Clinical and Microbiological Study of Different Corneal Ulcers

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Primary objective: To correlate between the clinical diagnosis and microbiological results of bacterial and fungal keratitis. Secondary objective: To identify predisposing factors responsible for bacterial and fungal infections of cornea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study done in santhiram medical college and general hospital, NANDYAL between OCTOBER 2018 to July 2019. SAMPLE SIZE: 100 Method of collection of data: � Patients with infective corneal ulcers attending OPD/cornea-clinic of our hospital. � Informed written consent will be taken. � A detailed history including demographics, ocular disease, past medical illness, history of trauma, treatment history and personal history will be taken. � Ophthalmological examination will include: � Best corrected visual acuity � Slit lamp bio-microscopic examination � Digital IOP � Flourescein staining � All infectious corneal ulcers were subjected to smears& cultures. CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Out of 100 cases 22 were clinically diagnosed as bacterial, while 78 were diagnosed to be of fungal aetiology. SMEAR RESULTS: * 14 out of 22 clinically diagnosed bacterial ulcers were smear positive on gram stain. * Out of the 78 clinically diagnosed fungal corneal ulcers, 71 showed fungal hyphae on 10 % KOH wet mount. CULTURE RESULTS: � In 16 cases (19.04 %), bacteria were identified from the corneal scrapings cultures. � Cultures were positive for fungi in 72 cases (67.85 %). � Both bacterial& fungal growth in 1 case (1.19 %). . while no growth was detected in 11cases (11.90 %) Correlation between clinical diagnosis& microbiological cultures: 16 out of the clinically diagnosed bacterial ulcers yeilded growth on bacterial culture media thus giving % sensitivity to clinical diagnosis. sensitivity of clinically diagnosing fungal corneal ulcer is 82.35 %, as out of 78 clinically diagnosed fungal ulcers, 64 showed growth on SDA.