Evolving Trends and Risk Factors in Infectious Keratitis after Keratoplasty: A 22-Year Multi-Institutional…

Cohort studyThe American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene· Jul 2026

Evolving Trends and Risk Factors in Infectious Keratitis after Keratoplasty: A 22-Year Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Yueh-Ling Chen, Ching-Hsi Hsiao, David Hui-Kang Ma … Hung-Chi Chen

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CorneaCohort studyPrognosisQ2IF 1.7

Infectious keratitis after corneal transplant nearly doubled over two decades.

Evolving Trends and Risk Factors in Infectious Keratitis after Keratoplasty: A 22-Year Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Yueh-Ling Chen … Hung-Chi Chen

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · Jul 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Purpose

To analyze the incidence, risk factors, and microbial profiles of infectious keratitis after different types of keratoplasty, we conducted a retrospective multi-institutional study using the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan and included keratoplasty cases between January 2001 and December 2022.

Results

share of transplants developing an infection within a year, nearly doubled

7.7%

2001-2011

14%

2012-2022

More results

Procedural codes were used to identify keratoplasty cases, and infectious keratitis was confirmed by positive culture results.

Outcomes included the incidence of infectious keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty, anterior lamellar keratoplasty, and endothelial keratoplasty as well as associated pathogens and risk factors.

More results

In total, 297 patients with infectious keratitis after keratoplasty were identified.

Older age, ocular surface diseases, and anterior lamellar keratoplasty were significant risk factors.

“

Conclusion

In conclusion, the incidence of infectious keratitis after keratoplasty has increased over time (P <0.0001), with anterior lamellar keratoplasty showing the highest proportion of infectious keratitis among the three surgical methods, and recognition of key risk factors may aid clinical decision-making and postoperative care.

Evolving Trends and Risk Factors in Infectious Keratitis after Keratoplasty: A 22-Year Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Evolving Trends and Risk Factors in Infectious Keratitis after Keratoplasty: A 22-Year Multi-Institutional Analysis.

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