Distribution of infectious keratitis pathogens and drug resistance in Nantong, China in recent 10 years

Li Panpan, Guan Huaijin, Guo Yangchen, et al. Distribution of infectious keratitis pathogens and drug resistance in Nantong, China in recent 10 years[J]. Chin J Exp Ophthalmol, 2025, 43(8):722-729. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115989-20241221-00357.

Objective  To investigate the ocular pathogen spectrum and drug sensitivity characteristics of patients to be diagnosed with infectious keratitis within 10 years in two tertiary hospitals in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, eastern China.

Methods  A cross-sectional study was conducted.Microbial culture specimens from consecutive 1 404 patients with suspected infectious keratitis admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology at the First People’s Hospital of Nantong City and Nantong University Affiliated Hospital from January 2014 to October 2023 were collected.The patients’ general data, etiology and drug sensitivity test results were analyzed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nantong First People’s Hospital (No.2021KT273) and Nantong University Affiliated Hospital (No.2019-K068).

Results  Among 1 404 patients with suspected infectious keratitis, the positive rate of microbial culture was 37.04%(520/1 404).A total of 537 strains were isolated and cultured, with fungi accounting for 69.09%(371/537) and bacteria accounting for 30.91%(166/537).The common bacterial genera in fungal keratitis were Fusarium (47.17%, 175/371), Alternaria (15.90%, 59/371), Aspergillus (14.56%, 54/371), Certospora (10.78%, 40/371) and Penicillium (3.50%, 13/371).The annual composition ratio of Fusarium showed a downward trend, while Certospora showed an upward trend.The common bacteria in bacterial keratitis were Staphylococcus epidermidis (24.10%, 40/166), Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.47%, 29/166), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.25%, 22/166), Staphylococcus aureus (6.63%, 11/166) and Corynebacterium macginleyi (4.22%, 7/166).The annual composition ratio of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed an increasing trend.The resistance rates of gram-positive bacteria to levofloxacin and vancomycin were 36.26% and 0% respectively, and the resistance rates of gram-negative bacteria to aminoglycosides and ceftazidime were <10%.A total of 61 bacterial strains (40.94%) were multi-drug resistant.

Conclusions  Fusarium is common in fungal keratitis, and Corynebacterium macginleyi in bacterial keratitis may be a microbial feature in Nantong City.Levofloxacin may no longer be suitable as a first-line antibiotic for topical ocular use.

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