Correlation between clinical and laboratory culture findings in resistant keratitis

Background: The clinical diagnosis of infective keratitis does not give an unequivocal indication of the causative organisms because a wide range of organisms can produce a similar clinical picture. The causative agents of infective keratitis frequently isolated are: bacteria, fungi, viruses and Parasites. Aim and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between clinical and culture laboratory finding in resistant keratitis at the Ophthalmology Department of Tanta University Hospitals. Subjects and Methods: This study was a prospective interventional selectively randomized clinical study which extended for 12 months at Tanta university hospitals and included fifty eyes of fifty patients clinically diagnosed resistant keratitis and presenting to The Ophthalmology Department of Tanta University Hospitals. The study started in January 2021. Results: there was statistically significant deference between groups regarding to Medical history, Trauma, Ulcer characteristics, Satellite lesions and corneal sensation. There was no statistically significant deference between groups regarding to age, gender, Contact wearing, foreign body, Ulcer size and gutter and immune ring. Conclusion: Clinical diagnosis is more important for treatment and follows up while culture is performed for documentation of the clinical findings. Incidence of fungal keratitis is significantly high in our region. The therapeutic approach can initially be based on clinical impression and evidence of the microbiologic trends of infectious keratitis and sensitivity/resistance patterns in our locality.