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Original article
Diagnosis, clinical features and treatment outcome of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis
  1. Sujata Das1,
  2. Savitri Sharma2,
  3. Srikant K Sahu1,
  4. Shyam S Nayak1,
  5. Sarita Kar2
  1. 1Cornea and Anterior Segment Services, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  2. 2Ocular Microbiology Service, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  1. Correspondence to Dr Sujata Das, Cornea and Anterior Segment Service, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India; sujatadas{at}lvpei.org

Abstract

Aim To report the clinical and microbiological profile of patients with microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in a tertiary eye care centre in India.

Methods A retrospective analysis of medical records of all cases of microbiologically confirmed microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis, who presented between March 2007 and October 2010, was done. In a single-centre, institutional setting, 278 eyes of 277 apparently healthy patients were analysed.

Results The mean age was 36±14 years (range 6–80). The mean duration of symptoms was 7.7±6.2 days (range 1–60). Keratic precipitates were present in 20.1% patients. A superficial scar was present in 39.2% patients. Majority (26.6%) of the patients reported in the month of August. Microscopic examination of corneal scraping, using potassium hydroxide with calcofluor white and Gram stain, demonstrated microsporidial spores in 98.9% and 89.7% cases, respectively. Patients received either topical 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide or lubricants. The mean time for resolution was 6.0±2.9 days (range 2–18). Final visual acuity was ≥20/30 in 75.1% cases.

Conclusions Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis is common in India. It is seasonal, can occur in healthy individuals and can be diagnosed using simple microbiological methods. Treatment outcome is generally satisfactory.

  • Microsporidia
  • keratoconjunctivitis
  • epidemiology
  • eye (tissue) banking
  • cornea
  • stem cells
  • infection
  • ocular surface
  • inflammation
  • microbiology

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Footnotes

  • Funding Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval This is a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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