Epidemiologic Characteristics, Predisposing Factors, and Etiologic Diagnosis of Corneal Ulceration in Nepal

  • Bryan, Larry E.;
  • Karmacharya, Purna C. D.;
  • Koirala, Shashank;
  • Smolin, Gilbert;
  • Tuladhar, Nhuchhe R.;
  • Upadhyay, Madan P.;
  • Whitcher, John P.
More Like This

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

Corneal ulceration is one of the most frequent causes of blindness in developing countries. Between September 1985 and Augurs 1987, 405 patients with corneal ulceration were examined at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Males and females were equally affected. The most common predisposing cause of ulceration was corneal trauma, usually with organic agricultural materials. Microorganisms were grown from 324 (80%) of the ulcers. Pure bacterial cultures were obtained from 256 (63.2%) of the patients, whereas pure fungal cultures were obtained from 27 (6.7%) of the patients. In 41 patients (10.1%), corneal cultures yielded a mixed growth of bacteria and fungi. Of a total of 398 bacterial isolates, 124 (31.1%) were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most commonly isolated organism in the series. Other frequently isolated bacteria included Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, and Pseudomonas species. Of 68 positive fungal isolates obtained, 32 (47.0%) were identified as Aspergillus species. Candida species and Fusarium species were less commonly seen.

JOURNAL AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

JOURNAL: Am J Ophthalmol. 1991; 111(1): 92-99. ISSN: 1.

Note: American Journal of Ophthalmology.

NLOM ID#: 91090195.

Publication #: 91090195

This document was extracted from the CDC-NIOSH Epidemiology of Farm Related Injuries: Bibliography With Abstracts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

We are unable to supply copies of the full report cited in this entry. Readers are advised to use the following sources:

  • Author or publisher: articles are frequently available from the author or publisher.
  • Medical or other research libraries: these facilities often have the material on hand or know where it can be obtained. If available, each journal entry includes the appropriate National Library of Medicine unique identification number to aid in interlibrary loan requests.
  • Government: some U.S. Government-sponsored research reports, including ones out-of print, are available from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More

BACK TO TOP