Caracterización clínica de pacientes con blefaritis y demodecosis / Clinical characterization of patient with blefaritis and demodecosis

RESUMEN Fundamento: la blefaritis es una enfermedad común en la práctica oftalmológica, de curso crónico con crisis de exacerbación y causa multifactorial, a menudo se le asocia a Demodex spp., ácaro del folículo piloso, parásito extendido y frecuente; su infestación en humano se conoce como demodecosis. Objetivo: caracterizar desde el punto de vista clínico a pacientes con blefaritis y demodecosis. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, en el Hospital Militar Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Dr. Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja de la provincia Camagüey desde septiembre de 2017 a noviembre de 2018. La población objeto de estudio quedó conformada por 84 pacientes con diagnóstico de blefaritis en quienes se confirmó presencia de Demodex spp. que cumplieron criterios definidos por el autor. Se estudiaron variables biológicas (edad y sexo), clínica (síntomas y signos). Los resultados se expusieron en tablas, se utilizó estadística descriptiva para distribuciones de frecuencias. Se respetaron aspectos éticos para investigación en humanos. Resultados: en más de la mitad de los pacientes con diagnóstico de blefaritis se confirmó la presencia de Demodex spp., predominó los enfermos mayores de 61 años, así como del sexo femenino, las manifestaciones clínicas con mayor incidencia fueron: presencia de caspa cilíndrica, alteraciones de las pestaña, escozor y prurito, seguidos por inestabilidad de la película lagrimal, alteraciones de bordes palpebrales, queratitis superficial y sensación de cuerpo extraño. Conclusiones: el estudio demostró la presencia del Demodex spp. en un importante número pacientes con blefaritis lo que contrasta que, en Cuba no existe suficiente literatura documentada que muestre su prevalencia, comportamiento o técnicas diagnósticas, así como variantes terapéuticas eficientes en esta enfermedad.

ABSTRACT Background: the blepharitis is a common illness in the ophthalmological practice, of chronic course with exacerbation crisis and multifactorial etiology, often associated with Demodex spp., mite of the hair follicle, extended and frequent parasite; its infestation in human is known as demodecosis. Objective: to characterize from the clinical point of view patients with blepharitis and demodecosis. Methods: a descriptive, traverse study was carried out in the Educational Surgical Clinical Military Hospital Dr. Octavio of the Concepción and of the Pedraja of Camagüey in the period of September, 2017 to November, 2018. The population study object was conformed by 84 patients with diagnostic of blepharitis who were confirmed with the presence of Demodex spp. and they completed criteria defined by the author. Biological variables were studied (age and sex) and clinic (symptoms and signs). The results were exposed in charts using descriptive statistic for distributions of frequencies. Ethical aspects for investigation in human were respected. Results: in more than half of the patients with diagnostic of blepharitis was confirmed the presence of Demodex spp., the sick persons older than 61 years prevailed, as well as of the feminine sex, the clinical manifestations with more incidence were: presence of cylindrical dandruff, alterations of the lash, smarting and pruritus, continued by uncertainty of the lachrymal movie, alterations palpebral embroider, superficial keratitis and sensation of strange corpse in the eye. Conclusions: the study demonstrates the presence of the Demodex spp. in an important number patient with blepharitis which contrasts with, in Cuba there isn´t enough documented literature that shows their prevalence, behavior or diagnostic techniques, as well as efficient therapeutic variants in this illness.

Blefarite: epidemiologia, etiologia, apresentações clínicas, tratamento e evolução de nossos pacientes / Blepharitis: epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentations, treatment and evolution of our patients

Resumo Objetivo: A blefarite é uma das condições mais comumente encontradas na prática oftalmológica e se constitui em uma causa frequente de irritação e desconforto ocular. Por ser uma doença de difícil tratamento, os autores buscaram compreender melhor a epidemiologia, etiologia, apresentações clínicas, tratamento e evolução de seus pacientes, visando maior sucesso terapêutico. Métodos: Foram avaliados retrospectivamente e transversalmente o prontuário de 124 pacientes do Centro de Oftalmologia Tadeu Cvintal, os quais apresentavam blefarite e foram submetidos à classificação de gravidade e coleta de secreções palpebrais para cultura bacteriana e antibiograma. Resultados: A media da idade dos pacientes foi de 67,4 anos, o sexo feminino foi responsável por 70 (56,4%) casos e o masculino por 54 (43,5%). Quanto à gravidade da doença, constatou-se 71 casos de blefarite leve (56,8%), 52 (41,6%) com intensidade moderada e 2 (1,6%) casos graves. Avaliando o seguimento do tratamento da doença, foi observado que 103 (82,4%) pacientes não retornaram para avaliar o resultado do tratamento e apenas 22 (17,6%) retornaram. Em relação às culturas realizadas, 82 (66,1%) não apresentaram crescimento microbiano. Dentre as 42 (33,8%) amostras positivas, os Staphylococcus coagulase negativo foram os mais prevalentes, sobretudo os Staphylococcus epidermidis, responsável por 35 (83,3%) delas. Quanto à sensibilidade aos antibióticos, os agentes de nossa amostra demonstraram maior resistência à Penicilina, Eritromicina e Ciprofloxacino e 100% de sensibilidade à Linezolida, Vancomicina e Daptomicina. Conclusão: Conhecendo melhor as características epidemiológicas da blefarite e a sensibilidade antimicrobiana das bactérias envolvidas, é possível oferecer tratamentos mais eficazes.

Abstract Objective: Blepharitis is one of the most commonly encountered conditions in ophthalmic practice and is a frequent cause of eye irritation and discomfort. Being a difficult to treat disease, the authors sought to better understand the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentations, treatment and evolution of their patients, aiming at greater therapeutic success. Methods: The medical records of 124 patients of Centro de Oftalmologia Tadeu Cvintal who had blepharitis were retrospectively and cross-sectionally evaluated and underwent severity classification and collection of eyelid secretions for bacterial culture and antibiogram. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.4 years, females accounted for 70 (56.4%) cases and males for 54 (43.5%). Regarding the severity of the disease, there were 71 cases of mild blepharitis (56.8%), 52 (41.6%) with moderate intensity and 2 (1.6%) severe cases. Evaluating the follow-up of treatment of the disease, it was observed that 103 (82.4%) patients did not return to evaluate the treatment outcome and only 22 (17.6%) returned. In respect of the cultures performed, 82 (66.1%) did not show microbial growth. Among the 42 (33.8%) positive samples, coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most prevalent, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis, responsible for 35 (83.3%) of them. As for antibiotic sensitivity, the agents in our sample showed greater resistance to Penicillin, Erythromycin and Ciprofloxacin and 100% sensitivity to Linezolid, Vancomycin and Daptomycin. Conclusion: By better understanding the epidemiological characteristics of blepharitis and the antimicrobial sensitivity of the bacteria involved, it is possible to offer more effective treatments.

Demodex spp en pacientes con blefaritis crónica / Demodex spp in chronic blepharitis patients

Background: Blepharitis is a very common disease in the ophthalmologic practice generally taking a chronic course with intermittent exacerbations. Several studies have linked the presence of Demodex folliculorum with chronic blepharitis, since the mite has the capacity to perpetuate the follicular inflammatory process. The prevalence of infection by Demodex spp. is variable depending on the population. In Paraguay, information on the frequency of the infestation in patients with chronic blepharitis is not available. Aim : To determine the frequency of Demodex spp, and the ocular microbiota in patients with chronic blepharitis attending the Department of Ophthalmology at the Teaching Hospital of the National University of Asuncion. Patients and Methods: Consecutively, 28 patients with chronic blepharitis, who agreed to participate in the study, were included. Eyes lashes from the upper and lower eyelids were extracted for immediate mite search by direct observation under a light microscope. Samples from eyelids were taken with Kimura spatula and then cultured on blood agar and in enrichment media and incubated in 5% CO2 at 35° C for 72 hours. Results: Among participants, females were more frequent (64%), the age ranged from 17 to 87 years (mean: 38.0; SD: ±13.5 years). The prevalence of Demodex sp was 54%. Bacteria were isolated 92.9% of cases, most frequently coagulase-negative staphylococci (75%). No association was found between socio-demographic or clinical characteristics and the presence of Demodex sp. Conclusion: The observed high prevalence of infestation by Demodex spp in patients with chronic blepharitis is consistent with other studies.

Introducción: La blefaritis es una enfermedad muy común en la práctica oftalmológica, generalmente de curso crónico con exacerbaciones intermitentes. Varios estudios han relacionado la presencia del Demodex folliculorum con la blefaritis crónica, por su capacidad potencial de perpetuar el proceso inflamatorio a nivel folicular. La frecuencia de D. folliculorum varía de acuerdo a la población. Objetivo: Determinar la presencia de Demodex spp y, caracterizar la microbiota ocular en pacientes con blefaritis crónica y dar a conocer estos resultados. Pacientes y Métodos: Las muestras fueron obtenidas de pacientes que consultaron en la Cátedra de Oftalmología del Hospital de Clínicas de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA). Fueron incluidos en forma consecutiva 28 pacientes con blefaritis crónica que accedieron a participar en forma voluntaria en el estudio. Se extrajeron las pestañas del párpado superior e inferior de los pacientes para la búsqueda inmediata del ácaro por observación directa bajo el microscopio óptico. Para el cultivo de microorganismos se tomaron muestras del párpado con espátula de Kimura, las que fueron cultivadas en agar sangre y en medios de enriquecimiento e incubadas en CO2 al 5% a 35°C durante 72 h. Resultados: El sexo femenino fue más frecuente (64%), el rango de edad estuvo entre 17 y 87 años con una media de 37,9 ± 13,5. Se observó la presencia de Demodex sp en 54% y aislamiento de bacterias en 92,9%; Staphylococcus coagulasa negativa fue el más frecuente (75%). No se encontraron asociaciones entre las características socio-demográficas o clínicas y la presencia de Demodex sp. Conclusión: La alta infestación por Demodex spp observada en los pacientes con blefaritis crónica coincide con otros estudios.