Fungal Keratitis In The Uk: Characteristics And Outcomes

to examine the causes, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of fungal keratitis (FK) in the UK.

Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, and the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, UK

All culture-proven and culture-negative presumed FK (with complete data) that presented to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, and the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, between 2011 and 2020 were included.

114 eyes, age 58.4+/- 20.1 years. Of 51 (45.7%) culture-positives,Candida (33, 63.5%) most common, followed by Fusarium (8, 15.4%), and Aspergillus (5, 9.6%). Ocular surface disease (59, 51.8%), prior corneal surgery (43, 37.7%), and systemic immunosuppression (42, 36.8%) most common risk factors. Hospitalisation required in 91(79.8%) patients for 19.2±16.4days. 66 (57.9%) required surgical interventions. Emergency keratoplasty in 29 (25.4%)cases, Final CDVA 1.69 +/-1.07 logMAR. Multivariable regression analysis showed increased age, large infiltrate size(>3mm) as negative predictive factors for poor visual outcome and poor corneal healing (>60 days of healing or corneal perforation);p<0.05

FK represents a difficult-to-treat ocular infection that often results in poor visual outcome, with a high need for surgical interventions. Innovative treatment strategies are urgently required to tackle this unmet need.