CENTRAL MICROBIAL KERATITIS IN A SWEDISH CITY POPULATION - A 3-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN GOTHENBURG

An analysis of central microbial keratitis with respect to etiology, r ecovery, complications and visual outcome was carried out in Gothenbur g, Sweden, during a 3-year period. Gram positive bacteria were found i n 22 out of 48 cases; Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epiderm idis accounted for more than 50% of these Gram positive cases. Pseudom onas was the most common Gram negative bacterium. No case with etiolog y of fungus was found. The contact lens wearers showed mainly the same bacterial spectrum as non-wearers. The initial 'shotgun' therapy with cefuroxim and gentamycin seemed adequate for this bacterial spectrum. Seventy percent of the eyes healed within 3 weeks. Contact lens wear and trauma were found to be the two major predisposing factors in the cases with microbial keratitis. The lens wearers had shorter recovery times than the non wearers. The visual results after one month were go od in 50% of the eyes, and another 12% attained useful vision.