Severe bacterial keratitis Study epidemiological, clinical and microbiological

Introduction: The aim of our study was to define epidemiological, microbiological and bacterial keratitis factors.Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients hospitalized for bacterial keratitis at Toulouse University Hospital between January 2006 and November 2007. Microbiological and clinical characteristics such as age, hospitalization criteria, visual sequelae and factors have been identified.Results: Sixty-seven patients with a mean age of 46 years were included. The two main ones hospitalization criteria were stromal infiltrate size (63%) and visual axis involvement (61%). A local risk factor was identified in 92.5% of cases, in order of frequency: contact lens wear (49%), keratopathy (16%), corneal trauma (12%) and corneal surgery (7%). General risk factors were found in 16% of cases including: diabetes and Sjogren s syndrome. Bacterial cultures made it possible to isolate a seed in 57% of cases. In lens keratitis, Gram-negative bacilli were frequently found (45%). Eighty-five percent of the patients had visual acuity at 3 months beyond the initial visual acuity.Discussion: Contact lens wear appears as the main risk factor for severe bacterial keratitis requiring hospitalization; however, this is not a factor of poor prognosis in our study.

Keywords:

Bactrial , Epidemiological , Microbiological