Risk Factors, Treatment Outcomes, and Isolate-dependent Differences of Candida Keratitis.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Mycology

Background:

• Candida keratitis is a serious opportunistic fungal infection of the cornea.
• Risk factors and species-specific disease characteristics require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate risk factors, clinical presentations, and treatment outcomes for Candida keratitis.
• To compare isolate-specific characteristics of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with Candida keratitis over a 10-year period.
• Data included demographics, ocular history, clinical presentation, treatment, and microbiological findings.

Main Results:

• Topical steroid use, corneal transplantation history, ocular surgery, contact lens wear, ocular surface disease, and bacterial coinfection were common risk factors.
• Candida albicans was associated with higher rates of hypopyon formation and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty compared to Candida parapsilosis.
• All tested isolates were susceptible to available antifungals.

Conclusions:

• Candida keratitis predominantly affects eyes with predisposing conditions.
• Candida albicans may present with more severe clinical manifestations than Candida parapsilosis.