Diagnostic Armamentarium of Infectious Keratitis: A Comprehensive Review

Ting, Darren S. J.; Gopal, Bhavesh P.; Deshmukh, Rashmi; Seitzman, Gerami D.; Said, Dalia G.; Dua, Harminder S.

Abstract

Infectious keratitis (IK) represents the leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide, particularly in developing countries. A good outcome of IK is contingent upon timely and accurate diagnosis followed by appropriate interventions. Currently, IK is primarily diagnosed on clinical grounds supplemented by microbiological investigations such as microscopic examination with stains, and culture and sensitivity testing. Although this is the most widely accepted practice adopted in most regions, such an approach is challenged by several factors, including indistinguishable clinical features shared among different causative organisms, polymicrobial infection, long diagnostic turnaround time, and variably low culture positivity rate. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current diagnostic armamentarium of IK, encompassing conventional microbiological investigations, molecular diagnostics (including polymerase chain reaction and mass spectrometry), and imaging modalities (including anterior segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy). We also highlight the potential roles of emerging technologies such as next-generation sequencing, artificial intelligence-assisted platforms. and tele-medicine in shaping the future diagnostic landscape of IK.

Citation

Ting, D. S. J., Gopal, B. P., Deshmukh, R., Seitzman, G. D., Said, D. G., & Dua, H. S. (2022). Diagnostic Armamentarium of Infectious Keratitis: A Comprehensive Review. Ocular Surface, 23, 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.11.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 7, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 13, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 12, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2021
• Journal: The Ocular Surface
• Print ISSN: 1542-0124
• Electronic ISSN: 1937-5913
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Pages: 27-39
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.11.003
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6681547
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1542012421001300?v=s5