Fungal Keratitis, Epidemiology and Outcomes in a Tropical Australian Setting.
Trop Med Infect Dis
; 9(6)2024 Jun 03.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38922039
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Fungal keratitis is an ophthalmic emergency that can cause visual impairment and blindness. We reviewed the epidemiology and clinical features of fungal keratitis in a tropical Australian setting.OBJECTIVES:
To document the clinical and microbiological characteristics of fungal keratitis in an Australian tropical setting.METHODS:
A retrospective cohort study of patients with fungal keratitis from October 2014 to December 2022 was conducted at Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. We reviewed all patients with culture-proven fungal keratitis and their outcomes.RESULTS:
There were 31 patients identified. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) patients were of a significantly younger median age (28 years) compared to non-ATSI patients (42 years), and they also presented later to health care. Contact lens use and ocular trauma were the most common predisposing factors. Most patients presented with a corneal infiltrate and corneal epithelial defect, and the central visual axis was affected in 54% of patients. Curvularia spp. and Fusarium spp. were the commonest causative fungi (39% and 30% respectively).CONCLUSIONS:
Our series is different and reveals a wider range of fungal species identified over the 7 years of the study, in particular, a range of Curvularia spp. were detected. Access to eye health services in rural and remote settings is important, particularly for ATSI patients, as morbidity remains high.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trop Med Infect Dis
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia
Pais de publicación:
Suiza