Combined use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis

Objective To observe the clinical effects of combined use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Methods Sixty-five patients with fungal keratitis were collected from Jan. 2010 to Jan. 2013 in the study. The patients were divided into the non-severe group and the severe group base on the degree of corneal inflammation, which were treated with topical 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole hourly, for 7~10 d. According to the disease status, medication or surgery were applied, for 7~50 d. Clinical examination and clinical criteria were identical in the two groups. Results Twenty-three (95.8%) of 24 patients with non-severe keratitis were healed, and 1 (4.2%) showed effective response to treatment, while 12 (29.3%) of 41 patients with severe keratitis were healed, 11 (26.8%) showed response to treatment, and 18 (43.9%) failed. The total effective rate showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (P0.01). Conclusion Combined use of 5% natamycin and 0.2% fluconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis has favorable effect, especially for the non-severe fungal keratitis.