2009 OMIG, Abstract 1

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Infectious Keratitis: A Laboratory Survey of 29 Years (1980-2009).
M Shah, S Poopalaratnam, J Seedor, D Ritterband
Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory Medicine, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, NY, NY

Purpose: To review the microbiologic spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity for infectious keratitis over a 3 decade period at one institution.
Methods: The microbiology records of all patients cultured for infectious keratitis at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary were analyzed from January 1, 1980 through July 31, 2009. Demographic and clinical data collected included when available; age, gender, isolated organism, and antimicrobial sensitivity.
Results: 10,109 of 13,573 (74.4%) eyes had positive cultures for infectious keratitis during the time period. 9922 (98.1%) eyes had gram positive or gram negative bacterial organisms, 113 (.01%) had fungal organisms, 54 (.05%) had acanthamoeba, and 20 (.001%) were due to atypical mycobacteria. The number of corneal ulcers with positive cultures increased each decade (1980’s-2392; 1990’s-3170; 2000’s-4547). The number and percentage of corneal ulcers due to gram positive bacteria organisms increased each decade [1980’s-1465 (62%); 1990’s – 2065 (66%); 2000’s -3560 (80%)].  The most common gram positive species identified in each decade was S. aureus for gram positive organisms and P. aeruginosa for gram negative organisms.
Conclusions:  Bacteria remain the overwhelming cause of infectious keratitis at our institution.  The number of positive cultures each decade has increased despite a national trend beginning in the 1990’s of culturing fewer ulcers. The increase in the percentage of gram positive organisms may be due in part to the efficacy of the dominant antibiotics in each decade

Disclosure Code: N