title: [Multicenter Prospective Observational Study of Fungal Keratitis--Identification and Susceptibility Test of Fungi].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the causative fungi of fungal keratitis in Japan and their drug susceptibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identification and antifungal susceptibility test for 8 drugs (micafungin, amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, miconazole and pimaricin) were performed using isolated fungi from patients with fungal keratitis treated at 27 facilities in Japan between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fungal strains were detected in 72 (50.7%) out of 142 samples. The major isolates were Fusarium spp. (18), Candida parapsilosis (12), C. albicans (11) and Alternaria spp. (6), in all, fungi of 31 species were identified by gene analysis. In the yeast-like fungi, susceptibility rates were evident for more than 80% in voriconazole, pimaricin, flucytosine, micafungin, amphotericin B and fluconazole. In filamentous fungi, the susceptibility rate was less than 50% except for PMR (90%). Fusarium spp., which were susceptible to amphotericin B and pimaricin, showed lower susceptibility rates compared with other genera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although various genera and species of fungi cause fungal keratitis, the obtained drug susceptibility data in this study demonstrates the different susceptibility patterns among the major isolates (Fusarium spp., C. parapsilosis, C. albicans and other groups). This is important evidence useful for fungal keratitis treatment.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sunada
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimomura
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotozono
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki-Sasaki
authors.forename: Saichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yaguchi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makimura
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokokura
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Monden
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nejima
mesh_terms: D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity