Subjected To Direct Microscopy, Culture, And Identification By Both Conventional Methods And Maldi-Tof-Ms. The Patient's Demographic Data And Predisposing Factors, If Any Were Recorded. The Mean Age Of Patients Was 48.9 Years And Predisposing Factors Were Documented In 46% (55/120) Of Cases. Overall, Infective Etiology Could Be Established In 51% (<i>N</i> = 61/120) Of Cases. Fungal Growth In 26% (<i>N</i> = 31/120) Of Cases And Bacterial Growth In 22% (<i>N</i> = 27/120) Of Cases Was Obtained. Growth Of More Than One Species Of Fungi Or Growth Of Bacteria Along With Fungus Were Observed In 2% (<i>N</i> = 3/120) Of Cases. Of All The Fungal Isolates Obtained (<i>N</i> = 34), The Most Common Isolate Was <i>Fusarium</i> (18/34) Followed By <i>Aspergillus</i> (8/34), <i>Curvularia</i> (4/34), <i>Pseudallescheria Boydii</i> (3/34), And <i>Geotrichum</i> (1/34). Among The Gram-Positive Bacterial Isolates (<i>N</i> = 16), <i>Staphyloccus Species</i> (15/16) Were Isolated In Maximum Number Followed By <i>Streptococcus Pneumoniae</i> (1/16). Among The Gram-Negative Isolates (<i>N</i> = 13), <i>Pseudomonas</i> Species (8/13) Were Isolated In Maximum Number Of Cases, Followed By <i>Acinetobacter</i> (3/13), <i>Klebsiella Pneumoniae</i> (1/13), And <i>Escherichia Coli</i> (1/13). For Initiating Appropriate Empirical Therapy, The Knowledge Of The Epidemiological Pattern Of Infectious Keratitis Of A Particular Geographical Region Is Crucial.