Abstract

Introduction: Corneal infection is leading cause of ocular morbidity and blindness worldwide. To minimize ocular morbidity timely antifungal treatment must be initiated on the basis of clinical and microbiological evaluation. Culture and direct microscopic detection of causative fungi are the two important mycological investigations that are widely used.

Objective: To identify the causative fungi of infectious keratitis in patients attending ophthalmology department in VIMS, Bellary.

Materials and methods: A retrospective review of mycological records was conducted for all patients with infectious keratitis who presented between 01.04.2013 to 30.07.2013 at VIMS, Bellary. The scraping material obtained from leading edge and base of each ulcer was initially directly inoculated on to the surface of Sabauraud’s dextrose agar in a row of ‘C’ shaped streak. The material obtained by the next scrapings was spread on to labeled slides in a thin; even manner for 10%KOH wet mount and Gram’s staining. The fungal isolates were identified using standard microbiological procedures.

Results: A total of 86 patients suspected of fungal keratits presented during the study period. 21 (24.42%) of patients were culture positive.  The most common fungal pathogen was Aspergillus spp (11) 52.4 % of all positive fungal cultures, followed by Fusarium spp (6) 28.6 %, of patients, and Mucor spp (2) 9.5%.

Conclusion: In the present study Aspergillus spp was the most common fungus isolated. Prompt diagnosis and early institution of appropriate antifungal may limit the ocular morbidity and sequel of infectious keratitis. These regional findings have important public health implications for the treatment of corneal ulcerations in this part of India.