Clinical Characteristics of Infectious Keratitis Following Penetrating Keratoplasty

Abstract

Purpose: : To report clinical characteristics of Infectious Keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in Korea.

Methods: : Medical records were retrospectively reviewed of the patients who were diagnosed with culture-positive keratitis after PK between January 2003 and May 2009 at our hospital. Causative microorganisms and clinical outcome were analyzed, and predisposing risk factors including age, diabetes, hypertension, history of concurrent herpes simplex keratitis, duration of topical steroid usage, anti-glaucoma medication, presence of loosened or broken sutures were evaluated.

Results: : Among 273 eyes of 271 patients who had undergone PK, 27 eyes (9.89%) of 25 patients developed microbial keratitis, and 18 eyes (6.69%) showed culture-proven keratitis. Fifteen patients had bacterial infection, of which Streprococcus species was the most common causative microorganism (33.3%). Three eyes had fungal infection. 33.3% of infectious keratitis was involved in suture (p=0.046), and 88.9% was related with topical glaucoma medications (p=0.020). Other factors were not significantly related with infection. Remission was achieved in all cases within the mean duration of 2.47 months after the initiation of the treatment. 31.3% of patients achieved visual improvement after infection.

Conclusions: : Troublesome suture, anti-glaucoma medication can predispose bacterial keratitis in keratoplasty patients.

Keywords: keratitis • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment