BACTERIAL CORNEAL ULCER - A MULTIVARIATE STUDY

A retrospective clinicomicrobiological review of 314 patients with bac terial corneal ulcers from January 1982 to December 1992 was performed . Multivariate statistical analysis was done with multiple logistic re gression using PROC LOGIST of SAS statistical software. Positive cultu res were grown from 134 (42.7%) of the patients. Pseudomonas aeruginos a, staphylococci, and Acinetobacter spp. were the most frequent pathog ens. Significant associations between contact lens use and P. aerugino sa (odds ratio, OR 8.16), between previous herpes simplex keratitis an d Streptococcus spp, (OR 18.2) were found, Acinetobacter spp. occurred more frequently in eyes with burn and/or lagophthalmos (OR 13.1/26.2) . Staphylococcus aureus was associated with trauma (OR 6.27) and age u nder 50 (OR 5.08-13.6). Nonpseudomonal gram-negative bacilli were asso ciated with age over 50 (OR 3.24). Drug sensitivity tests for these is olated microorganisms showed that vancomycin and ceftazidime were the most effective agents.