Purpose: To present 20 cases of fungal keratitis at the São Geraldo Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and to analyze them regarding associated factors, type of identified fungi and treatment. Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed the charts of 20 patients (20 eyes) of culture positive fungal keratitis treated from January 1994 to December 1999 at the São Geraldo Hospital. Results: Fifteen patients (75%) were male. The average was 35.7 years (range 9 to 67 years). One of the associeted factors analyzed was ocular trauma (60%). Fusarium sp was the most commonly isolated organism (60%), followed by Aspergillus sp (30%). Natamycin was the topical antifungals most frequently used, while systemic treatment commonly used was cetoconazol. Fourteen patients (70%) had penetrating keratoplasty during the acute stage of infection. Conclusions: We found Fusarium sp the most commonly isolated fungus and a past history of ocular trauma was common. In contrast to other studies, our experience showed a higher number of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.
Keratitis; Eye infections fungal; Cornea
