Microbiological Profile of Ocular Infection: A Large Retrospec-tive Study

Fahimeh  Asadi-Amoli; Zohreh  Abedinifar; Zohreh  Nozarian; Fatemeh  Heidary; Mahsa  Haji Safar Ali Memar; Athena  Nezamabadi; Reza  Gharebaghi; Narges  Roustaei; Maryam  Parvizi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i6.9699

Fahimeh Asadi-Amoli Pathology Department and Microbiology Unit, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Abedinifar Pathology Department and Microbiology Unit, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Nozarian Pathology Department and Microbiology Unit, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Heidary International Virtual Ophthalmic Research Center (IVORC), Austin, Texas, USA
Mahsa Haji Safar Ali Memar Pathology Department and Microbiology Unit, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Athena Nezamabadi Pathology Department and Microbiology Unit, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Reza Gharebaghi International Virtual Ophthalmic Research Center (IVORC), Austin, Texas, USA
Narges Roustaei Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Maryam Parvizi Department of Pathology, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i6.9699

Keywords: Microbiological profile; Ocular infection; Bacterial; Fungal; Eye; Ocular specimen

Abstract

Background: We aimed to elucidate the pathogenic bacterial and fungal profiles of specimens obtained from suspected ocular infections at Farabi Eye Tertiary Referral Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected data from ocular specimens taken during the seven-year period of 2011 to 2018, and the results were then retrospectively analyzed. Samples had been obtained from patients who were investigated for ocular infections.

Results: Overall, 16,656 ocular samples were evaluated. The mean patient age was 48.31 ± 26.62 years. Most patients were men (60.33%), and men in the 7th decade of life were the largest represented group. The seasonal distributions of specimen collection sites followed the overall distribution of collection sites by year. Specimens obtained from the cornea were the most common (49.24%), also representing the largest number of specimens in all seasons. The most commonly isolated fungal microorganisms were Fusarium spp., followed by Aspergillus spp. and Candida albicans. Of the 6,556 specimens with positive bacterial cultures, 59% produced gram-positive bacteria, while the remainder produced gram-negative pathogens. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.77%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (13.80%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (13.27%), S. viridans (12.23%), and S. aureus (11.18%).

Conclusion: Most submitted specimens were obtained from the cornea. The most commonly isolated fungal microorganisms were Fusarium spp., followed by Aspergillus spp. and C. albicans. The most commonly isolated bacteria were P. aeruginosa, followed by S. epidermidis and S. pneumoniae.