Risk Factors and Common Organisms in Bacterial Keratitis in a Tertiary Center in Iran.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to document the spectrum of isolated microorganisms and investigate the risk factors associated with infectious keratitis over a 12-year period at a tertiary referral center.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 867 patients diagnosed with infectious keratitis between 2009 and 2021. Corneal scraping was performed for 414 patients, and all individuals received fortified empiric antibiotic eye drops. Surgical intervention was conducted for 376 patients during their hospital stay.

RESULTS

Trauma emerged as the most prevalent risk factor (21.9%). The main causative microorganism for corneal ulcers was found to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus was the primary microorganism isolated in patients below 50 years old, whereas P. aeruginosa was more commonly identified in patients aged 50 and above. Tarsorrhaphy was performed on 23.6% of the patients. Additionally, other surgical procedures were undertaken in 44.6% of the cases, with tectonic graft and corneal patch graft emerging as the most frequent surgical interventions.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of trauma as the leading predisposing factor and P. aeruginosa as the predominant microorganism isolated in cases of adult microbial corneal ulcers in Iran.