title: Combined application of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the clinical efficacy of combined use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 65 cases diagnosed with fungal keratitis by direct smear and/or fungus culture from January 2010 to January 2013 were enrolled in this study. The duration from the onset of symptoms to admission to our ophthalmic center ranged from 9 to 90 d (mean 29.5+/-19.1 d) in the severe group, which significantly differed from the 7 to 36 d (mean 16.6+/-7.1 d) in the non-severe group (P<0.01). All cases were divided into non-severe and severe groups based on the degree of corneal inflammation. All cases were treated with topical use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole once per hour. The same clinical and examination protocols were adopted for both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the non-severe group, 23 of the 24 patients (95.8%) were healed, and 1 (4.2%) showed treatment effica cy. In the severe group, 12 of 41 patients (29.3%) were healed, 11(26.8%) showed clinical efficacy, and 18(43.9%) showed no efficacy. The patients between two groups significantly differed in terms of efficacy (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole is efficacious in treating fungal keratitis, especially mild or moderate infections.
authors.affiliation: Liwan Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510170, China. hngz.02059@163.com
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Xiangming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D010866:Natamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010866:Natamycin; D015725:Fluconazole