Aetiology of suppurative corneal ulcers in Ghana and south India, and epidemiology of fungal keratitis.
A K Leck,Philip A. Thomas,M Hagan,J. Kaliamurthy,E Ackuaku,M John,Mercy J. Newman,F S Codjoe,Japheth A. Opintan,C.M. Kalavathy,V Essuman,C A N Jesudasan,G J Johnson +12 more
TLDR
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 and microscopy is an essential tool in the diagnosis of these infections.Abstract:
Background: A multicentre study was carried out in Ghana and southern India to determine the aetiology of suppurative keratitis in two regions located at similar tropical latitudes. Studies of fungal keratitis from the literature were reviewed.
Methods: Patients presenting at rural and urban eye units with suspected microbial keratitis were recruited to the study. Corneal ulceration was defined as loss of corneal epithelium with clinical evidence of infection with or without hypopyon. Microscopy and culture were performed on all corneal specimens obtained.
Results: 1090 patients were recruited with suspected microbial keratitis between June 1999 and May 2001. Overall the principal causative micro-organisms in both regions were filamentous fungi (42%): Fusarium species and Aspergillus species were the commonest fungal isolates. Pseudomonas species were most frequently isolated from cases of bacterial keratitis in Ghana but in India the commonest bacterial isolates were streptococci.
Conclusion: 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. Microscopy is an essential tool in the diagnosis of these infections. A knowledge of the “local” aetiology within a region is of value in the management of suppurative keratitis in the event that microscopy cannot be performed.read more
Citations
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Atlas of Clinical Fungi
TL;DR: The atlas compiled by these editors is a commendable effort and welcome addition to the mycology textbook sector.
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Current Perspectives on Ophthalmic Mycoses
TL;DR: Future research needs to focus on the development of rapid, species-specific diagnostic aids, broad-spectrum fungicidal compounds that are active by various routes, and therapeutic modalities which curtail the harmful effects of fungus- and host tissue-derived factors.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mycotic keratitis: epidemiology, diagnosis and management
P.A. Thomas,J. Kaliamurthy +1 more
TL;DR: The PCR has gained prominence as a diagnostic aid for mycotic keratitis, being used to complement microbiological methods; more importantly, this molecular method permits rapid specific identification of the aetiological agent.
Journal ArticleDOI
Microbial Keratitis in South India: Influence of Risk Factors, Climate, and Geographical Variation
M Jayahar Bharathi,Rengappa Ramakrishnan,R Meenakshi,S Padmavathy,C Shivakumar,Muthiah Srinivasan +5 more
TL;DR: The spectrum of microbial keratitis varies with geographical location influenced by the local climate and occupational risk factors, and a hot, windy climate makes fungal keratritis more frequent in tropical zones, whereas bacterial ker atitis is independent of seasonal variation and frequent in temperate zones.
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