Study on Clinicomicrobiological Profile in Keratomycosis

Introduction Keratomycosis is a major cause of infectious keratitis having a worldwide distribution from 17 %-36 %. Aim This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinicomicrobiological aspects and epidemiological characters of keratomycosis. Materials and Method Sixty microbiologically confirmed cases of keratomycosis were taken for study out of seventy suspected cases. Patients were subjected to detail history and comprehensive ocular examination and findings recorded. After taking corneal scrapping, microscopic examination was done on KOH wet mount to find out the fungal elements and culture was performed to look for fungal growth and to identify the species. Results There were male preponderance with 63.33 % incidence and females were with 36.67 %. Keratomycosis was most prevalent in age group between 41-50 Years (36.67 %) and history of trauma was encountered in 53.33 %. Most common traumatic agent was vegetable material (37.50 %) and among other predisposing factors, use of topical steroid was mostly found (26.67 %. ) Farmers are the commonest victims (40 %) and incidence in rural people are very high (83.33 %). Most patients presented in between 11-30 days (46.67 %) and 73.30 % of patients had vision less than 6/60. Most common clinical presentation was ulcer with epithelial lesion. In all cases, fungal elements were detected and culture test was also positive in all cases. Aspergillus was detected in maximum cases (66.67 %). Conclusion Keratomycosis is a leading and challenging cause of uniocular morbidity and blindness. Appropriate and effective management is needed for better prognosis.