Relationhip Between Climate, Dieae everity, and Cauative Organim for Contact Len–Aociated Microbial Keratiti in Autralia Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To evaluate aociation between dieae everity, cauative organim, and climatic variation in contact len-related microbial keratiti in Autralia. Deign Propective, obervational cae erie. Method Contact len wearing patient (n = 236) with preumed microbial keratiti preenting to private and hopital ophthalmologit in Autralia between October 1, 2003 and eptember 30, 2004 were identified propectively. Clinical detail, management information, and microbiology data were collected and cae were graded for everity baed on leion ize and location criteria. Cauative organim were aigned to “environmental” or “endogenou” group. Climate zone and daytime temperature and humidity were determined for the geographic location of each event. The main outcome meaure were dieae everity, cauative organim, and climate zone. Reult evere contact len-related microbial keratiti wa more likely to occur in warmer, humid region of the country (P < .001), compared with maller, increaingly peripheral corneal leion that were more common in cooler condition (P < .001). Culture-proven keratiti wa predominantly caued by environmental organim with Peudomona aeruginoa being recovered mot frequently. Environmental organim were iolated more commonly from tropical region of the country and alo accounted for nearly all cae of viion lo that occurred during the tudy period. Humidity did not have a ignificant effect on cauative organim. Concluion Climatic condition play a role in dieae everity and cauative organim in contact len-related microbial keratiti and therefore have implication for practitioner involved in contact len care and contact len wearer who live in or travel to the tropic.