Prevalence and spectrum of bacterial co-infection during fungal keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the propensity of keratomycosis for parallel or secondary bacterial infection and to explore affinities among fungal and bacterial co-isolates.


METHODS
A retrospective review of laboratory records over 24 years yielded 152 episodes of culture positive fungal keratitis. After collating 65 corneal specimens having bacterial co-isolates, polymicrobial co-infection was defined as detection of concordant bacteria on smear and culture or on two or more different media.


RESULTS
30 (20%) keratomycoses met laboratory criteria for polymicrobial infection. The risk of bacterial co-infection was 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 5.8) times greater with yeast keratitis than with filamentous fungal keratitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial co-infection occasionally complicates fungal keratitis, particularly candidiasis.
Department of Opthalmology and Visual Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
J C
JC
Pate
D B
DB
Jones
K R
KR
Wilhelmus
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003470:Culture Media; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003470:Culture Media