Etiological analysis on ocular fungal infection in the period of 1989 - 2000.
BACKGROUND
This study was to review the distribution and shifting trend of fungal of culture specimens isolated from eyes of patients at the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China.


METHODS
The fungal culture-positive rate, the distribution and change of isolates of 2609 specimens collected in a 12-year period (1989 - 2000) were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
In 775 positive cultures, 707 specimens (91.2%) were from the cornea, 22 (2.8%) from the conjunctiva, 15 (1.9%) from the anterior chamber, 9 (1.2%) from the vitreous body, 3 (0.4%) from the lacrimal sac, and 19 (2.5%) from other parts of the eye. The average culture-positive rate was 29.7%. The ratio of the positive cultures in the first half year (from January to June) to those in the second half (from July to December) was 1:2.1. The main genus cultured was Fusarium sp (58.7%), followed by Aspergirum sp (16.8%). The percentage of Fusarium sp was increased from 53.6% (1989 - 1994) to 60.2% (1995 - 2000), whereas the percentage of Aspergirum sp was decreased from 22.3% (1989 - 1994) to 15.1% (1995 - 2000).


CONCLUSIONS
Fusaruim sp is one of the most predominant pathogens of ocular fungal infection in northern China and its incidence tends to increase, but that of Aspergirum sp to decrease. It is very important to recognize the distribution and shifting trend of pathogenic fungi in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal keratitis.
Sun
Xu-Guang
XG
Department of Eye Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing 100005, China. sunxuguang@yahoo.com
Zhang
Yan
Y
Li
Ran
R
Wang
Zhi-Qun
ZQ
Luo
Shi-Yun
SY
Jin
Xiu-Ying
XY
Zhang
Wen-Hua
WH
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000209:etiology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors