Most microorganisms isolated from patients with bacterial keratitis showed susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides. Cephalothin plus aminoglycoside constituted an effective initial broad-spectrum antibiotic combination. The success rate of topical antibiotic treatment of corneal abscess is 89%. Predictors of failure include older age group, medium or large ulcer, culture-negative keratitis, hypopyon and poor visual acuity.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare infection, and contact lens wear remains the commonest association, with poor hygiene constituting significant additional risk. The visual outcome has improved with the availability of effective amoebicidal agents, but patients with a diagnostic delay and non-contact lens wearers are at increased risk of recurrent disease. A high index of clinical suspicion remains the most effective strategy in implementing early treatment, and enabling a favourable outcome.
Resistance of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts to disinfection agents, antimicrobial agents, heat, freeze-thawing, ultraviolet radiation (UV), gamma irradiation, and cellulase were evaluated in vitro. Following exposure to different agents, the cysts were removed and cultured for A. castellanii trophozoites for 3-14 days. Solutions containing 20% isopropyl alcohol or 10% formalin effectively killed A. castellanii cysts. Hydrogen peroxide (3%, AOSept Disinfectant) effectively killed A. castellanii cysts after 4 hr of exposure. Polyhexamethylene biguanide (0.02%), clotrimazole (0.1%), or propamidine isethionate (Brolene) were effective in killing A. castellanii cysts in vitro. Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts were resistant to both 250 K rads of gamma irradiation and 800 mJ/cm2 of UV irradiation. Excystment of trophozoites was accelerated after exposure to 10, 100, and, 1,000 units of cellulase. These results suggest that A. castellanii cysts benefit by enhanced survival because of their resistance to very harsh environmental conditions.
Suppurative keratitis is an important preventable cause of blindness, particularly in the developing world. This study analyses 142 cases of suppurative keratitis referred to Chittagong Eye Infirmary, Bangladesh. Some 53.5% of cases were bacterial and 35.9% were fungal. The five most common pathogens were: Pseudornonas sp. 24%, Streptococcus pneumoniae 170'0, Aspergillus sp. 13%, Fusariurn sp. 7% and Curvularia sp. 6%. Gram stain and culture results were consistent in 62.6% of cases. Previous antibiotic treatment was a significant factor for failure of culture isolation and less so for Gram stain failure. On Gram stain, 55.9% of pseudomonal cases were missed, but only 2% of fungal cases were missed. Over all, Gram stain had a sensitivity of 62% and positive predictive value of 84% for bacterial cases, and 98% and 94% for fungal cases, respectively. Fungal ulcers were typically filamentous, but an antecedent history of trauma was not common. The most frequent injury was due to rice grains, but the inoculum appeared to be introduced during eye washing with contaminated water. Pseudomonal ulcers occurred most frequently in the monsoon season, and Fusariurn cases were seen only in the hot, dry season.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but severe disease, with more than 95% of cases occurring in contact lens wearers. With a worldwide resurgence of contact lens-related disease, this report illustrates the clinical characteristics and treatment challenges representative of this disease. This report describes Acanthamoeba keratitis in a 47-year-old female using extended wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses, with a history of swimming in a home pool and failure to subsequently disinfect the contact lenses. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs, disease course, and confocal microscopy results despite a negative result for corneal smear and culture. The corneal signs included an epithelial defect, epithelial irregularities, anterior stromal infiltrates, perineural infiltrates, an anterior stromal ring infiltrate, and hypopyon. The case was diagnosed as an infective keratitis and treated promptly using intensive topical administration of fortified gentamicin and cephalothin. The high likelihood Acanthamoeba prompted immediate use of polyhexamethylbiguanide and chlorhexidine, with propamide and adjunct treatment using atropine and oral diclofenac. Steroids were added on day 3, and the frequency of administration of antibacterial treatment was gradually reduced and ceased by day 10. The analgesia was stopped at 3 months. The frequency of administration of antiamoeba therapy and steroid treatment was slowly reduced and all treatment was ceased after 18 months. Despite considerable morbidity in terms of the treatment duration, hospitalization, outpatient appointments, and associated disease costs, the final visual outcome (6/6) was excellent.
Ocular surface and anterior segment diagnoses are predominant among emergency presentations. Statistically significant associations exist between sex and selected diagnoses, and between age and almost all of the commonest diagnoses. The emergency department functions as a primary care provider with most patients discharged following initial consultation.
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