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Practice patterns in the management of bacterial keratitis: a five-continent survey.
- Source :
- Graefe's Archive of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; Jul2023, Vol. 261 Issue 7, p1961-1969, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Purpose: To assess the current diagnostic and therapeutic practice patterns in early management of bacterial keratitis over five continents. Methods: Between March and August 2019, we distributed an online survey including two clinical scenarios of bacterial keratitis, namely, a mild case and severe case, to 2936 ophthalmologists from 144 countries around the world. The survey consisted of 29 questions. We performed descriptive statistics and a comparative analysis of the answers according to the participants' continent of practice, practice setting, seniority, and subspecialty. Results: We received 237 surveys from 54 countries (8% response rate). The proportion of respondents performing microbiological investigations was higher in North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania than Africa and South America (p < 0.05). This ratio was also higher among ocular surface specialists than for other ophthalmologists (p < 0.001). For mild cases, fluoroquinolone monotherapy and a combination of two or more antibiotics were prescribed by 46% and 41% respondents, respectively. For severe cases, fluoroquinolone monotherapy and a combination of antibiotics were prescribed by 20% and 78% respondents, respectively. Fluoroquinolone monotherapy was the most commonly prescribed treatment in South America, Africa, and Oceania. A combination of two antibiotics was preferentially prescribed in the rest of the world. Topical steroids were prescribed in both circumstances, respectively, in 72% and 75% of cases. Conclusion: Our results highlight essential geographical disparities in the current management of bacterial keratitis over five continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0721832X
- Volume :
- 261
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Graefe's Archive of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 164356619
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-023-06003-6