Acanthamoeba keratitis in South India: a longitudinal analysis of epidemics.

Authors :: Lalitha P
Lin CC
Srinivasan M
Mascarenhas J
Prajna NV
Keenan JD
McLeod SD
Acharya NR
Lietman TM
Porco TC
Source :: Ophthalmic epidemiology [Ophthalmic Epidemiol] 2012 Apr; Vol. 19 (2), pp. 111-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Feb 24.
Publication Year :: 2012
Abstract: Purpose: In light of the increased incidence of contact lens associated Acanthamoeba keratitis in recent years, this study analyzed longitudinal trends of its incidence among predominantly non-contact lens wearers in a high-volume referral center in South India.<br />Methods: A retrospective analysis of microbiology laboratory records at the Aravind Eye Hospital from 1988-2009 was performed. The Maximum Excess Events Test (MEET) was used to identify epidemics of Acanthamoeba keratitis.<br />Results: There were a total of 38,529 unique cases of infectious keratitis evaluated over this time period, of which 372 were culture-positive for Acanthamoeba. Only three cases (0.9%) of Acanthamoeba keratitis occurred among contact lens wearers. MEET identified unique Acanthamoeba keratitis epidemics in 1993 and 2002.<br />Conclusion: Discrete epidemics of Acanthamoeba keratitis occurred among a rural, non-contact lens wearing, population in South India in 1993 and 2002.