E-ISSN 2146-9369 | ISSN 2146-3158
 
2024, Vol: 14, Issue: 4
14 / 4Current Issue ArchiveAims and ScopeAbstracting & IndexingMost Accessed ArticlesMost Downloaded ArticlesMost Cited Articles

Research Article 


The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis

Reham Mohamed El Shabrawy, Nissreen El Sayed El Badawy, Ashraf Wasfy Harb.


Cited By:15

Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of fungal keratitis (FK) and the value of direct microscopy and PCR techniques of corneal smears as appropriate diagnostic methods.
Methods: The keratitis cases in Ophthalmology Department of Zagazig University Hospitals, between January and June 2012 were enrolled. Corneal samples were examined by direct microscopic examination of wet mount preparation with KOH (10%), PCR technique and cultured simultaneously. The corneal smear and PCR findings were compared to the culture results to analyze specificity, sensitivity and predictive values of these techniques.
Results: A total of 350 patients diagnosed as keratitis and 60 of them were included in the study by a systemic random sampling method. The FK was proven in 33 (55%) cases with culture results. Ocular trauma (63.6%) was the most prevalent predisposing factor. The cultures revealed that the most frequent fungal pathogen were Penicillium spp. (24.2%) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (21.2%). Direct microscopic examination had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 66.7%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 78.6% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. PCR had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 88.9%, a PPV of 91.7% and a NPV of 100%.
Conclusion: Although, PCR is able to detect fungi in a high proportion of culture negative cases, it is difficult to be used as a routine diagnostic test due to the economic reasons. Therefore, we strongly recommend the use of direct microscopy of corneal smear as a rapid, economic and sensitive method for screening of FK. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2013;3(4): 186-191

Key words: Fungal keratitis, incidence, predisposing factors, rapid diagnose, direct microscopy, PCR


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Reham Mohamed EL Shabrawy
Articles by Nissreen El Sayed El Badawy
Articles by Ashraf Wasfy Harb
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Shabrawy RME, Badawy NESE, Harb AW. The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. J Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013; 3(4): 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106

Web Style

Shabrawy RME, Badawy NESE, Harb AW. The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. https://www.jmidonline.org/?mno=302657136 [Access: January 09, 2025]. doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shabrawy RME, Badawy NESE, Harb AW. The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. J Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013; 3(4): 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shabrawy RME, Badawy NESE, Harb AW. The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. J Microbiol Infect Dis. (2013), [cited January 09, 2025]; 3(4): 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


Harvard Style

Shabrawy, R. M. E., Badawy, . N. E. S. E. & Harb, . A. W. (2013) The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. J Microbiol Infect Dis, 3 (4), 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


Turabian Style

Shabrawy, Reham Mohamed El, Nissreen El Sayed El Badawy, and Ashraf Wasfy Harb. 2013. The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 3 (4), 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


Chicago Style

Shabrawy, Reham Mohamed El, Nissreen El Sayed El Badawy, and Ashraf Wasfy Harb. "The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis." Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3 (2013), 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shabrawy, Reham Mohamed El, Nissreen El Sayed El Badawy, and Ashraf Wasfy Harb. "The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis." Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3.4 (2013), 186-191 . Print. doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shabrawy, R. M. E., Badawy, . N. E. S. E. & Harb, . A. W. (2013) The incidence of fungal keratitis in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt and the value of direct microscopy and PCR technique in rapid diagnosis. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 3 (4), 186-191 . doi:10.5799/jmid2013.04.0106


Author LoginReviewer LoginAbout PublisherOpen Access PolicyEditorial PoliciesPeer Review PolicyPublication Ethics and Publication Malpractice StatementConflict of Interest PolicyPlagiarism PolicyProtection of Research Participants (Statement On Human And Animal Rights)Privacy PolicyCorrections, Retractions & Expressions of ConcernSelf-Archiving PoliciesDigital Archiving & Preservation PoliciesStatement of Informed ConsentAdvertising PolicyTerms of UseLicense InformationCopyright Information

About Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (JMID) is an international "peer review" journal in microbiology, infectious diseases, virology, ... Read more.



For best results, please use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome.

Contact Information

All correspondence should be addressed to:

Prof. Ibrahim Eldaghayes

Editor-in-Chief

Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology 

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

University of Tripoli

P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya