J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2021 Feb;62(2):173-183. 10.3341/jkos.2021.62.2.173.

The Status of Infectious Keratitis in Gwang-ju, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea

• Noh HJ
• Lim HR
• Koh JW

• KMID: 2512936
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2021.62.2.173

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the clinical characteristics of infectious keratitis in Gwang-ju, Jeonnam Province, Korea.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 260 eyes of 260 patients diagnosed with infectious keratitis at the Chosun University Hospital from January 2015 to February 2020.
Results
The mean age of disease onset was 58.9 years; 132 (50.8%) of all patients were male and 128 (49.2%) female. The culture positivity rate was 24.6%. Gram-negative bacteria were cultured from 38 eyes (59%), Gram-positive bacteria from 21 (33%), and fungi from five (8%). The most commonly isolated microorganism was Stenotrophomonas (xanthomonas) maltophilia (a Gram-negative rod; 17 cases [26.6%]). Prior use of topical antibiotics was significantly more prevalent in the culture-negative than -positive group. In the latter group, the initial visual acuity was poor (p = 0.015) and the frequency of epithelial defects ≥5 mm² in area was higher than in the culture-negative group (p = 0.001). Trauma caused by vegetable matter (44 eyes, 16.9%) was the most common predisposing factor. The risk factors for a poor visual outcome were such trauma (p = 0.013), previous ocular surgery (p = 0.006), an epithelial defect area greater than 5 mm² (p < 0.001), and a follow-up period <10 months (p = 0.005).
Conclusions
The Gwangju Jeollanam-do community is more rural than urban, contains a large older population, and features few hospitals. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are considered to be the most frequent causes of infectious keratitis in Korea. However, in our study Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the organism most frequently cultured.

Keyword

Corneal ulcer, Gwang-ju, Infectious keratitis, Jeonnam