Bacterial and Fungal Profile of External Ocular Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Aim: To identify the etiology, incidence and prevalence of External ocular bacterial and fungal infections, and to assess the in-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility to the bacterial isolates. Material & Methods: This study include 125 patients with external ocular infections treated in the tertiary care hospital-Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India, between March 2011 to April 2012. The patients were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and then corneal scrapings, conjunctival swabs and purulent material were collected for cultures, smears and antibiotic sensitivity test by using standard protocols. Results: Out of 125 patients with external ocular infection, culture positivity was found in 80(64%) patients and rest of 45(36%) patients were culture negative. Among the 80(64%) culture positive patients, 45(56%) patients had conjunctival infections and 35(44%) had keratitis. From conjunctival infections-49 bacterial isolates were recovered. The predominant bacterial isolate was found to be Coagulase negative Staphylococci 21(43%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 12(24%). Among keratitis patients, 10(29%) patients had bacterial infection, 23(66%) patients had fungal infections and 2(5%)patients had mixed infections with bacteria and fungi. The predominant fungus was Fusarium species 12(48%) followed by Aspergillus flavus 6(24%). The gram positive isolates were susceptible to Vancomycin 100% followed by Ciprofloxacin 75%. Gram negative isolates were susceptible to Imipenam 100%, Amikacin 100% and Ciprofloxacin 96%. Conclusion: Coagulase negative Staphylococci frequently causes infection of the conjunctiva. Infections of the cornea due to filamentous fungi are a frequent cause of corneal damage in developing countries in the tropics and are difficult to treat.