EXPLORING THE EFFECT OF COVID LOCKDOWN ON MICROBIAL KERATITIS PATTERNS

To compare the rates of presentation of microbial keratitis during the COVID-19 lockdown with previous years and to compare the causative organisms cultured from corneal scrapings over these periods along with their sensitivities.

All results were taken from corneal scrapings done within the Ophthalmology Department at Ipswich Hospital, a large district general hospital in the United Kingdom.

Retrospective analysis from 2018 to 2021 of corneal scrapings taken from cases of microbial keratitis at Ipswich Hospital was done. Comparison of the number of cases, specific organisms grown and reporting of antibiotic sensitivities of each was done through review of clinical notes and microbiology results. 

There was a fourfold decrease in presentations of microbial keratitis during the national lockdown from March to May 2020 compared with the previous year, however the total number of annual presentations remained constant. There was a 133% increase in the number of different pathologic organisms cultured following the lockdown period compared with other years. This returned to pre-lockdown levels over the following year. A 50% increase in the incidence of resistant organisms was also noted over the four years investigated.

The increase in microorganisms cultured following the lockdown period may have been the result of delayed presentation and therefore timely medical treatment. This highlights the importance of ensuring patients are aware of early warning signs and that healthcare practitioners maintain a low threshold for referring patients with suspected microbial keratitis in order to avoid increases in pathogenic organisms, which may further potentiate cases of antimicrobial resistance in the future.