Geographic variations in microbial keratitis: an analysis of the peer-reviewed literature

Abstract Purpose To report characteristics of microbial keratitis in pediatric patients under five years. Methods Patients with infectious keratitis under the age of 5 years were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study for ten years. All patients were admitted and corneal scraping was performed in 81 children. Fortified empiric antibiotic eye drops including cefazolin (50 mg/cc) and amikacin (20 mg/cc) were started and the antibiotic regimen was continued or changed according to culture results. In the case of fungal keratitis, topical voriconazole (10 mg/cc) or natamycin (50 mg/cc) and topical chloramphenicol (5 mg/cc) were started. A tectonic procedure was done when corneal thinning or perforation was present. Results Ninety-Three Patients between 1 to 60 months with a mean age of 33 ± 18 months old with corneal ulcer were included in the study. The most common risk factor was trauma (40.9%) followed by contact lens use (8.6%). Cultures were negative for microbial growth in 28 (30.1%) patients. The most common pathogens were S. epidermidis (10.8%) and P. aeruginosa (10.8%). Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin; 93.8% sensitivity) were the most potent antibiotic against bacterial pathogens. Forty-one patients underwent tectonic procedures, which the most common ones were cyanoacrylate glue 18.3% followed by keratoplasty 16.1%. Conclusion This study emphasizes the role of trauma as the primary cause and S. epidermidis as the most frequent microorganism in pediatric keratitis; according to antibiogram results and poor cooperation of patients under five years, monotherapy with fluoroquinolones could be a good regimen in small non-central lesions without thinning.

Download Full-text

CONTROVERSIES IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: On the need for universal thyroid screening in pregnant women

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-13-0561 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 170 (1) ◽

pp. R17-R30 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Lluís Vila ◽

Inés Velasco ◽

Stella González ◽

Francisco Morales ◽

Emilia Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Function ◽

First Trimester ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Geographic Variations ◽

Scientific Societies ◽

Need For Treatment ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Thyroid Screening ◽

Iodine Supplementation ◽

Widespread Agreement

There is a well-known controversy among scientific societies regarding the recommendation to screen for thyroid dysfunction (TD) during pregnancy. Although several studies have shown an association between maternal subclinical hypothyroidism and/or hypothyroxinemia with obstetric problems and/or neurocognitive impairment in the offspring, there is only limited evidence on the possible positive effects of thyroxine (T4) treatment in such cases. Despite the scarcity of this evidence, there is a widespread agreement among clinicians on the need for treatment of clinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy and the risks that could arise due to therapeutic abstention. As maternal TD is a quite prevalent condition, easily diagnosed and for which an effective and safe treatment is available, some scientific societies have proposed to assess thyroid function during the first trimester of pregnancy and ideally before week 10 of gestational age. Given the physiologic changes of thyroid function during pregnancy, hormone assessment should be performed using trimester-specific reference values ideally based on locally generated data as geographic variations have been detected. Screening of TD should be based on an initial determination of TSH performed early during the first trimester and only if abnormal should it be followed by either a free or total T4measurement. Furthermore, adequate iodine supplementation during pregnancy is critical and if feasible it should be initiated before the woman attempts to conceive.

Download Full-text