Isolation of Fungi From Corneal Ulcers in Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Blindness is a major challenge to the modern world in which the majority is due to corneal ulcers. The importance of early diagnosis of keratomycosis is stressed for the eyes not treated in time, may lead to complications and blindness. 102 corneal scrapings were processed for fungi as study group and 100 healthy persons were included as control group. In the study direct microscope by 10% KOH Wet mount, LPCB, and GRAM staining revealed fungi in 18 cases, and in 28 cases culture yielded growth on SDA. Aspergillus was the predominant causative agent (39.2%), followed by Fusarium (17.85%), Curvularia (10.71%), Candida (7.14%), cephalosporium (74%), Rizopus (3.57%) Penicillium (3.57%) and mucor (3.57%).In the present study 53.57% were associated with trauma of the eye. Majority of cases are from the rural areas (19cases), than urban areas (9cases) and large number of patients were agricultural workers. Seasonal variation s were also observed. Majority of the cases were affected in the months of September and October.