Clinico-microbial Profile of Fungal Keratitis and Detection of Pythium Insidiosum: A Pilot Study

Background: Infectious keratitis is a leading cause of blindness, more so in developing countries where rates of corneal ulceration are much more than those of industrialized countries. The organisms responsible for infectious keratitis differ regionally, with bacterial organisms more common in temperate climates and fungal organisms more common in tropical climates. A large fraction of infectious corneal ulcers that are referred to tertiary care centers in South India is fungal in etiology. Methods: Parameters studied were age, sex, residential district, occupation, risk factor, clinical presentation, microscopic examination of the sample, fungal culture, and Pythium insidiosum. Results: History of trauma was observed in half the cases. History of contact lens usage or diabetes mellitus was not seen in any case. Hypopyon was seen in 50% of the cases of which 33.33% were immobile. KOH preparation for all the samples was negative. Of the 15 samples sent for culture, 12 grew no fungus and 2 were contaminated. One fungus grew and was identified as Aspergillus terreus. P. insidiosum could not be isolated.