Objective: To present epidemiological and microbiological profiles, antibiotic and antifungal susceptibility patterns and treatment outcome in patients with corneal ulcers in Cameroon.Design of the study: this is a retrospective study of 5 years ((1 st January 2017-30 th November 2022) based on files of patients diagnosed with a corneal ulcer who had undergone a cornea scrapping.Setting: Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI). Materials and Methods:The historical aspects including the systemic and local predisposing factors, results of culture for which material was taken by scraping of the ulcer or conjunctiva swabs, and its sensitivity pattern, type of management, and its outcome, were noted and the results were interpreted.Results: 151 patients (151 eyes) were included in the study.51% of patients were males with a mean age of 49.95 ± 17.52 years.Housewives 57 (37.7%), merchants 21 (13.9%) and farmers 19 (12.6%) were the main professions represented.93.37% (141/151) of cases showed positive culture of which 76.8% (116/151)were bacteria (Staphylococcus 73% (84/116) and streptococcus 26.1% (30/116)) and 34.4% (52/151) were fungal isolates (mainly Aspergillus 45/52 (86.5%)).27(17.9%)presented a co-infection.Bacterial strains were susceptible to quinolones as ciprofloxacin 105/113 (92.9%) and aminosides as gentamycin 108/115 (93.9%).Fungal species were sensitive to triazoles as Econazole 49/52 (94.2%) (p=0.00).73 eyes/ 131 (70.9%) received an initial dual therapy with econazole and ciprofloxacin (p=0, 00).71.5% of ulcers healed with a scar after treatment while 8.6% encountered an evisceration.As local predisposing factors, 57 (45.2%) were post traumatic (p=0.067) and 32 (25.4%) cases used traditional medicine (p=0,00).Conclusion: corneal ulcers are frequent amongst middle aged male Cameroonians doing manual work.The main germs in causes are Staphylococcus spp, streptococcus pneumonia and Aspergillus responding very well to quinolones and econazole.
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Jibia et al. (2024) studied this question.