title: Concurrent use of 5% natamycin and 2% econazole for the management of fungal keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if concurrent use of 5% natamycin and 2% econazole offers greater benefits than monotherapy with 5% natamycin for the management of fungal keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects presenting to the cornea service were treated with 5% natamycin and 2% econazole used concurrently. We compared the results with a historical control of patients treated with 5% natamycin in the same calendar year. The same clinical and examination protocol including inclusion and exclusion criteria was used for both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared results of 47 subjects on concurrent use of 5% natamycin and 2% econazole with all 53 subjects who had received 5% natamycin in a previous study (historical controls). Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences (P=0.9) between the 2 arms for success (defined as a healed or healing ulcer).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent use of 5% natamycin and 2% econazole does not appear to offer additional benefits over monotherapy with 5% natamycin for the management of fungal keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, India. prajna@aravind.org
authors.forename: N Venkatesh
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Prajna
authors.forename: Praveen K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Nirmalan
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahalakshmi
authors.forename: Prajna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lalitha
authors.forename: Muthiah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004464:Econazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010866:Natamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D004464:Econazole; D010866:Natamycin