Etiological factors & microbiological characteristics of infectious keratitis in western Maharashtra

To identify the etiological factors and study the microbiological characteristics of infectious keratitis in Western Maharashtra. This was a prospective observational hospital‐based study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, at a tertiary care hospital, in a part of central India. Data related to socioeconomic status and etiological factors was collected. Results were analyzed on the basis of history, slit lamp examination, microbiological scraping and culture results. During the period of September 2018 to August 2020, a total of 60 patients with infectious keratitis were examined in the Ophthalmology OPD. Majority of patients of infectious keratitis were between 61 and 70 (18.33%) age group. Incidence in male was higher (68%) than female. Ocular trauma was the most common etiological factor (52%). Prevalence of Fungal keratitis (52%) was higher than bacterial (46%) in this part of India. 57% subjects showed organism on Gram staining. 53% subjects showed KOH positivity. 68.3% showed growth over microbiological culture with the most common species isolated as Fusarium species (26.6%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Incidence of fungal keratitis is higher in this part of Western Maharashtra. Most common etiological factor was determined to be trauma with vegetative matter among farmers which tells us that they are most prone for infectious keratitis. Prompt diagnosis, microbiological scraping, culture growth identification and starting on appropriate treatment can help reduce the morbidity of corneal ulcers.