Corneal Donor and Patient Related Factors Influencing Graft Infection in Therapeutic Keratoplasty: A clinical, surgical and microbiological Analysis

Therapeutic keratoplasty (TPK) is a surgical procedure used to treat advanced, refractory microbial keratitis, due to failed medical management, and perforation. TPK is the last resort to remove the infected tissue and replace it with a healthy donor cornea. The primary goal of TPK is to eliminate the active infectious process, restore the structural integrity of the globe, and prevent complications such as phthisis bulbi and endophthalmitis. In regions where microbial keratitis is more prevalent, particularly in developing countries, TPK is frequently performed to address refractory or advanced bacterial, fungal, and parasitic corneal infections.

However, therapeutic keratoplasty is associated with significant challenges despite its critical role in halting disease progression. Postoperative complications, such as graft infection pose substantial risks to the success of the procedure, which may lead to corneal melt, secondary glaucoma, anatomical failure, anterior staphyloma, and phthisis bulbi. Fungal keratitis has been shown to have higher recurrence rates compared to bacterial infections, complicating the management of these patients. TPK requires not only precise surgical intervention but also meticulous postoperative care to minimise complications and ensure the long-term viability of the graft.

There are several notable research gaps in the current understanding of TPK outcomes. First, there is limited knowledge regarding the specific causes of infection recurrence, particularly in cases involving fungal keratitis. Preoperative conditions, such as corneal perforation and the presence of hypopyon, have been implicated as risk factors, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Second, the quality of donor material used in TPK can vary significantly, particularly in resource-limited settings where high-quality corneas are scarce. Finally, there is a need for standardised postoperative antimicrobial protocols. While prophylactic antiviral treatments are well-established for viral keratitis, optimal regimens for bacterial and fungal infections remain inconsistent across institutions.

Addressing these research gaps is crucial to improving the outcomes of therapeutic keratoplasty. Understanding the causes of graft infection could lead to more effective preoperative risk assessments and targeted interventions. Further investigation into the impact of donor cornea quality would provide valuable insights into optimising donor selection and tissue preservation techniques. Additionally, research focused on developing standardised postoperative antimicrobial protocols would help reduce the variability in treatment outcomes and improve overall graft survival rates. To address these concerns, a comprehensive study must be conducted that examines the clinical, microbiological, and procedural factors influencing the success of TPK.

Hence, we aim to investigate the clinical and microbiological factors that influence the success of therapeutic keratoplasty in managing advanced microbial keratitis, focusing on identifying the risk factors for graft infection and addressing the existing gaps in postoperative care and donor material quality.