To report the epidemiological features and laboratory results of 182 patients with bacterial keratitis diagnosed at Farabi hospital in Iran

We performed a retrospective study and recorded sociodemographic data and information pertaining to risk factors, location, size and depth of the ulcer, height of the hypopyon, uncorrected visual acuity, results of smear and culture from corneal ulcer, and antibiotic sensitivity of cultured bacteria for each patient.

There were 110(60.4%)men and 72(39.6%)women participated in the study, with an average age of 56.067 ± 2.35 years. The most common risk factor was ocular trauma(17.6%) followed by positive history of corneal surgery(14.3%). 60(33%) patients were taking topical antibiotic, 21(11.5%)ones topical steroid, and 26(14.3%)ones both topical antibiotic and steroid at the time of presentation. The most common bacteria that were identified were pseudomonas(24.7%), followed by streptococcus pneumonia(20.9%). The isolated bacterial species from the corneal ulcers were less resistant to ceftazidime(6%) and amikacin(6%). 101(55.5%)patients were treated only with medical therapy and 81(44.5%)patients had at least one surgical procedure.

Among the patients with bacterial corneal ulcers, trauma was the most common risk factor. The most common bacterial species isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumonia respectively and they were less resistant to ceftazidime and amikacin.