MICROBIAL PROFILE AND PREDISPOSING FACTORS OF MYCOTIC KERATITIS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL, CENTRAL INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Mycotic keratitis is one of the commonest causes of eye infections especially in male which works mainly in outdoor. Filamentous fungi (mould-like fungi) were the common cause of Mycotic keratitis and common presentations seen in developing countries. The aim of present study assess predisposing factors and microbial profile of Mycotic keratitis in central India. Methods: The study was conducted in the collaboration of Department of Microbiology and Ophthalmology in G. R. Medical College, Gwalior, India. Samples were collected from corneal scraping by sterile cotton swab and inoculated on culture media Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) for fungal culture. Material obtained from corneal scrapping also performed 10% KOH mount preparation, gram’s staining and Lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) mount. Identification of fungal isolates was done by colony morphology, growth characteristics and relevant standard tests. Results: A total of 237 out of 740 (32%) fungal isolates was obtained from suspected patients of Mycotic keratitis, out of which Fusarium species (33.2%) was the most predominant followed by Curvularia species (21.9%) and Aspergillus species (16.7%), Ocular trauma was the key predisposing factors. Conclusion: Trauma was the key predisposing factor of keratitis because of filamentous fungi. The commonestcausative agent of fungal keratitis in current study was Fusarium species followed by Curvularia species. Early proper diagnosis and management of fungal keratitis reduces the ophthalmic morbidity and mortality