Recurrence of Infection in Corneal Grafts After Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty for Microbial Keratitis

Purpose: To determine the factors responsible for the recurrence of infection after therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) in severe microbial keratitis. Methods: This is a retrospective interventional case series that reviewed the medical records of 229 consecutive patients (2005–2017) who underwent TPK for microbial keratitis at a tertiary eye care center in Central India. The primary outcome was recurrence of the primary infection. The factors responsible for recurrence were identified by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: The overall outcomes were clear graft in 50 (21.8%) eyes, failed graft in 139 (60.7%) eyes, evisceration in 19 (8.3%) eyes, phthisis bulbi in 14 (6.1%) eyes, repeat TPK in 2 (0.9%) eyes, and anterior staphyloma in 1 (0.4%) eye. Recurrence occurred in 63 (27.5%) eyes within 16.2 ± 13.8 (range: 2–66) days. Univariate analysis identified fungal etiology (P = 0.001), ulcer size> 60 mm2 (P = 0.001), limbal involvement (P = 0.001), endothelial exudates (P = 0.024), retro-iris exudates (P = 0.001), corneal perforation (P = 0.005), coexisting endophthalmitis (P
Source: Cornea - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Clinical Science Source Type: research