Clinico-Aetiological Scenario and Microbiological Profile in Corneal Ulcer Cases in a Tertiary Eye Care Centre in Southern Assam

ABSTRACT

Corneal ulcer is a global burden which is an ocular emergency. The outcome of corneal ulcer depends on its management. Aetiology, microbiological flora and antibiotic sensitivity vary from region to region. We wanted to analyse the epidemiology of corneal ulcer in Barak valley region of Assam.METHODSThis is a cross-sectional study conducted from May 2017 to June 2018 at Silchar Medical College, Silchar, Assam, India. Cases of corneal ulcer in the study period were included. Corneal scrapping was done, and the sample was sent for Gram stain, KOH mount stain and culture-sensitivity testing.RESULTSA total of 122 patients were examined and 70 cases had positive microbiological findings. Pure bacterial isolates were found in 37 (52.8%) of the 70 cultures and pure fungal isolates in 23 (32.8%) of the cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated bacterial organism (42.5%). Out of fungal isolate, Aspergillus spp. (46.7%), was the commonest. Farmers were the most commonly affected work group.CONCLUSIONSAlthough the major aetiological agents in our study were bacterial, fungal ulcers were also seen in a significant proportion of patients. Staphylococcus was the major bacterial isolate and Aspergillus was the major fungal isolate.