Incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis among patients with infective keratitis

Abstract

Background: Infective keratitis is rare in the absence of predisposing factors. The pattern of risk factors predisposing to infective keratitis varies with variation in geographical regions and this also influences the type of infection that occurs. Free-living amoebae are ubiquitous in the environment and occasionally invade and parasitize human eye causing painful corneal ulcer. The present study was aimed to determine the incidence of amoebic keratitis and the predisposing risk factors in Khartoum state, Sudan. Aim: The present study was aimed to determine the incidence of amoebic keratitis and the predisposing risk factors in Khartoum state, Sudan. Method: Fifty patients with infective keratitis were examined by the ophthalmologists. The samples were obtained using corneal scraping procedure, then labeled and sent to the microbiological laboratory where they were stained by KOH, Gram stain and Giemsa stain to identify the causative agent of the keratitis. Results: The microscopical examination revealed that fungal organisms were detected in 30 (60%) of the samples and bacterial organisms were detected in 12 (24%), three (6%) of the samples, Acanthamoeba cysts were detected. All the patients were not contact lens wearers, most of them were farmers and animal breeders. Conclusion: Acanthamoeba keratitis is an emerging infectious disease and delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can result in corneal damage and even blindness. Agricultural workers should be aware of the risks resulting from mud and improper hygien