RESUMO
Background: The incidence of infectious keratitis has risen inthe last decade, partially due to an increasing number ofcontact lens users and immune-compromised patients. Hence;the present study was undertaken for assess themicrobiological profile of patients with infection keratitis.Materials & Methods: A total of 96 patients of infectionkeratitis were enrolled in the present study. Completedemographic and clinical details of all the patients wereobtained. Slit-lamp biomicroscope examination of all thepatients was done. This was followed by collection of cornealscrapings under septic conditions by experienced and skilledophthalmologist. Inoculation of the material directly on the solidmedia was done. The media used were blood agar, chocolateagar and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Overnightincubation of seeded media was done. Assessment of cultureand colonies was done by skilled and experiencedmicrobiologists.Results: Only bacterial isolates were found to be present in54.2 percent of the patients. Only fungal isolates were foundto be 39.6 percent of the patients. Mixed infection wasfound to be present in 6.2 percent of the patients. Fusarium,Aspergillus, Hyalohyphomycetes, Curvularia and Candida werethe most common fungal species encountered. S.aureus,S.pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiellapneumonia were the most common bacterial speciesencountered.Conclusion: Infection keratitis comprises of mixed spectrum ofbacteria and fungi.