Fungal keratitis: changing pathogens and risk factors. 2009

Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

OBJECTIVE To describe changes in demographics and pathogens for fungal keratitis cases diagnosed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. METHODS Patient demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and outcomes of 46 cases of culture-proven fungal keratitis diagnosed from January 2004 through November 2007 were compared with 23 cases of fungal keratitis previously collected over a similar period from January 1999 through November 2002. RESULTS During 2004-2007, the rate of fungal keratitis was 1.0 cases per month, an increase from the baseline rate of 0.5 cases per month during 1999-2002. The proportion of cases caused by filamentous fungi increased from 30% (1999-2002) to 65% (2004-2007) (P = 0.01). Soft contact lens wear accounted for 41% of fungal keratitis cases in 2004-2007, as compared with 17% in 1999-2002. The majority of patients (70%) received oral antifungal treatment in addition to topical amphotericin B and natamycin. Seventeen patients (40%) required therapeutic keratoplasty. Patients with a history of corneal transplant had the highest rate of therapeutic keratoplasties (67%) and had the poorest visual outcome (40% counting fingers or less). In the contact lens group, 94% of patients maintained vision of at least 20/40 and only 12% required surgery to control the infection. CONCLUSIONS There has been an increase in fungal keratitis in the Boston area and a change in the causative pathogens and risk factors for infection. Filamentous fungi now account for the majority of fungal keratitis cases, whereas yeasts were the predominant pathogen in the past. Soft contact lens wear is currently the most common risk factor for development of fungal keratitis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007634 Keratitis Inflammation of the cornea. Keratitides
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010866 Natamycin Amphoteric macrolide antifungal antibiotic from Streptomyces natalensis or S. chattanoogensis. It is used for a variety of fungal infections, mainly topically. Pimaricin,Tennecetin,Myprozine,Pimafucin
D001900 Boston City located in Massachusetts.
D002177 Candidiasis Infection with a fungus of the genus CANDIDA. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist areas of the body and is generally caused by CANDIDA ALBICANS. (Dorland, 27th ed) Candida Infection,Moniliasis,Candida Infections,Candidiases,Infection, Candida,Moniliases
D003261 Contact Lenses Lenses designed to be worn on the front surface of the eyeball. (UMDNS, 1999) Lenses, Contact,Contact Lens,Lens, Contact
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005260 Female Females
D005670 Fusarium A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include GIBBERELLA. Fusariums

Related Publications

Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
March 2007, Ophthalmology,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
September 2022, Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland),
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
April 2006, Ophthalmology,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
February 2016, Mycopathologia,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
January 2023, Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
November 2015, American journal of ophthalmology,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
June 2021, Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland),
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
April 2022, Ophthalmic epidemiology,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
December 2016, Mycopathologia,
Ula Jurkunas, and Irmgard Behlau, and Kathryn Colby
June 1994, Ophthalmology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!