A Prospective Study of Intraocular Candidiasis

ABSTRACT

Intraocular fungal infection, especially due to candida infection, has become an increasingly important cause of nosocomial infectio. Despite increasing awareness of this complication of candidemia, serious visual impairment due to candida infection remains as a problem. For the determine the frequency of intraocular candidasis and evaluation of risk factor, patients with candidemia were evaluated with indirect ophthalmoscopic examination within ninety six hours ater blood culture. Intraocular candidiasis were found in thirty three Percent of patient with candidemia. Candida chorioretiritis were found in five (27%) patients, candida endophthalmitis was found in one (5%) patients. The candida chorioretinitis was not progressed to candida endophthalmitis in one patients. That patient with candida endophthalmitis was treated with intravitreal amphotericin B injection, pars plana vitrectomy. Among the six intraocular candidiasis patients, five patients got cnadidiasis after long term antibiotics therapy for flame burn injury and one after anticancer therapy combined with intravenous hyperalimentation. The risk factors for the development of intraocular candidiasis can be long-term antibiotic therapy, parenteral hyperalimentation, use of indwelling catheter, or use of immunosupressive drugs in our cases.