الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 172 |  |  |
| | | from | 172 | | |
Abstract
Background & objectives: Fungal infections of the eye constitute a group of difficult clinical problems for both the ophthalmologist and infectious disease practitioner. Despite the uncommon occurrence of ocular fungal disease, the threat of blindness from conditions such as fungal keratitis or endophthalmitis makes it a serious problem. The incidence of ocular fungal infections has increased over the last few years. This study was conducted to estimate the rate of ocular fungal infections, identify the fungal species causing ocular mycoses, and find out the epidemiological features of mycotic eye infections in patients admitted to the Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. Methods: Fifty four patients (50 with clinically suspected fungal keratitis and 4 with endophthalmitis) were included in this study. Samples were collected by ophthalmologist and subjected to direct examination with potassium hydroxide (KOH) 10% and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) without actidione. Experimental fungal keratitis was induced in mice to compare different methods of diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Results: Out of 54 samples collected, four showed fungal growth on SDA from patients with keratitis, while no fungi were isolated from suspected cases of fungal endophthalmitis. Two isolates were Candida albicans and two isolates were Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal keratitis was more common among female patients in the age group 21-50 years old from rural areas. Contact lens wear, corneal trauma, topical steroid use, and systemic disease (diabetes mellitus) were the most common risk factors for fungal keratitis in our patients. Comparison of different methods of diagnosis of fungal keratitis induced in mice revealed that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histopathological examination were the best methods followed by CFW, culture, and finally KOH 10% wet mount.