[General and local risk factors in infectious keratitis].

Purpose: The paper presents a study of corneal ulcers at aged persons for the identification of etiologic and aggravates factors that may have a negative influence for the prognostic of the diseases.

Material And Method: We have performed a retrospective study using a lot of aged patients with corneal ulcers, hospitalized in 2002-2003 period. The data were obtained by both clinical examination (anamnesis and ocular examination) and by the laboratory exams (microbiologic exam).

Results And Discussions: We have analyzed by the epidemiological point of view, the distribution of cases with the age, sex, provenance area, and profession. We have demonstrated a predominant repartition of cases in the 7-th decade (45%) and for the masculine patients (in 60% of cases). The patients from rural area represented 75% of cases. In relationship with the etiology, the traumatic ulcers represent 25%, microbial keratitis 45% associated with local or general aggravating factors. Microbiological exam has revealed in principal non pathogen or pathogen germs in 10 cases (staphylococcus), moderate virulence germs in 5 cases (streptococcus) or very virulent germs (escherichia colli and pyocyanic bacillus) in 2 cases.

Conclusions: The evolution of corneal ulcers at aged people is determined by etiologic and aggravating factors. The improvement of the evolution and of the prognosis depends on the most precocious application of local and general therapeutic measures.