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ABSTRACT: Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical signs of infectious keratitis can be used to identify the causative organism.Methods
Eighty photographs of eyes with culture-proven bacterial keratitis or smear-proven fungal keratitis were randomly selected from 2 clinical trials. Fifteen cornea specialists from the F. I. Proctor Foundation and the Aravind Eye Care System assessed the photographs for prespecified clinical signs of keratitis, and they identified the most likely causative organism.Results
Clinicians were able to correctly distinguish bacterial from fungal etiology 66% of the time (P < 0.001). The Gram stain, genus, and species were accurately predicted 46%, 25%, and 10% of the time, respectively. The presence of an irregular/feathery border was associated with fungal keratitis, whereas a wreath infiltrate or an epithelial plaque was associated with bacterial keratitis.Conclusions
Cornea specialists correctly differentiated bacterial from fungal keratitis more often than chance, but in fewer than 70% of cases. More specific categorization led to less successful clinical distinction. Although certain clinical signs of infectious keratitis may be associated with a bacterial or fungal etiology, this study highlights the importance of obtaining appropriate microbiological testing during the initial clinical encounter.
SUBMITTER: Dalmon C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3342793 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Dalmon Cyril C Porco Travis C TC Lietman Thomas M TM Prajna N Venkatesh NV Prajna Lalitha L Das Mano Ranjan MR Kumar J Arun JA Mascarenhas Jeena J Margolis Todd P TP Whitcher John P JP Jeng Bennie H BH Keenan Jeremy D JD Chan Matilda F MF McLeod Stephen D SD Acharya Nisha R NR
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 20120402 4
<h4>Purpose</h4>The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical signs of infectious keratitis can be used to identify the causative organism.<h4>Methods</h4>Eighty photographs of eyes with culture-proven bacterial keratitis or smear-proven fungal keratitis were randomly selected from 2 clinical trials. Fifteen cornea specialists from the F. I. Proctor Foundation and the Aravind Eye Care System assessed the photographs for prespecified clinical signs of keratitis, and they identified ...[more]