Infectious keratitis in the Midwest region of Santa Catarina (2013–2024): etiological distribution and predisposing factors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15343/0104-7809.202650e17822025IKeywords:
Keratitis, Corneal Ulcer, Corneal Diseases, Epidemiology, FungiAbstract
Keratitis ranks among the leading global causes of reduced visual acuity and reversible blindness, affecting patients across all age groups. This study analyzed the etiological profile of infectious keratitis diagnosed at an ophthalmological center in the Midwest region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Through an 11-year retrospective analysis, 25 samples processed under a rigorous microbiological protocol were evaluated. Culture positivity was observed in 17 (68%) samples. Bacterial etiology predominated in 13 (76.5%) samples, with a higher prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). Fungal and mixed etiologies each accounted for 2 (11.8%) cases. Regarding the sociodemographic profile, 15 (60%) affected individuals were male, predominantly agricultural workers, with a mean age of 58 years. Agricultural activity was the primary occupation, correlating with the main predisposing factors: ocular trauma and prior surgical interventions. The identified scenario indicates a bacterial profile strongly associated with the occupational context of the region, reinforcing the need for preventive actions focused on ocular health among rural workers.
Downloads
Translation
References
Cabrera-Aguas M, Khoo P, Watson SL. Infectious keratitis: a review. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2022;50(5):543-562. doi:10.1111/ceo.14113.
Ting DSJ, Ho CS, Deshmukh R, Said DG, Dua HS. Infectious keratitis: an update on epidemiology, causative microorganisms, risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance. Eye (Lond). 2021;35(4):1084-1101. doi:10.1038/s41433-021-01568-0.
Ung L, Bispo PJM, Shanbhag SS, Gilmore MS, Chodosh J. The persistent dilemma of microbial keratitis: global burden, diagnosis, and antimicrobial resistance. Surv Ophthalmol. 2019;64(3):255-271. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2018.12.003.
Suwal S, Bhandari D, Thapa P, Shrestha MK, Amatya J. Microbiological profile of corneal ulcer cases diagnosed in a tertiary care ophthalmological institute in Nepal. BMC Ophthalmol [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2023 Aug 28]. Available from: https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com. doi:10.1186/ s12886-016-0388-9.
Farias R, Pinho L, Santos R. Epidemiological profile of infectious keratitis [article in Portuguese]. Rev Bras Oftalmol. 2017;76(3):116-120. doi:10.5935/0034 7280.20170024.
Alves MR, Santo RM, Takiuti JHY, Tanaka T. Manual de coletas em oftalmologia. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2018.
Bezerra FM, Höfling-Lima AL, Oliveira LA. Management of fungal keratitis in a referral center in Brazil [article in Portuguese]. Rev Bras Oftalmol. 2020;79(5):315-319. doi:10.5935/0034-7280.20200067.
Donovan C, Arenas E, Ayyala RS, Margo CE, Espana EM. Fungal keratitis: mechanisms of infection and management strategies. Surv Ophthalmol. 2022;67(3):758-769. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2021.08.002.
Sharma S, et al. Comparison of clinical and microbiological profiles in smear-positive and smear-negative cases of suspected microbial keratitis. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2007;55(1):21-24. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.29490.
Yarimada S, et al. Comparison of culture-positive and culture-negative microbial keratitis. Turk J Ophthalmol. 2022;52(1):1-5. doi:10.4274/tjo. galenos.2021.98046.
Duarte MCB, Becker GN, Muller GG, Tuon FF. Infectious keratitis in southern Brazil: a comparison between culture-negative and culture-positive patients [article in Portuguese]. Rev Bras Oftalmol. 2020;79(1):46-52. doi:10.5935/0034-7280.20200009.
Ahmadikia K, et al. Distribution, prevalence, and causative agents of fungal keratitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis (1990 to 2020). Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021;11:698780. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.698780.
Zaccaron BA, Araújo MEXS, Paula AIC, Costa BM, Papalini EPDP, Pinto RASR. Bacterial keratitis in a tertiary hospital in São Paulo: a 21-year review of epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical data. Braz J Infect Dis. 2023;27(5):102809. doi:10.1016/j.bjid.2023.102809.
Alawneh A, Fraiwan M, Almomani F. Eye health in farmers: the impact of environmental and occupational factors. PLoS One. 2025;20(12):e0337944. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0337944.
Astley RA, et al. Ocular bacterial infections: a ten-year survey and review of causative organisms based on the Oklahoma experience. Microorganisms. 2023;11(7):1802. doi:10.3390/microorganisms11071802.
Miller JM, et al. A guide to utilization of the microbiology laboratory for diagnosis of infectious diseases: 2018 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Society for Microbiology. Clin Infect Dis. 2018;67(6):e1-e94. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy381.
Teweldemedhin M, Gebreyesus H, Atsbaha AH, Asgedom SW, Saravanan M. Bacterial profile of ocular infections: a systematic review. BMC Ophthalmol [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Aug 28]. Available from: https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com. doi:10.1186/s12886-017-0612-2.
Ibrahim MM, et al. Epidemiology and medical prediction of microbial keratitis in southeast Brazil [article in Portuguese]. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2011;74(1):7 12. doi:10.1590/S0004-27492011000100002.
Kase C, Boppré YT, Rocchetti TT, Yu MCZ, Fernandes AG, Höfling-Lima AL. Microbial keratitis in São Paulo, Brazil: a 10-year review of laboratory results, epidemiological features, and risk factors [article in Portuguese]. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2023;87(6):e2022-00660. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.2022-0060.
Slowik M, Biernat MM, Urbaniak-Kuida D, Kapelko-Slowik K, Misiuk-Hojlo M. Mycotic infections of the eye. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2015;24(6):1113-1117. doi:10.17219/acem/50572.
Knutsson KA, Iovieno A, Matuska S, Fontana L, Rama P. Topical corticosteroids and fungal keratitis: a review of the literature and case series. J Clin Med. 2021;10(6):1178. doi:10.3390/jcm10061178.
Kaliamurthy J, et al. Topical corticosteroids and fungal keratitis: a review of the literature and case series. J Clin Med. 2021;10(6):1178. doi:10.3390/ jcm10061178.
Reginatto P, Agostinetto GJ, Fuentefria RN, Marinho DR, Dal Pizzol M, Fuentefria AM. Eye fungal infections: a mini review. Arch Microbiol. 2023;205(6). doi:10.1007/s00203-023-03536-6.
Lin TY, Yeh LK, Ma DHK, Chen PY. Risk factors and microbiological features of patients hospitalized for microbial keratitis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(43):e1905. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000001905.
Furlanetto RL, Andreo EGV, Finotti IGA, Arcieri ES, Ferreira MA, Rocha FJ. Epidemiology and etiologic diagnosis of infectious keratitis in Uberlândia, Brazil. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2010;20(3):498-503. doi:10.1177/112067211002000307.
Cariello AJ, Passos RM, Yu MCZ, Höfling-Lima AL. Microbial keratitis at a referral center in Brazil. Int Ophthalmol. 2011;31(3):197-204. doi:10.1007/ s10792-011-9441-0.
Stapleton F. The epidemiology of infectious keratitis. Ocul Surf. 2021;20:90-92.
Khoo P, Cabrera-Aguas M, Robaei D, Lahra MM, Watson S. Microbial keratitis and ocular surface disease: a 5-year study of the microbiology, risk factors and clinical outcomes in Sydney, Australia. Curr Eye Res. 2019;44(11):1195-1202. doi:10.1080/02713683.2019.1631852.
Zimmerman A, Nixon A, Rueff E. Contact lens associated microbial keratitis: practical considerations for the optometrist. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:1-12. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S66424.
Waghmare SV, Jeria S. A review of contact lens-related risk factors and complications. Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30118. doi:10.7759/cureus.30118.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 O Mundo da Saúde
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
