title: [Multicenter Prospective Observational Study of Fungal Keratitis--Current Status of Patients' Background, Clinical Findings, Treatment and Prognosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the current status of fungal keratitis in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients with fungal keratitis were examined at 27 facilities in Japan from November 1st 2011 to October 31st 2013, concerning isolates, patient background, clinical findings, treatment and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 139 cases, 133 were diagnosed as fungal keratitis, of which fungi were isolated from 72 samples of 71 cases (yeast-like fungi 32 strains and filamentous fungi 40 strains). The corrected visual acuity at the first visit of 88 cases (66.2%) was less than 20/200 and 42 cases (31.6%) were involved with deep stromal lesions, indicating high proportion of severe cases in this study. Three months later, 56 cases (42.1%) were still under treatment, and corrected visual acuity of 57 cases (42.9%) was less than 20/200. In cases with yeast-like fungi, there were significantly more cases with past history of corneal diseases, ocular surgery including keratoplasty, and eye drops' use such as steroids than those with filamentous fungi. On the other hand, there were significantly more cases of filamentous fungi, with trauma on the onset and with intervention of previously attending doctors than those with yeast-like fungi. Logistic regression analyses revealed that contact lens wearing was a significant factor of good prognosis, and yeast-like fungi as one of poor outcome compared with no fungal isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the choice of antifungal drugs has been increasing, fungal keratitis is still severe, refractory and vision-threatening disease.
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: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sunada
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asari
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: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult