INVESTIGATION OF THE RISK OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN OCULAR TRAUMA

Abstract

The relevance of studying the structure of ocular trauma, the risk factors for the development of post-traumatic complications, and the spectrum of causative microorganisms is explained by the need to improve diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic methods.

Purpose – to assess the risk of infectious complications in patients with ocular trauma hospitalized at the National Ophthalmology Centre named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

Material and methods
A total of 2167 medical records (2225 eyes) of patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of “ocular trauma” between 2019 and 2023 at the National Ophthalmology Centre named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva were analyzed. Based on the Birmingham, Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETT), the structure of ophthalmic trauma was assessed. Age and gender distribution patterns, as well as the dependence of infectious complications on major risk factors, were evaluated. The spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms involved in the development of infectious complications was analyzed. The descriptive statistical analysis was conducted and the odds ratio (OR) for identified risk factors was calculated.

Results
Among hospitalized patients, post-traumatic infectious complications such as keratitis, corneal ulcers, abscesses, endophtalmitis, and panophthalmitis occupied a significant proportion of cases following both open and closed ocular injuries. The like hood of developing these complications was 6/2 times higher after closed ocular trauma compared to open injuries (OR = 6.21; 95% CI (confidential interval): 5.04–7.66, p < 0.001). Delayed medical consultation increases the risk of infection nearly threefold (OR = 2.974; 95% CI: 2.490–3.553, p < 0.001). In elderly patients (>65 years), the risk was approximately 2.6 times higher than in younger individuals (OR = 2.650; 95% CI: 2.224–3.157, p < 0.001). The presence of a foreign body in the eye was also found to increase the risk of infectious complications by approximately 1.5 times (OR = 1.450; 95% CI: 1.195–1.760, p < 0.001). In 70.1% of positive cultures, Gram-positive microflora was identified, predominantly of the Staphylococcus genus.

Conclusion
The development of post-traumatic infectious complications demonstrated a multifactorial dependence, including the type of trauma, timeliness of medical consultation, patient age, and the presence of a foreign bode in the eye. Timely medical interventions play a key role in preventing severe outcomes associated with ocular trauma.