Author(s)

Chimdia E. Ogbonnaya^1*, Favoured Walter-Ugwuocha², Edak Ezeanosike¹, Chinyelu N. Ezisi¹, Boniface N. Ukwah³, Helen A. Ginger-Eke¹

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
²Department of Medical Laboratories, Zankli Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
³Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (Medical Microbiology Unit), Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Background: Microbial keratitis often results in poor visual outcome despite treatment. A revision of treatment protocol based on local evidence may be required in order to obtain better treatment outcome. Objectives: To determine the predisposing factors and predominant microbiological diagnosis of corneal ulcers seen at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a preliminary report of an on-going longitudinal descriptive study of all consenting corneal ulcer patients managed at the FETHA eye clinic over a 4-month period. Information obtained were socio-demographic data, presenting complaints, duration of symptoms prior to presentation, history of preceding trauma, medications used before presentation, presenting and final visual acuity and microbiological diagnosis. Results: A diagnosis of corneal ulcer was made in 8 out of the 852 outpatients seen over the study period giving a hospital prevalence rate of 0.59%. Five patients (62.50%) were males, five (62.50%) were farmers and 4 patients (50%) were above 60 years of age. The microbial diagnoses were bacterial keratitis 37.5% (Staphylococcus aureus), fungal keratitis 25% (Fusarium spp. and aspergillus) and acanthamoeba (25%). None of the patients ever used contact lenses. There was a history of eye trauma in 50% of the patients. All the eyes presented blind after a period of failed attempts to treat by self or quacks. Mean duration before presentation was two weeks. Treatment improved the visual acuity in 37.5% of patients. Conclusion: Bacteria, fungi and acanthamoeba organisms were the microbiological isolates from the scrapings of corneal ulcer patients seen in the eye clinic of FETHA; with bacterial organisms being the most common. Farming activities, preceding eye trauma, delayed presentation, self-medication and use of traditional eye medications (TEM) were common findings among the patients. A future larger study is recommended to confirm the findings of this study. Eye health education campaigns should be directed at farmers to encourage early presentation to hospitals.

Microbial Keratitis, Microbial Diagnosis, Corneal Ulcer, Predisposing Factors, Abakaliki

Ogbonnaya, C. , Walter-Ugwuocha, F. , Ezeanosike, E. , Ezisi, C. , Ukwah, B. and Ginger-Eke, H. (2019) A Preliminary Report of Predisposing Factors and Predominant Microbiological Diagnosis of Corneal Ulcers Seen at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Open Journal of Ophthalmology, 9, 94-104. doi: 10.4236/ojoph.2019.92011.