%0 Journal Article
%T Acanthamoeba keratitis - A six year epidemiological review from a tertiary care eye hospital in South India
%A Manikandan P
%A Bhaskar M
%A Revathy R
%A John R
%J Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
%D 2004
%I Medknow Publications
%X PURPOSE: This study analyses the prevalence, demography, predisposing factors and seasonal variation of Acanthamoeba keratitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of all cases presenting with keratitis at the cornea clinic, Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, from August 1997 to July 2003, was done for screening patients with a provisional diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Their records were further analyzed for microbiological details. Cases with culture proven Acanthamoeba keratitis were included for epidemiological analysis. RESULTS: From a total of 4519 patients who attended cornea clinic 32 (33 eyes) patients were confirmed to be positive for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Twenty cases (62.5%) were males. Majority (18; 54.2%) of the Acanthamoeba keratitis eyes reported corneal trauma by solid objects. No peak period was observed in a year, as the number of cases was almost uniform in all months. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the increasing prevalence of Acanthamoeba keratitis among non-contact lens users in this region during the 6-year period.
%K Acanthamoeba keratitis
%K bacterial keratitis
%K fungal keratitis
%K corneal ulcer
%U http://www.ijmm.org/article.asp?issn=0255-0857;year=2004;volume=22;issue=4;spage=226;epage=230;aulast=Manikandan