FREQUENCY OF RISK FACTORS OF INFECTIOUS KERATITIS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN HYDERABAD, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequencies & association of different risk factors of bacterial keratitis followed by healing in patients visiting ophthalmology department of Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hyderabad.

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out from May 2013 to October 2013 in the Department of Ophthalmology, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hyderabad.

Material and Methods: During the study period of 6 months 152 patients with bacterial keratitis were purposively sampled keeping in view the eligibility criteria. Variables studied were age, gender, site of eye (right or left), risk factors of keratitis and healing. Frequencies of different variables were analyzed through SPSS version 20 and p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: The results showed that males were more prone to corneal ulcers than females. Trauma was the most common risk factor followed by contact lenses, topical steroids, ocular surface diseases and previous corneal surgeries. Complete healing of the corneal ulcer was recorded in 84% cases. There was statistically significant association of risk factors with trauma (p-value=0.04), contact lens (p-value=0.00001), ocular surface disease (p-value=0.031), topical steroids (p-value=0.05) and previous corneal surgery (p-value=0.01).

Conclusion: The study concluded that trauma is the leading cause for the bacterial corneal infections. Males are more prone to have bacterial keratitis in the age group of 31-40 years mostly affected. There is statistically significant association of risk factors like trauma, contact lenses, topical steroids, ocular surface diseases and previous corneal surgery with healing.